Acts 21-23 (English Standard Version)

Acts 21

Paul Goes to Jerusalem

 ¹And when^(A) we had parted from them and set sail, we^(B) came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.^{[a] 2}And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. ³When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And^(C) through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁵When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children,^(D) accompanied us until we were outside the city. And^(E) kneeling down on the beach, we prayed ⁶and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

 ⁷When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted^(F) the brothers^[b] and stayed with them for one day. ⁸On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of^(G) Philip^(H) the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. ⁹He had four unmarried daughters,^(I) who prophesied. ¹⁰While we were staying for many days, a prophet named^(J) Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹And coming to us, he^(K) took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said,^(L) "Thus says the Holy Spirit,^(M) 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and^(N) deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" ¹²When we heard this, we and the people there^(O) urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³Then Paul answered,^(P) "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For^(Q) I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem^(R) for the name of the Lord Jesus." ¹⁴And since he would not be persuaded,^(S) we ceased and said,^(T) "Let the will of the Lord be done."

 ¹⁵After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.

Paul Visits James

 ¹⁷When we had come to Jerusalem,^(U) the brothers received us gladly. ¹⁸On the following day Paul went in with us to^(V) James, and all^(W) the elders were present. ¹⁹After greeting them,^(X) he related one by one^(Y) the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his^(Z) ministry. ²⁰And when they heard it, they^(AA) glorified God. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all^(AB) zealous for the law, ²¹and they have been told about you that you teach all^(AC) the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses,^(AD) telling them^(AE) not to circumcise their children or^(AF) walk according to^(AG) our customs. ²²What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. ²³Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men^(AH) who are under a vow; ²⁴take these men and^(AI) purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses,^(AJ) so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. ²⁵But as for the Gentiles who have believed,^(AK) we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled,^[c] and from sexual immorality." ²⁶Then Paul took the men, and the next day^(AL) he purified himself along with them and^(AM) went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and^(AN) the offering presented for each one of them.

Paul Arrested in the Temple

 ²⁷When^(AO) the seven days were almost completed,^(AP) the Jews from Asia,^(AQ) seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, ²⁸crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who^(AR) is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and^(AS) the law and^(AT) this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." ²⁹For they had previously seen^(AU) Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. ³⁰Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and^(AV) dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. ^31(AW) And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of^(AX) the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. ^32(AY) He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. ³³Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him^(AZ) to be bound^(BA) with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. ^34(BB) Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into^(BC) the barracks. ³⁵And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, ³⁶for the mob of the people followed, crying out,^(BD) "Away with him!"

Paul Speaks to the People

 ³⁷As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek? ³⁸Are you not^(BE) the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out^(BF) into the wilderness?" ³⁹Paul replied,^(BG) "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people." ⁴⁰And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps,^(BH) motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in^(BI) the Hebrew language,^[d] saying:

Acts 22

 ^1(BJ) "Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you."

 ²And when they heard that he was addressing them in^(BK) the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said:

 ^3(BL) "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated^(BM) at the feet of^(BN) Gamaliel^[e](BO) according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers,^(BP) being zealous for God^(BQ) as all of you are this day. ^4(BR) I persecuted^(BS) this Way^(BT) to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, ⁵as^(BU) the high priest and^(BV) the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to^(BW) the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

 ^6(BX) "As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. ⁷And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' ⁸And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am^(BY) Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' ^9(BZ) Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand^[f] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. ¹⁰And I said,^(CA) 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.' ¹¹And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

 ¹²"And^(CB) one Ananias, a devout man^(CC) according to the law,^(CD) well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, ^13(CE) came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And^(CF) at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. ¹⁴And he said,^(CG) 'The God of our fathers^(CH) appointed you to know his will,^(CI) to see^(CJ) the Righteous One and^(CK) to hear a voice from his mouth; ¹⁵for^(CL) you will be a witness for him to everyone of what^(CM) you have seen and heard. ¹⁶And now why do you wait?^(CN) Rise and be baptized and^(CO) wash away your sins,^(CP) calling on his name.'

 ^17(CQ) "When I had returned to Jerusalem and^(CR) was praying in the temple, I fell into^(CS) a trance ¹⁸and saw him saying to me, ^(CT) 'Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.' ¹⁹And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in one synagogue after another^(CU) I imprisoned and^(CV) beat those who believed in you. ²⁰And when the blood of Stephen^(CW) your witness was being shed,^(CX) I myself was standing by and^(CY) approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him.' ²¹And he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you^(CZ) far away to the Gentiles.'"

Paul and the Roman Tribune

 ²²Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said,^(DA) "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For^(DB) he should not be allowed to live." ²³And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, ²⁴the tribune ordered him to be brought into^(DC) the barracks, saying that he should be^(DD) examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. ²⁵But when they had stretched him out for the whips,^[g] Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to flog^(DE) a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?" ²⁶When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen." ²⁷So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes." ²⁸The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large sum." Paul said, "But I am a citizen by birth." ²⁹So those who were about^(DF) to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also^(DG) was afraid,^(DH) for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that^(DI) he had bound him.

Paul Before the Council

 ³⁰But on the next day,^(DJ) desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.

Acts 23

 ¹And looking intently at the council, Paul said, "Brothers,^(DK) I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day." ²And the high priest^(DL) Ananias commanded those who stood by him^(DM) to strike him on the mouth. ³Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you^(DN) whitewashed^(DO) wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet^(DP) contrary to the law you order me to be struck?" ⁴Those who stood by said, "Would you revile^(DQ) God’s high priest?" ⁵And Paul said,^(DR) "I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written,^(DS) 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

 ⁶Now when Paul perceived that one part were^(DT) Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers,^(DU) I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is^(DV) with respect to the^(DW) hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial." ⁷And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸For the Sadducees^(DX) say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. ⁹Then a great clamor arose, and some of^(DY) the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply,^(DZ) "We find nothing wrong in this man. What^(EA) if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?" ¹⁰And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into^(EB) the barracks.

 ^11(EC) The following night^(ED) the Lord stood by him and said, ^(EE) "Take courage, for^(EF) as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must^(EG) testify also in Rome."

A Plot to Kill Paul

 ¹²When it was day,^(EH) the Jews made a plot and^(EI) bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. ¹³There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. ¹⁴They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. ¹⁵Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near."

 ¹⁶Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered^(EJ) the barracks and told Paul. ¹⁷Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him." ¹⁸So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, "Paul^(EK) the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you." ¹⁹The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?" ²⁰And he said,^(EL) "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. ²¹But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who^(EM) have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent." ²²So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, "Tell no one that you have informed me of these things."

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

 ²³Then he called two of the centurions and said, "Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.^{[h] 24}Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to^(EN) Felix^(EO) the governor." ²⁵And he wrote a letter to this effect:

 ²⁶"Claudius Lysias, to^(EP) his Excellency the governor Felix,^(EQ) greetings. ^27(ER) This man was seized by the Jews and^(ES) was about to be killed by them^(ET) when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. ²⁸And^(EU) desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. ²⁹I found that he was being accused^(EV) about questions of their law, but^(EW) charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. ^30(EX) And when it was disclosed to me^(EY) that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once,^(EZ) ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him."

 ³¹So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. ³²And on the next day they returned to^(FA) the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. ³³When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. ³⁴On reading the letter, he asked what^(FB) province he was from. And when he learned^(FC) that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵he said, "I will give you a hearing^(FD) when your accusers arrive." And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s^(FE) praetorium.