Acts 21

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1. 1After we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we traveled on a direct course to Cos. The next day we reached Rhodes, and from there we went on to Patara.
2. 2We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, so we boarded it and sailed away.
3. 3When Cyprus came into view, we passed it on our left and sailed on to Syria, landing at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.
4. 4We found some disciples there and stayed with them for seven days. Through the Spirit, they told Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
5. 5When our time there was up, we left and continued on our journey. All of them, including their wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. There on the shore, we knelt down and prayed.
6. 6After saying our farewells to each other, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.
7. 7Completing our voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day.
8. 8The next day, we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea. We went to the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9. 9He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10. 10While we were staying there for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11. 11He came to us, took Paul's belt, and tied his own hands and feet with it. Then he said, "The Holy Spirit says this: 'In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.'"
12. 12When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
13. 13Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
14. 14Since he would not be persuaded, we stopped urging him and said, "The will of the Lord be done."
15. 15After those days, we packed up and went up to Jerusalem.
16. 16Some of the disciples from Caesarea came along with us and brought us to the home of Mnason of Cyprus, a long-time disciple, with whom we were to stay.
17. 17When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
18. 18The following day, Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present.
19. 19After greeting them, he gave a detailed account of everything God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20. 20When they heard this, they glorified the Lord and said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.
21. 21They have been told about you — that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or follow the customs.
22. 22So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.
23. 23Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have a vow on them.
24. 24Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that the things they were told about you are nothing, and that you yourself live in an orderly manner and keep the law.
25. 25As for the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they need not observe such things, except that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.
26. 26So Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple to give notice of when the days of purification would be completed and the offering would be made for each of them.
27. 27When the seven days were nearly over, the Jews from Asia saw Paul in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him,
28. 28shouting, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, the law, and this place. And beyond that, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place!"
29. 29(They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul, and they assumed Paul had brought him into the temple.)
30. 30The whole city was stirred up, and the people came running together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.
31. 31While they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32. 32He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When the crowd saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
33. 33The commander came forward, arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.
34. 34Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and some another. Since he could not determine the facts because of the uproar, he ordered Paul to be brought into the barracks.
35. 35When Paul reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd.
36. 36For the mass of people followed behind, shouting, "Away with him!"
37. 37Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, "May I say something to you?" The commander replied, "You speak Greek?
38. 38Aren't you that Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?"
39. 39Paul said, "I am a Jew from Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people."
40. 40When the commander gave him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,