Acts 20-22
21st Century King James Version
20 And after the uproar had ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed to go into Macedonia.
2 And when he had gone through those parts and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece.
3 And there he abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail for Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
4 And there accompanied him into Asia, Sopater of Berea, and Aristarchus and Secundus of the Thessalonians, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and from Asia, Tychichus and Trophimus.
5 These, going ahead, tarried for us at Troas.
6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread and came unto them in five days at Troas, where we stayed seven days.
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight.
8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber where they were gathered together.
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, having fallen into a deep sleep; and as Paul was long in preaching, he sank down with sleep and fell down from the third floor and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down and fell on him and, embracing him, said, “Trouble not yourselves, for his life is in him.”
11 When he therefore had come up again, and had broken bread and eaten and talked for a long while, even until break of day, he departed.
12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
13 And we went ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, there intending to take aboard Paul; for so had he arranged, intending himself to go on foot.
14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mitylene.
15 And we sailed thence and arrived the next day off Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
16 For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia; for he was in haste, that it might be possible for him to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called for the elders of the church.
18 And when they had come to him, he said unto them, “Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, in what manner I have been with you in all seasons,
19 serving the Lord in all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me through the lying in wait of the Jews;
20 and how I kept back nothing that was profitable for you, but have shown you and have taught you publicly and from house to house,
21 testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now behold, bound by the Spirit, I go unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there,
23 save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.
25 “And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26 Therefore I attest to you this day that I am pure from the blood of all men,
27 for I have not shrunk from declaring unto you all the counsel of God.
28 “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God which He hath purchased with His own blood.
29 For I know this: that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember that for the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.
32 “And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no man’s silver or gold or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my own necessities, and also to those who were with me.
35 I have shown you all things, how that by so laboring ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.
37 And they all wept sorely and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him,
38 sorrowing most of all because of the words which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
21 And it came to pass that after we had parted from them and had launched, we came on a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara.
2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phoenicia, we went aboard and set forth.
3 Now when we had sighted Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her burden.
4 And having found disciples, we tarried there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 And when those days there had been accomplished, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, until we were out of the city. And we kneeled down on the shore and prayed.
6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we boarded ship, and they returned home again.
7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais and saluted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.
8 The next day, we who were in Paul’s company departed and came unto Caesarea, and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and lodged with him.
9 And this man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied.
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus.
11 And when he had come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle and bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus saith the Holy Ghost, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
12 And when we heard these things, both we and those at that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am not only ready to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 And when he would not be dissuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
15 And after those days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.
16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, who brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we were to lodge.
17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18 And the day following, Paul went with us unto James, and all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord and said unto him, “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, and they are all zealous for the law.
21 And they are informed about thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor walk according to the customs.
22 What is therefore to be done? The multitude must surely come together, for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this which we say to thee: We have four men who have taken a vow upon themselves.
24 Take them and purify thyself with them, and bear their charges with them, that they may shave their heads; and all may know that those things of which they have been informed concerning thee are nothing, butthat thou thyself also walkest orderly and keepest the law.
25 And as to the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication.”
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself with them, he entered into the temple to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until an offering should be offered for every one of them.
27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews who were from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people and laid hands on him,
28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teacheth all men everywhere against the people and the law and this place, and furthermore brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.”
29 (For they had seen previously with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 And all the city was moved and the people ran together, and they took Paul and dragged him out of the temple; and forthwith the doors were shut.
31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar,
32 who immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down unto them; and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left off beating Paul.
33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him and commanded that he be bound with two chains, and demanded who he was and what he had done.
34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude. And when he could learn nothing with certainty because of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
35 And when Paul came upon the stairs, so it was that he had to be borne by the soldiers because of the violence of the people.
36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, “Away with him!”
37 And as Paul was about to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, “May I speak unto thee?” And he said, “Canst thou speak Greek?
38 Art not thou that Egyptian who prior to these days madest an uproar and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men who were murderers?”
39 But Paul said, “I am a man who am a Jew of Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.”
40 And when he had given him leave, Paul stood on the stairs and beckoned with his hand unto the people. And when there fell a great silence, he spoke unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying:
22 “Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense which I make now unto you.”
2 (And when they heard that he spoke in the Hebrew tongue to them, they were the more silent.) And he said,
3 “I am verily a man who am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taughtaccording to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
4 And I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,
5 as also the high priest doth bear me witness and all the council of the elders. From them I also received letters unto the brethren, and I went to Damascus to bring those who were there bound unto Jerusalem to be punished.
6 “And it came to pass that, as I made my journey and had come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
7 And I fell unto the ground and heard a voice saying unto me, ‘Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?’
8 And I answered, ‘Who art Thou, Lord?’ And He said unto me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.’
9 And those who were with me saw indeed the light and were afraid, but they heard not the voice of Him that spoke to me.
10 And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said unto me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there it shall be told thee of all the things which are appointed for thee to do.’
11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.
12 “And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, of good report among all the Jews who dwelt there,
13 came unto me and stood and said unto me, ‘Brother Saul, receive thy sight!’ And that same hour I looked up upon him.
14 And he said, ‘The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of His mouth.
15 For thou shalt be His witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
16 And now why tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
17 “And it came to pass that when I had come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance
18 and saw Him saying unto me, ‘Make haste and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning Me.’
19 And I said, ‘Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in Thee.
20 And when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by and consenting unto his death and kept the raiment of those who slew him.’
21 And He said unto me, ‘Depart, for I will send thee far hence, unto the Gentiles.’”
22 And the crowd gave him an audience up to this word; and then they lifted up their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for it is not fit that he should live!”
23 And as they cried out and cast off their clothes and threw dust into the air,
24 the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging, so that he might find out why they cried so against him.
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?”
26 When the centurion heard this, he went and told the chief captain, saying, “Take heed what thou doest, for this man is a Roman.”
27 Then the chief captain came and said unto him, “Tell me, art thou a Roman?” And he said, “Yea.”
28 And the chief captain answered, “With a great sum I obtained this freedom.” And Paul said, “But I was free born.”
29 Then straightway those who should have examined him departed from him, and the chief captain also was afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30 On the morrow, because he would know with certainty why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
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