New Testament in a Year
18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there.[a] 19 When Paul[b] had greeted them, he began to explain[c] in detail[d] what God[e] had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 When they heard this, they praised[f] God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews[g] there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers[h] of the law.[i] 21 They have been informed about you—that you teach all the Jews now living[j] among the Gentiles to abandon[k] Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children[l] or live[m] according to our customs. 22 What then should we do? They will no doubt[n] hear that you have come. 23 So do what[o] we tell you: We have four men[p] who have taken[q] a vow;[r] 24 take them and purify[s] yourself along with them and pay their expenses,[t] so that they may have their heads shaved.[u] Then[v] everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told[w] about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with[x] the law.[y] 25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided[z] that they should avoid[aa] meat that has been sacrificed to idols[ab] and blood and what has been strangled[ac] and sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men the next day,[ad] and after he had purified himself[ae] along with them, he went to the temple and gave notice[af] of the completion of the days of purification,[ag] when[ah] the sacrifice would be offered for each[ai] of them. 27 When the seven days were almost over,[aj] the Jews from the province of Asia[ak] who had seen him in the temple area[al] stirred up the whole crowd[am] and seized[an] him, 28 shouting, “Men of Israel,[ao] help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law,[ap] and this sanctuary![aq] Furthermore[ar] he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple[as] and made this holy place ritually unclean!”[at] 29 (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, and[au] they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.)[av] 30 The whole city was stirred up,[aw] and the people rushed together.[ax] They seized[ay] Paul and dragged him out of the temple courts,[az] and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were trying[ba] to kill him, a report[bb] was sent up[bc] to the commanding officer[bd] of the cohort[be] that all Jerusalem was in confusion.[bf] 32 He[bg] immediately took[bh] soldiers and centurions[bi] and ran down to the crowd.[bj] When they saw[bk] the commanding officer[bl] and the soldiers, they stopped beating[bm] Paul. 33 Then the commanding officer[bn] came up and arrested[bo] him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains;[bp] he[bq] then asked who he was and what[br] he had done. 34 But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else,[bs] and when the commanding officer[bt] was unable[bu] to find out the truth[bv] because of the disturbance,[bw] he ordered Paul[bx] to be brought into the barracks.[by] 35 When he came to the steps, Paul[bz] had to be carried[ca] by the soldiers because of the violence[cb] of the mob, 36 for a crowd of people[cc] followed them,[cd] screaming, “Away with him!” 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks,[ce] he said[cf] to the commanding officer,[cg] “May I say[ch] something to you?” The officer[ci] replied,[cj] “Do you know Greek?[ck] 38 Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebellion[cl] and led the 4,000 men of the ‘Assassins’[cm] into the wilderness[cn] some time ago?”[co] 39 Paul answered,[cp] “I am a Jew[cq] from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city.[cr] Please[cs] allow me to speak to the people.” 40 When the commanding officer[ct] had given him permission,[cu] Paul stood[cv] on the steps and gestured[cw] to the people with his hand. When they had become silent,[cx] he addressed[cy] them in Aramaic,[cz]
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