Paul Urged to Make Peace

15 And after those days we [a]packed and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.

17 (A)And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to (B)James, and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, (C)he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles (D)through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all (E)zealous for the law; 21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 [b]What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may (F)shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, (G)we have written and decided [c]that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from [d]sexual immorality.”

Arrested in the Temple

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, (H)entered the temple (I)to announce the [e]expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.

27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, (J)the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and (K)laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man (L)who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 (For they had [f]previously seen (M)Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

30 And (N)all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. 31 Now as they were (O)seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the [g]garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 21:15 made preparations
  2. Acts 21:22 NU What then is to be done? They will certainly hear
  3. Acts 21:25 NU omits that they should observe no such thing, except
  4. Acts 21:25 fornication
  5. Acts 21:26 completion
  6. Acts 21:29 M omits previously
  7. Acts 21:31 cohort

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