Acts 21:15-40
New American Standard Bible
Paul in Jerusalem
15 After these days we got ready and (A)started on our way up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of (B)the disciples from (C)Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of (D)Cyprus, a (E)disciple of long standing with whom we were to stay.
17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, (F)the brothers and sisters received us gladly. 18 And the following day Paul went in with us to [a](G)James, and all (H)the elders were present. 19 After he had greeted them, he (I)began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his (J)ministry. 20 And when they heard about them, they began (K)glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many [b]thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all (L)zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are (M)teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them (N)not to circumcise their children nor to [c]walk according to (O)the customs. 22 So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Therefore, do [d]as we tell you: we have four men who (P)have a [e]vow upon themselves; 24 take them along and (Q)purify yourself together with them, and [f]pay their expenses so that they may (R)shave their [g]heads; and then everyone will know that there is nothing to what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also conform, keeping the Law. 25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we sent a letter, (S)having decided that they should abstain from [h]meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and what is [i]strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul [j]took along the men, and the next day, after (T)purifying himself together with them, he (U)went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.
Paul Seized in the Temple
27 When (V)the seven days were almost over, (W)the Jews from [k](X)Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! (Y)This is the man who instructs everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has (Z)defiled this holy place!” 29 For they had previously seen (AA)Trophimus the (AB)Ephesian in the city with him, and they thought that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then the whole city was provoked and [l]the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they (AC)dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were intent on killing him, a report came up to the commander of the (AD)Roman [m]cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He immediately (AE)took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to [n]the crowd; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered that he be (AF)bound with (AG)two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done. 34 But among the crowd, (AH)some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the [o]facts because of the uproar, he ordered that [p]Paul be brought into (AI)the barracks. 35 When Paul got to (AJ)the stairs, it came about that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the [q]mob; 36 for the multitude of people kept following them, shouting, “(AK)Away with him!”
37 As Paul was about to be brought into (AL)the barracks, he *said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Then you are not (AM)the Egyptian who some [r]time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out (AN)into the wilderness?” 39 But Paul said, “(AO)I am a Jew of Tarsus in (AP)Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” 40 When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on (AQ)the stairs, (AR)motioned to the people with his hand; and when there [s]was a great silence, he spoke to them in the [t](AS)Hebrew dialect, saying,
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 21:18 Or Jacob
- Acts 21:20 Lit ten thousands
- Acts 21:21 I.e., observe or live by
- Acts 21:23 Lit this which we
- Acts 21:23 I.e., a sacred duty to fulfill
- Acts 21:24 Lit spend on them
- Acts 21:24 Lit head (a requirement of the vow)
- Acts 21:25 Lit the thing
- Acts 21:25 I.e., to retain the blood
- Acts 21:26 Or took along the men the next day, and after purifying himself
- Acts 21:27 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
- Acts 21:30 Lit a running together of the people occurred
- Acts 21:31 Normally 600 men (the number varied)
- Acts 21:32 Lit them
- Acts 21:34 Lit certainty
- Acts 21:34 Lit he
- Acts 21:35 Lit crowd
- Acts 21:38 Lit days
- Acts 21:40 Lit occurred
- Acts 21:40 I.e., Jewish Aramaic
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