Acts 21:7-26

English Standard Version

⁷ When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted ^(A)the brothers^[a] and stayed with them for one day. ⁸ On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of ^(B)Philip ^(C)the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters, ^(D)who prophesied. ¹⁰ While we were staying for many days, a prophet named ^(E)Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ And coming to us, he ^(F)took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, ^(G)“Thus says the Holy Spirit, ^(H)‘This is how the Jews^[b] at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and ^(I)deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” ¹² When we heard this, we and the people there ^(J)urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, ^(K)“What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For ^(L)I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem ^(M)for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ And since he would not be persuaded, ^(N)we ceased and said, ^(O)“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, ^(P)the brothers received us gladly. ¹⁸ On the following day Paul went in with us to ^(Q)James, and all ^(R)the elders were present. ¹⁹ After greeting them, ^(S)he related one by one ^(T)the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ^(U)ministry. ²⁰ And when they heard it, they ^(V)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 ^(W)zealous for the law, ²¹ and they have been told about you that you teach all ^(X)the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, ^(Y)telling them ^(Z)not to circumcise their children or ^(AA)walk according to ^(AB)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 ^(AC)who are under a vow; ²⁴ take these men and ^(AD)purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, ^(AE)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, ^(AF)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,^[c] and from sexual immorality.” ²⁶ Then Paul took the men, and the next day ^(AG)he purified himself along with them and ^(AH)went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and ^(AI)the offering presented for each one of them.