Beginning
Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem
21 After[a] we[b] tore ourselves away[c] from them, we put out to sea,[d] and sailing a straight course,[e] we came to Cos,[f] on the next day to Rhodes,[g] and from there to Patara.[h] 2 We found[i] a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,[j] went aboard,[k] and put out to sea.[l] 3 After we sighted Cyprus[m] and left it behind on our port side,[n] we sailed on to Syria and put in[o] at Tyre,[p] because the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4 After we located[q] the disciples, we stayed there[r] seven days. They repeatedly told[s] Paul through the Spirit[t] not to set foot[u] in Jerusalem. 5 When[v] our time was over,[w] we left and went on our way. All of them, with their wives and children, accompanied[x] us outside of the city. After[y] kneeling down on the beach and praying,[z] 6 we said farewell[aa] to one another. Then[ab] we went aboard the ship, and they returned to their own homes.[ac] 7 We continued the voyage from Tyre[ad] and arrived at Ptolemais,[ae] and when we had greeted the brothers, we stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we left[af] and came to Caesarea,[ag] and entered[ah] the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven,[ai] and stayed with him. 9 (He had four unmarried[aj] daughters who prophesied.)[ak]
10 While we remained there for a number of days,[al] a prophet named Agabus[am] came down from Judea. 11 He came[an] to us, took[ao] Paul’s belt,[ap] tied[aq] his own hands and feet with it,[ar] and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over[as] to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, both we and the local people[at] begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking[au] my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up,[av] but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Because he could not be persuaded,[aw] we said no more except,[ax] “The Lord’s will be done.”[ay]
15 After these days we got ready[az] and started up[ba] to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea[bb] came along with us too, and brought us to the house[bc] of Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple from the earliest times,[bd] with whom we were to stay. 17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.[be] 18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there.[bf] 19 When Paul[bg] had greeted them, he began to explain[bh] in detail[bi] what God[bj] had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 When they heard this, they praised[bk] God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews[bl] there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers[bm] of the law.[bn] 21 They have been informed about you—that you teach all the Jews now living[bo] among the Gentiles to abandon[bp] Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children[bq] or live[br] according to our customs. 22 What then should we do? They will no doubt[bs] hear that you have come. 23 So do what[bt] we tell you: We have four men[bu] who have taken[bv] a vow;[bw] 24 take them and purify[bx] yourself along with them and pay their expenses,[by] so that they may have their heads shaved.[bz] Then[ca] everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told[cb] about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with[cc] the law.[cd] 25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided[ce] that they should avoid[cf] meat that has been sacrificed to idols[cg] and blood and what has been strangled[ch] and sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men the next day,[ci] and after he had purified himself[cj] along with them, he went to the temple and gave notice[ck] of the completion of the days of purification,[cl] when[cm] the sacrifice would be offered for each[cn] of them. 27 When the seven days were almost over,[co] the Jews from the province of Asia[cp] who had seen him in the temple area[cq] stirred up the whole crowd[cr] and seized[cs] him, 28 shouting, “Men of Israel,[ct] help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law,[cu] and this sanctuary![cv] Furthermore[cw] he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple[cx] and made this holy place ritually unclean!”[cy] 29 (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, and[cz] they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.)[da] 30 The whole city was stirred up,[db] and the people rushed together.[dc] They seized[dd] Paul and dragged him out of the temple courts,[de] and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were trying[df] to kill him, a report[dg] was sent up[dh] to the commanding officer[di] of the cohort[dj] that all Jerusalem was in confusion.[dk] 32 He[dl] immediately took[dm] soldiers and centurions[dn] and ran down to the crowd.[do] When they saw[dp] the commanding officer[dq] and the soldiers, they stopped beating[dr] Paul. 33 Then the commanding officer[ds] came up and arrested[dt] him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains;[du] he[dv] then asked who he was and what[dw] he had done. 34 But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else,[dx] and when the commanding officer[dy] was unable[dz] to find out the truth[ea] because of the disturbance,[eb] he ordered Paul[ec] to be brought into the barracks.[ed] 35 When he came to the steps, Paul[ee] had to be carried[ef] by the soldiers because of the violence[eg] of the mob, 36 for a crowd of people[eh] followed them,[ei] screaming, “Away with him!” 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks,[ej] he said[ek] to the commanding officer,[el] “May I say[em] something to you?” The officer[en] replied,[eo] “Do you know Greek?[ep] 38 Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebellion[eq] and led the 4,000 men of the ‘Assassins’[er] into the wilderness[es] some time ago?”[et] 39 Paul answered,[eu] “I am a Jew[ev] from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city.[ew] Please[ex] allow me to speak to the people.” 40 When the commanding officer[ey] had given him permission,[ez] Paul stood[fa] on the steps and gestured[fb] to the people with his hand. When they had become silent,[fc] he addressed[fd] them in Aramaic,[fe]
Paul’s Defense
22 “Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense[ff] that I now[fg] make to you.” 2 (When they heard[fh] that he was addressing[fi] them in Aramaic,[fj] they became even[fk] quieter.)[fl] Then[fm] Paul said, 3 “I am a Jew,[fn] born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up[fo] in this city, educated with strictness[fp] under[fq] Gamaliel[fr] according to the law of our ancestors,[fs] and was[ft] zealous[fu] for God just as all of you are today. 4 I[fv] persecuted this Way[fw] even to the point of death,[fx] tying up[fy] both men and women and putting[fz] them in prison, 5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders[ga] can testify about me. From them[gb] I also received[gc] letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I was on my way[gd] to make arrests there and bring[ge] the prisoners[gf] to Jerusalem[gg] to be punished. 6 As[gh] I was en route and near Damascus,[gi] about noon a very bright[gj] light from heaven[gk] suddenly flashed[gl] around me. 7 Then I[gm] fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand[gn] the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 So I asked,[go] ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up[gp] and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything[gq] that you have been designated[gr] to do.’ 11 Since I could not see because of[gs] the brilliance[gt] of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand of[gu] those who were with me. 12 A man named Ananias,[gv] a devout man according to the law,[gw] well spoken of by all the Jews who live there,[gx] 13 came[gy] to me and stood beside me[gz] and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’[ha] And at that very moment[hb] I looked up and saw him.[hc] 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors[hd] has already chosen[he] you to know his will, to see[hf] the Righteous One,[hg] and to hear a command[hh] from his mouth, 15 because you will be his witness[hi] to all people[hj] of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for?[hk] Get up,[hl] be baptized, and have your sins washed away,[hm] calling on his name.’[hn] 17 When[ho] I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance[hp] 18 and saw the Lord[hq] saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 I replied,[hr] ‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues[hs] who believed in you. 20 And when the blood of your witness[ht] Stephen was shed,[hu] I myself was standing nearby, approving,[hv] and guarding the cloaks[hw] of those who were killing him.’[hx] 21 Then[hy] he said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”
The Roman Commander Questions Paul
22 The crowd[hz] was listening to him until he said this.[ia] Then[ib] they raised their voices and shouted,[ic] “Away with this man[id] from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!”[ie] 23 While they were screaming[if] and throwing off their cloaks[ig] and tossing dust[ih] in the air, 24 the commanding officer[ii] ordered Paul[ij] to be brought back into the barracks.[ik] He told them[il] to interrogate Paul[im] by beating him with a lash[in] so that he could find out the reason the crowd[io] was shouting at Paul[ip] in this way. 25 When they had stretched him out for the lash,[iq] Paul said to the centurion[ir] standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen[is] without a proper trial?”[it] 26 When the centurion[iu] heard this,[iv] he went to the commanding officer[iw] and reported it,[ix] saying, “What are you about to do?[iy] For this man is a Roman citizen.”[iz] 27 So the commanding officer[ja] came and asked[jb] Paul,[jc] “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”[jd] He replied,[je] “Yes.” 28 The commanding officer[jf] answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”[jg] “But I was even[jh] born a citizen,”[ji] Paul replied.[jj] 29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away[jk] from him, and the commanding officer[jl] was frightened when he realized that Paul[jm] was[jn] a Roman citizen[jo] and that he had had him tied up.[jp]
Paul Before the Sanhedrin
30 The next day, because the commanding officer[jq] wanted to know the true reason[jr] Paul[js] was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council[jt] to assemble. He then brought[ju] Paul down and had him stand before them.
23 Paul looked directly[jv] at the council[jw] and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience[jx] before God to this day.” 2 At that[jy] the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near[jz] Paul[ka] to strike[kb] him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall![kc] Do[kd] you sit there judging me according to the law,[ke] and in violation of the law[kf] you order me to be struck?” 4 Those standing near him[kg] said, “Do you dare insult[kh] God’s high priest?” 5 Paul replied,[ki] “I did not realize,[kj] brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”[kk]
6 Then when Paul noticed[kl] that part of them were Sadducees[km] and the others Pharisees,[kn] he shouted out in the council,[ko] “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection[kp] of the dead!” 7 When he said this,[kq] an argument[kr] began[ks] between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)[kt] 9 There was a great commotion,[ku] and some experts in the law[kv] from the party of the Pharisees stood up[kw] and protested strongly,[kx] “We find nothing wrong[ky] with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 When the argument became[kz] so great the commanding officer[la] feared that they would tear Paul to pieces,[lb] he ordered the detachment[lc] to go down, take him away from them by force,[ld] and bring him into the barracks.[le]
11 The following night the Lord[lf] stood near[lg] Paul[lh] and said, “Have courage,[li] for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”[lj]
The Plot to Kill Paul
12 When morning came,[lk] the Jews formed[ll] a conspiracy[lm] and bound themselves with an oath[ln] not to eat or drink anything[lo] until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy.[lp] 14 They[lq] went[lr] to the chief priests[ls] and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath[lt] not to partake[lu] of anything until we have killed Paul. 15 So now you and the council[lv] request the commanding officer[lw] to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine[lx] his case[ly] by conducting a more thorough inquiry.[lz] We are ready to kill him[ma] before he comes near this place.”[mb]
16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush,[mc] he came and entered[md] the barracks[me] and told Paul. 17 Paul called[mf] one of the centurions[mg] and said, “Take this young man to the commanding officer,[mh] for he has something to report to him.” 18 So the centurion[mi] took him and brought him to the commanding officer[mj] and said, “The prisoner Paul called[mk] me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commanding officer[ml] took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want[mm] to report to me?” 20 He replied,[mn] “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council[mo] tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him. 21 So do not let them persuade you to do this,[mp] because more than forty of them[mq] are lying in ambush[mr] for him. They[ms] have bound themselves with an oath[mt] not to eat or drink anything[mu] until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.”[mv] 22 Then the commanding officer[mw] sent the young man away, directing him,[mx] “Tell no one that you have reported[my] these things to me.” 23 Then[mz] he summoned[na] two of the centurions[nb] and said, “Make ready 200 soldiers to go to Caesarea[nc] along with 70 horsemen[nd] and 200 spearmen[ne] by[nf] nine o’clock tonight,[ng] 24 and provide mounts for Paul to ride[nh] so that he may be brought safely to Felix[ni] the governor.”[nj] 25 He wrote[nk] a letter that went like this:[nl]
26 Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor[nm] Felix,[nn] greetings. 27 This man was seized[no] by the Jews and they were about to kill him,[np] when I came up[nq] with the detachment[nr] and rescued him, because I had learned that he was[ns] a Roman citizen.[nt] 28 Since I wanted to know[nu] what charge they were accusing him of,[nv] I brought him down to their council.[nw] 29 I found he[nx] was accused with reference to controversial questions[ny] about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.[nz] 30 When I was informed[oa] there would be a plot[ob] against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges[oc] against him before you.
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders,[od] took[oe] Paul and brought him to Antipatris[of] during the night. 32 The next day they let[og] the horsemen[oh] go on with him, and they returned to the barracks.[oi] 33 When the horsemen[oj] came to Caesarea[ok] and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented[ol] Paul to him. 34 When the governor[om] had read[on] the letter,[oo] he asked[op] what province he was from.[oq] When he learned[or] that he was from Cilicia,[os] 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing[ot] when your accusers arrive too.” Then[ou] he ordered that Paul[ov] be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.[ow]
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