Acts 21
English Standard Version
Paul Goes to Jerusalem
21 And 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. 3 When 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. 4 And 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. 5 When 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 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
7 When 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. 8 On 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. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, (I)who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named (J)Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And 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[c] at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and (N)deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there (O)urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then 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.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, (S)we ceased and said, (T)“Let the will of the Lord be done.”
15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 And 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
17 When we had come to Jerusalem, (U)the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to (V)James, and all (W)the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, (X)he related one by one (Y)the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his (Z)ministry. 20 And 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, 21 and 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. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men (AH)who are under a vow; 24 take 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. 25 But 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,[d] and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then 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
27 When (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, 28 crying 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 (AU)has defiled (AV)this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen (AW)Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and (AX)dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 (AY)And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of (AZ)the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 (BA)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. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him (BB)to be bound (BC)with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 (BD)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 (BE)the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, (BF)“Away with him!”
Paul Speaks to the People
37 As 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? 38 Are you not (BG)the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out (BH)into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, (BI)“I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, (BJ)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in (BK)the Hebrew language,[e] saying:
Footnotes
- Acts 21:1 Some manuscripts add and Myra
- Acts 21:7 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 17
- Acts 21:11 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time
- Acts 21:25 Some manuscripts omit and from what has been strangled
- Acts 21:40 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)
Acts 21
Wycliffe Bible
21 And when it was done, that we should sail [that we should ship], and were passed away from them, with straight course we came to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes, and from thence to Patara, and from thence to Myra [and the day following to Rhodes, and from thence to Patara].
2 And when we found a ship passing over to [into] Phenicia, we went up into it, and sailed forth.
3 And when we appeared to Cyprus, we left it at the left half, and sailed into Syria, and came to Tyre. For there the ship should be uncharged [Soothly there the ship was to put out the charge].
4 And when we found disciples, we dwelled there seven days; which said by Spirit to Paul, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 And when the days were filled [And the days fulfilled], we went forth, and all men with wives and children led forth us [till] without the city; and we kneeled in the sea brink, and we prayed.
6 And when we had made farewell together, we went up into the ship; and they turned again into their own places [soothly they turned again into their own things].
7 And when the ship sailing was filled from Tyre, we came down to Ptolemais, and when we had greeted well the brethren [and the brethren greeted well], we dwelled one day at them.
8 And another day we went forth, and came to Caesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip evangelist, that was one of the seven, and dwelled at him.
9 And to him were four daughters, virgins, that prophesied.
10 And when we dwelled there [by] some days, a prophet [some man prophet], Agabus by name, came over from Judaea.
11 This when he came to us, took the girdle of Paul, and bound together his feet and hands, and said, The Holy Ghost saith these things, Thus [the] Jews shall bind in Jerusalem the man, whose is this girdle; and they shall betake him into heathen men's hands.
12 Which thing when we heard, we prayed, and they that were of that place, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, and said, What do ye, weeping and tormenting mine heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when we might not counsel him, we were still, and said [saying], The will of the Lord be done.
15 And after these days we were made ready [Soothly after these days we made ready], and went up to Jerusalem.
16 And some of the disciples came with us from Caesarea, and led with them a man [and led with them some man], Jason of Cyprus, an old disciple, at whom we should be harboured.
17 And when we came to Jerusalem, brethren received us willfully.
18 And in the day following Paul entered with us to James, and all the elder men were gathered.
19 Which when he had greeted [Whom when he had greeted], he told by all things, what [things] God had done in heathen men, by the ministry of him.
20 And when they heard, they magnified God, and said to him, Brother, thou seest how many thousands be in Jews, that have believed to God, and all be lovers of the law. [And when they heard, magnified God, and said to him, Thou brother, seest how many thousands be in Jews, that have believed to God, and all be followers, or lovers, of the law.]
21 And they heard of thee, that thou teachest departing from Moses of those Jews that be by heathen men, that say [saying], that they owe not to circumcise their sons, neither owe to enter by custom [neither owe to enter after custom].
22 Therefore what is [this]? It behooveth that the multitude come together; for they shall hear, that thou art come.
23 Therefore do thou this thing, that we say to thee. There be to us four men, that have a vow on them.
24 Take thou these men [These take to], and hallow thee with them; hang on them, that they shave their heads; and that all men know, that those things that they heard of thee be false, but that thou walkest, and thyself keepest the law.
25 But of these that believed of heathen men, we have written, deeming that they abstain them from thing offered to idols, and from blood, and also from strangled thing [deeming that they abstain them from things offered to idols, and blood, and strangled things], and from fornication.
26 Then Paul took the men, and in the day following he was purified with them, and entered into the temple, and showed the filling of days of purifying [showing the fulfilling of days of purifying], till the offering was offered for each of them.
27 And when seven days were ended, the Jews that were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred all the people, and laid hands on him,
28 and cried [crying], Men of Israel, help ye us. This is the man, that against the people and the law and this place teacheth every where all men, moreover and hath led heathen men into the temple, and hath defouled this holy place.
29 For they saw Trophimus of Ephesus in the city with him, whom they guessed that Paul had brought into the temple.
30 And all the city was moved, and a running together of the people was made. And they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple; and at once [and anon] the gates were closed.
31 And when they sought to slay him, it was told to the tribune of the company of knights, that all Jerusalem is confounded.
32 Which at once [Which anon] took knights, and centurions, and ran to them. And when they had seen the tribune, and the knights, they ceased to smite Paul.
33 Then the tribune came, and caught him, and commanded, that he were bound with two chains [Then the tribune coming to, caught him, and commanded to be bound with two chains]; and asked, who he was, and what he had done.
34 But others cried other thing among the people [Soothly others cried other thing in the company]. And when he might know no certain thing for the noise/And when he might not know [the] certain thing for the noise, he commanded him to be led into the castles.
35 And when Paul came to the grees, it befell that he was borne of knights, for strength of the people.
36 For the multitude of the people followed him, and cried [crying], Take him away.
37 And when Paul began to be led into the castles, he said to the tribune, Whether it is leaveful to me [If it is leaveful to me], to speak any thing to thee? And he said [Which said], Canst thou Greek?
38 Whether thou art not the Egyptian, which before these days movedest a noise, and leddest out into desert four thousand of men, menslayers?
39 And Paul said to him, For I am a Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen, which city is not unknown [Soothly I am a man Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen, or burgher, of a city not unknown]. And I pray thee, suffer me to speak to the people.
40 And when he suffered, Paul stood in the grees, and beckoned with the hand to the people. And when a great silence was made, he spake in Hebrew tongue, and said [saying],
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
2001 by Terence P. Noble