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21 Mbasi u ndamë nga ta, lundruam dhe, duke shkuar drejt, arritëm në Koos, ditën tjetër në Rodos dhe që andej në Patara.

Edhe, si gjetëm një anije që shkonte për Feniki, hipëm dhe lundruam.

Pamë nga larg Qipron dhe e lamë në të majtë, vazhduam lundrimin për në Siri dhe dolëm në Tiro, sepse atje anija kishte për të shkarkuar.

Dhe, si i gjetëm dishepujt, qëndruam atje shtatë ditë; të shtyrë nga Fryma, ata i thoshin Palit të mos ngjitej në Jeruzalem.

Kur i plotësuam ato ditë, u nisëm dhe shkuam; dhe na përcollën të gjithë, me gra e me fëmijë, deri jashtë qytetit; dhe si u ulëm në gjunjë në breg, u lutëm.

Dhe, mbasi u përshëndetëm, hipëm në anije, kurse ata u kthyen në shtëpitë e veta.

Kur mbaruam lundrimin, nga Tiro erdhëm në Ptolemaidë dhe, si përshëndetëm vëllezërit, kaluam një ditë me ta.

Të nesërmen u nisëm (ne që ishim shokë me Palin), arritëm në Cezare dhe hymë në shtëpinë e Filip ungjilltarit, që ishte një nga të shtatët, dhe ndenjëm tek ai.

Por ai kishte katër bija virgjëresha, që profetizonin.

10 Dhe, pasi qëndruam ne atje shumë ditë, zbriti nga Judeja një farë profeti me emër Agabo.

11 Si erdhi te ne, ai mori brezin e Palit, lidhi duart dhe këmbët e veta dhe tha: “Këtë thotë Fryma e Shenjtë: Kështu do ta lidhin Judenjtë në Jeruzalem burrin, të cilit i përket ky brez dhe do t’a dorëzojnë johebrenjve.”

12 Kur i dëgjuam këto gjëra, ne dhe vendësit iu lutëm që të mos ngjitej në Jeruzalem.

13 Por Pali u përgjigj: “Ç’po bëni ju, duke qarë e duke ma copëtuar zemrën? Sepse unë jam gati jo vetëm për të qenë i lidhur, por edhe për të vdekur në Jeruzalem për emrin e Zotit Jezus.”

14 Dhe, mbasi nuk i mbushej mendja, ne pushuam duke thënë: “U bëftë vullneti i Zotit!.”

15 Dhe pas atyre ditëve, bëmë gati gjërat tona, dhe u ngjitëm në Jeruzalem.

16 Me ne erdhën edhe disa dishepuj nga Cezareja dhe prunë me ta njëfarë Mnasoni, lindur në Qipro, një dishepull i vjetër, tek i cili do të bujtnim.

17 Kur arritëm në Jeruzalem, vëllezërit na pritën me gëzim.

18 Të nesërmen Pali u tërhoq me ne te Jakobi, dhe erdhën të gjithë pleqtë.

19 Mbasi i përshëndeti, Pali u tregoi atyre, një për një, të gjitha sa kishte bërë Zoti ndër johebrenjtë me anë të shërbesës së tij.

20 Dhe ata, kur dëgjuan këtë, përlëvduan Perëndinë dhe i thanë Palit: “Vëlla, ti po sheh sa mijëra Judenj ka që kanë besuar; dhe të gjithë i përbahen me zell ligjit.

21 Tani ata morën vesh për ty se ti i mëson të gjithë Judenjtës që jetojnë midis johebrenjve të shkëputen nga Moisiu, duke thënë që të mos i rrethpresin djemtë dhe të mos ndjekin më zakonet.

22 Po atëherë, ç’duhet të bëhet? Duhet patjetër që të mblidhet populli, sepse do ta marrin vesh se ke ardhur.

23 Bëje, pra, atë që të themi: ne kemi katër burra, që kanë bërë një premtim solemn;

24 merri dhe pastrohu me ta, dhe paguaj për ta që të rruajnë kokën; kështu të gjithë do ta mësojnë se s’janë gjë ato që kanë dëgjuar për ty, por se edhe ti ecën duke respektuar ligjin.

25 Dhe sa për johebrenjtë që kanë besuar, ne u kemi shkruar atyre, mbasi vendosëm që ata nuk kanë ç’të respektojnë lidhur me këtë, por se të ruhen nga gjërat që u flijohen idhujve, nga gjaku, nga gjërat e mbytura dhe nga kurvëria.”

26 Atëherë Pali i mori me vete ata burra dhe, të nesërmen, pasi u pastrua bashkë me ta, hyri në tempull dhe deklaroi plotësimin e ditëve të pastrimit, dhe kur do të paraqitej oferta për secilin nga ata.

27 Por, kur po mbusheshin shtatë ditët, Judenjtë e Azisë, duke e parë në tempull, e nxitën turmën dhe vunë duart mbi të,

28 duke bërtitur: “O burra të Izraelit, na ndihmoni! Ky është ai njeri që u mëson të gjithëve dhe kudo kundër popullit, kundër ligjit dhe kundër këtij vendi; përveç kësaj ai i ka sjellë Grekët në tempull dhe e ka ndotur këtë vend të shenjtë.”

29 Sepse ata kishin parë më përpara Trofimin nga Efesi bashkë me Palin në qytet, dhe mendonin se ai e kishte sjellë në tempull.

30 Dhe gjithë qyteti ziente, dhe u mblodhën njerëzit; dhe, si e kapën Palin, e nxorrën jashtë tempullit dhe dyert u mby-llën menjëherë.

31 Dhe, ndërsa kërkonin ta vrisnin, tribunit të kohortës i shkoi lajmi se gjithë Jeruzalemi ishte turbulluar.

32 Ai mori menjëherë ushtarë dhe centurionë dhe u sul kundër tyre. Dhe këta, kur panë tribunin dhe ushtarët, pushuan së rrahuri Palin.

33 Atëherë tribuni u afrua, e zuri dhe urdhëroi që ta lidhnin me dy zinxhirë, pastaj pyeti cili ishte dhe ç’kishte bërë.

34 Në turmë disa bërtisnin një gjë, të tjerë një tjetër; dhe, mbasi nuk mori vesh dot të vërtetën për trazirën, urdhëroi që ta sillnin në fortesë.

35 Dhe kur arriti te shkallaret, ndodhi që, për shkak të dhunës së turmës, duhej të bartej nga ushtarët,

36 sepse masa e popullit vinte pas duke bërtitur: “Vdekje!.”

37 Kur Pali do të hynte në fortesë, i tha tribunit: “A më lejohet të them diçka?.” Ai u përgjigj: “A di greqisht?

38 Mos je vallë ai Egjiptasi që disa ditë më parë ngriti krye dhe nxori në shkretëtirë katër mijë gjakësorë?.”

39 Dhe Pali tha: “Unë jam një Jude nga Tarsi, qytetar i një qyteti të Kilikisë që s’është i padëgjuar; dhe të lutem më lejo t’i flas popullit.”

40 Dhe, mbasi e lejoi, Pali, duke qëndruar në këmbë mbi shkallarët, i bëri shenjë me dorë popullit. Dhe, si u bë heshtje e madhe, i foli në gjuhën hebraike, duke thënë:

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,