保罗前往耶路撒冷

21 我们和众人道别之后,乘船直接驶往哥士,第二天到达罗底,从那里前往帕大喇, 在帕大喇遇到一艘开往腓尼基的船,就上了船。 塞浦路斯遥遥在望,船从该岛的南面绕过,一直驶向叙利亚。因为船要在泰尔卸货,我们就在那里上了岸, 找到当地的门徒后,便和他们同住了七天。他们受圣灵的感动力劝保罗不要去耶路撒冷。 时间到了,我们继续前行,众门徒和他们的妻子儿女送我们出城。大家跪在岸边祷告之后,彼此道别。 我们上了船,众人也回家去了。

我们从泰尔乘船抵达多利买,上岸探访那里的弟兄姊妹,和他们住了一天。 第二天我们离开那里,来到凯撒利亚,住在传道人腓利家里。他是当初选出的七位执事之一。 腓利有四个未出嫁的女儿,都能说预言。 10 过了几天,一个名叫亚迦布的先知从犹太下来。 11 他到了我们这里,拿保罗的腰带绑住自己的手脚,说:“圣灵说,‘耶路撒冷的犹太人也要这样捆绑这腰带的主人,把他交给外族人。’”

12 听到这话,我们和当地的信徒都苦劝保罗不要去耶路撒冷。 13 但保罗说:“你们为什么这样哭泣,令我心碎呢?我为主耶稣的名甘愿受捆绑,甚至死在耶路撒冷。”

14 我们知道再劝也无济于事,只好对他说:“愿主的旨意成就。”

15 过了几天,我们收拾行装启程上耶路撒冷。 16 有几个凯撒利亚的门徒和我们一起去,并带我们到一个信主已久的塞浦路斯人拿孙家里住宿。

保罗会见雅各和众长老

17 我们抵达耶路撒冷后,受到弟兄姊妹的热烈欢迎。 18 第二天,保罗和我们去见雅各,众长老都在那里。 19 保罗向大家问安之后,便一一述说上帝如何借着他传福音给外族人。 20 大家听了,都同声赞美上帝,又对保罗说:“弟兄,你知道数以万计的犹太人信了主,他们都严守律法。 21 他们听见有人说你教导住在外族人中的犹太人背弃摩西的律法,不替孩子行割礼,也不遵守犹太人的规矩。 22 他们一定会听到你来这里的消息,这该怎么办? 23 请你听我们的建议,这里有四位向上帝许过愿的弟兄, 24 你和他们一起去行洁净礼,并由你替他们付费,让他们可以剃头,好叫众人知道你严守律法,循规蹈矩,关于你的传闻都是假的。 25 至于那些外族信徒,我们已经写信吩咐他们,不可吃祭过偶像的食物,不可吃血和勒死的牲畜,不可淫乱。”

保罗被捕

26 于是,保罗和四位弟兄第二天行了洁净礼,然后上圣殿报告他们洁净期满的日子,好在期满后让祭司为他们每个人献祭物。 27 当七日的洁净期将满的时候,有些从亚细亚来的犹太人发现保罗在圣殿里,就煽动众人去抓他。 28 他们高喊:“以色列人快来帮忙!就是这人到处教唆人反对我们的民族、律法和圣殿。他还带希腊人进圣殿,玷污这圣地。” 29 这是因为他们在城里见过一个名叫特罗非摩的以弗所人和保罗在一起,以为保罗一定把他带进圣殿了。

30 消息一传开,全城轰动。众人冲进圣殿把保罗拉出来,随即关上殿门。 31 正当他们要杀保罗的时候,有人把耶路撒冷发生骚乱的消息报告给罗马军营的千夫长, 32 千夫长马上带着军兵和几个百夫长赶来了。众人一见千夫长和军队,便停止殴打保罗。 33 千夫长上前拿住保罗,命人用两条铁链把他锁起来,问他是什么人、做了什么事。 34 人群中有人这样喊,有人那样喊,情形混乱不堪,千夫长无法辨明真相,便命人将保罗带回军营。 35 保罗刚走上台阶,众人便凶猛地拥挤过来,士兵们只好把他举起来抬着走。 36 众人挤在后面喊着说:“杀掉他!”

保罗的申辩

37 士兵们抬着保罗来到军营门口,保罗问千夫长:“我可以和你讲几句话吗?”千夫长说:“你也懂希腊话吗? 38 不久前煽动叛乱、带着四千暴徒逃到旷野去的那个埃及人是你吗?” 39 保罗说:“我是犹太人,来自基利迦的大数,并非无名小城的人。请准许我向百姓讲几句话。” 40 千夫长答应了,保罗就站在台阶上向众人挥手示意,他们都安静下来,保罗用希伯来话对他们说:

勸阻耶路撒冷之行

21 我們與他們惜別以後就開船直航,來到科斯島。第二天到了羅得島,又從那裡到帕塔拉 找到了一條開往腓尼基的船,就上船起航。 我們望見塞浦路斯島,駛過的時候它在左邊。我們繼續向敘利亞省航行,在提爾登陸,因為船要在那裡卸貨。 我們找到了一些門徒,就在那裡住了七天。他們藉著聖靈,一直告訴保羅不要上耶路撒冷去。 那些日子過了以後,我們出發前行,大家與妻子和兒女一起送我們到城外。我們都跪在岸上禱告, 彼此告別。我們上了船,他們就回自己的家去了。

我們結束了從提爾開始的航程,到達托勒密,就去問候弟兄們,在他們那裡住了一天。 第二天我們[a]離開那裡,來到凱撒里亞,進了傳福音者腓利的家,住在他那裡,他是那七位執事[b]中的一位。 他有四個女兒,都是童貞女,是做先知傳道[c]的。

10 我們住了好幾天,有一個名叫阿伽布斯的先知從猶太下來了。 11 他來到我們這裡,拿起保羅的腰帶,把自己的手腳捆起來,說:「聖靈這樣說,猶太人在耶路撒冷要如此捆綁這腰帶的主人,把他交在外邦人的手中。」 12 我們一聽這些話,就和當地的人懇求保羅不要上耶路撒冷去。

13 這時候保羅說:「你們為什麼哭,使我心碎呢?我為了主耶穌的名,不僅被捆綁,即使死在耶路撒冷,也都預備好了。」

14 我們既然不能說服保羅,就都安靜下來,只說:「願主的旨意成就。」

有關外邦宣教的爭議

15 過了幾天,我們收拾行李,上耶路撒冷去。 16 凱撒里亞的一些門徒也陪我們一起去,帶我們到一個塞浦路斯納森家裡去作客住宿。他做門徒已經很久了。

17 我們到了耶路撒冷,弟兄們很高興地歡迎我們。 18 第二天,保羅與我們一起去探望雅各,所有的長老也都來了。 19 保羅問候他們後,一一述說神藉著他的服事,在外邦人中所做的事。

20 他們聽了就不住地榮耀神[d],又對保羅說:「弟兄,你看猶太人中信主[e]的人有多少萬,而且他們都是對律法熱心的人。 21 他們聽到有關你的事,說你教導所有在外邦人中的猶太人離道反教、背棄摩西,叫他們不要給孩子行割禮,也不要按規矩行事。 22 他們一定會聽到你來這裡了[f]。那麼該怎麼辦呢? 23 你就照我們告訴你的去做吧。我們這裡有四個人,他們都許過願。 24 你帶他們去,與他們一起行潔淨禮,並且替他們付錢,好讓他們剃掉頭髮。這樣,大家就會知道有關你的傳聞不是真的,而且你自己也是照著規矩行事、遵守律法的。 25 至於已經相信的外邦人,我們照著決定寫了信,要他們遠避祭過偶像的食物,遠避血和勒死的動物,遠避淫亂。[g]

聖殿裡的騷亂

26 於是,第二天保羅帶了那四個人,與他們一起行了潔淨禮,進了聖殿,宣告潔淨期滿的日子,直到為他們每一個人的供物都被獻上為止。 27 那七天快要結束的時候,從亞細亞省來的一些猶太人看到保羅在聖殿裡,就煽動整個人群,下手捉拿他, 28 喊叫:「各位以色列人哪,請幫忙!這個人就是那到處教導大家反對我們的民族、律法,反對這地方的!他甚至把希臘人帶進聖殿,玷汙了這聖地。」 29 原來他們曾經看見以弗所特羅費摩保羅一起在城裡,就以為保羅帶他進了聖殿。

30 於是全城的人都被煽動了,民眾一起跑來,抓住保羅,把他拖出聖殿,殿門立刻關上了。 31 在他們想殺保羅的時候,有消息上報到軍團的千夫長,說全耶路撒冷都混亂了。 32 千夫長立即帶著士兵和幾個百夫長跑下去,到了他們那裡。他們一看見千夫長和士兵們,就停止毆打保羅 33 於是千夫長上前抓住保羅,下令用兩條鐵鏈把他捆起來,然後查問他到底是什麼人,做了什麼事。 34 人群當中,有的喊這個,有的喊那個;千夫長因為騷亂,無法知道真相,就下令把保羅帶到營樓裡去。 35 保羅到了臺階上的時候,由於人群凶猛,士兵們只好把他抬起來走。 36 那一群人跟在後面,喊叫:「除掉他!」

保羅對群眾的講話

37 保羅快要被押進營樓的時候,就對千夫長說:「我是否可以對你說句話?」

千夫長說:「你懂希臘語嗎? 38 你究竟是不是那個前些日子作亂、帶領四千個凶徒進入曠野的埃及人呢?」

39 保羅回答說:「我是猶太人,是奇里乞亞省的塔爾蘇人,並不是無名之城的公民,請求你准許我向民眾說話。」

40 千夫長准許了,保羅就站在臺階上,向民眾揮一下手,大家都寂靜無聲,保羅就用希伯來語呼籲,說:

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行傳 21:8 我們——有古抄本作「跟隨保羅的人」。
  2. 使徒行傳 21:8 執事——輔助詞語。
  3. 使徒行傳 21:9 做先知傳道——原文直譯「說預言」。
  4. 使徒行傳 21:20 神——有古抄本作「主」。
  5. 使徒行傳 21:20 主——輔助詞語。
  6. 使徒行傳 21:22 他們一定會聽到你來這裡了——有古抄本作「他們聽到你來了,民眾必定會聚集」。
  7. 使徒行傳 21:25 有古抄本附「除了這些以外,不要遵守任何這樣的事」。

On to Jerusalem

21 After we(A) had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,(B) went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.(C) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples(D) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit(E) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.(F) After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

We continued our voyage from Tyre(G) and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters(H) and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea(I) and stayed at the house of Philip(J) the evangelist,(K) one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.(L)

10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus(M) came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,(N) ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind(O) the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”(P)

12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die(Q) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”(R) 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up(S) and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”(T)

15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.(U) 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea(V) accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus(W) and one of the early disciples.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters(X) received us warmly.(Y) 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,(Z) and all the elders(AA) were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles(AB) through his ministry.(AC)

20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous(AD) for the law.(AE) 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,(AF) telling them not to circumcise their children(AG) or live according to our customs.(AH) 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.(AI) 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites(AJ) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.(AK) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”(AL)

26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.(AM)

Paul Arrested

27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,(AN) 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”(AO) 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus(AP) the Ephesian(AQ) in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul,(AR) they dragged him(AS) from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.(AT)

33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound(AU) with two(AV) chains.(AW) Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another,(AX) and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(AY) 35 When Paul reached the steps,(AZ) the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”(BA)

Paul Speaks to the Crowd(BB)

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks,(BC) he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness(BD) some time ago?”(BE)

39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus(BF) in Cilicia,(BG) a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

40 After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned(BH) to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic[a]:(BI)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 21:40 Or possibly Hebrew; also in 22:2

21 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:

And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.

And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

11 And when he was 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 that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of 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 ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.

16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.

17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18 And the day following Paul went in 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 which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;

24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

25 As touching the Gentiles which 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 strangled, and from fornication.

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of 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, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

29 (For they had seen before 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 drew 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 band, 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 beating of Paul.

33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to 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 not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.

36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.

37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?

39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in 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 licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,