Acts 21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem
21 When we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.[a] 2 When we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail.(A) 3 We came in sight of Cyprus, and leaving it on our left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4 We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.(B) 5 When our days there were ended, we left and proceeded on our journey, and all of them, with wives and children, escorted us outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed(C) 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
7 When we had finished[b] the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for one day.(D) 8 The next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him.(E) 9 He had four unmarried daughters[c] who had the gift of prophecy.(F) 10 While we were staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us and took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the gentiles.’ ”(G) 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”(H) 14 Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, “The Lord’s will be done.”(I)
15 After these days we got ready and started to go up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came along and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.(J)
Paul Visits James at Jerusalem
17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly.(K) 18 The next day Paul went with us to visit James, and all the elders were present.(L) 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the gentiles through his ministry.(M) 20 When they heard it, they praised God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law.(N) 21 They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews living among the gentiles to forsake Moses and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow.(O) 24 Join these men, go through the rite of purification with them, and pay for the shaving of their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you but that you yourself observe and guard the law.(P) 25 But as for the gentiles who have become believers, 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 is strangled[d] and from sexual immorality.”(Q) 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having purified himself, he entered the temple with them, making public the completion of the days of purification when the sacrifice would be made for each of them.(R)
Paul Arrested in the Temple
27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd. They seized him,(S) 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites,[e] help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place; more than that, he has actually brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”(T) 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.(U) 30 Then all the city was aroused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.(V) 31 While they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.(W) 33 Then the tribune came, arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; he inquired who he was and what he had done.(X) 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another, and as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.(Y) 35 When Paul[f] came to the steps, the violence of the mob was so great that he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Away with him!”(Z)
Paul Defends Himself
37 Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” The tribune[g] replied, “Do you know Greek? 38 Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”(AA) 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.”(AB) 40 When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence, and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew[h] language, saying:(AC)
Acts 21
New American Standard Bible
Paul Sails from Miletus
21 Now when (A)we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran (B)a straight course to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara; 2 and having found a ship crossing over to (C)Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we came in sight of (D)Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to (E)Syria and landed at (F)Tyre; for the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4 After looking up (G)the disciples, we stayed there for seven days; and they kept telling Paul, [a](H)through the Spirit, not to set foot in Jerusalem. 5 When [b]our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, (I)escorted us until we were out of the city. After (J)kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. 6 Then we boarded the ship, and they returned (K)home.
7 When we had finished the voyage from (L)Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting (M)the brothers and sisters, we stayed with them for a day. 8 On the next day we left and came to (N)Caesarea, and we entered the house of (O)Philip the (P)evangelist, who was (Q)one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were (R)prophetesses. 10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named (S)Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And he came to us and (T)took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This (U)is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will (V)bind the man who owns this belt and (W)hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him (X)not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For (Y)I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for (Z)the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet, remarking, “(AA)The will of the Lord be done!”
Paul in Jerusalem
15 After these days we got ready and (AB)started on our way up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of (AC)the disciples from (AD)Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of (AE)Cyprus, a (AF)disciple of long standing with whom we were to stay.
17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, (AG)the brothers and sisters received us gladly. 18 And the following day Paul went in with us to [c](AH)James, and all (AI)the elders were present. 19 After he had greeted them, he (AJ)began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his (AK)ministry. 20 And when they heard about them, they began (AL)glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many [d]thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all (AM)zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are (AN)teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them (AO)not to circumcise their children nor to [e]walk according to (AP)the customs. 22 So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Therefore, do [f]as we tell you: we have four men who (AQ)have a [g]vow upon themselves; 24 take them along and (AR)purify yourself together with them, and [h]pay their expenses so that they may (AS)shave their [i]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, (AT)having decided that they should abstain from [j]meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and what is [k]strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul [l]took along the men, and the next day, after (AU)purifying himself together with them, he (AV)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 (AW)the seven days were almost over, (AX)the Jews from [m](AY)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! (AZ)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 (BA)defiled this holy place!” 29 For they had previously seen (BB)Trophimus the (BC)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 [n]the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they (BD)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 (BE)Roman [o]cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He immediately (BF)took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to [p]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 (BG)bound with (BH)two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done. 34 But among the crowd, (BI)some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the [q]facts because of the uproar, he ordered that [r]Paul be brought into (BJ)the barracks. 35 When Paul got to (BK)the stairs, it came about that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the [s]mob; 36 for the multitude of people kept following them, shouting, “(BL)Away with him!”
37 As Paul was about to be brought into (BM)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 (BN)the Egyptian who some [t]time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out (BO)into the wilderness?” 39 But Paul said, “(BP)I am a Jew of Tarsus in (BQ)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 (BR)the stairs, (BS)motioned to the people with his hand; and when there [u]was a great silence, he spoke to them in the [v](BT)Hebrew dialect, saying,
Footnotes
- Acts 21:4 I.e., because of impressions made by the Spirit
- Acts 21:5 Lit we had completed the days
- 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
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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