Acts 21

¹And after these things had happened, having reluctantly parted from them, we sailed a direct course, arriving at Cos, and on following the day at Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

²And when we had found a ship sailing across to Phoenicia, climbing aboard, we set sail.

³Then, after we had caught sight of Cyprus, keeping it to the left, we sailed on to Syria, and we arrived at Tyre. For the ship was going to unload its cargo there.

⁴Then, having found the disciples, we lodged there for seven days. And they were saying to Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

⁵And when the days were completed, setting out, we went on; and they all accompanied us with their wives and children, until we were outside of the city. And we kneeled down at the shore and prayed.

⁶And when we had said farewell to one another, we climbed aboard the ship. And they returned to their own.

⁷Yet truly, having completed our journey by boat from Tyre, we descended to Ptolemais. And greeting the brothers, we lodged with them for one day.

⁸Then, after setting out the next day, we arrived at Caesarea. And upon entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.

⁹Now this man had four daughters, virgins, who were prophesying.

¹⁰And while we were delayed for some days, a certain prophet from Judea, named Agabus, arrived.

¹¹And he, when he had come to us, took Paul’s belt, and binding his own feet and hands, he said: “Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose belt this is, the Jews will bind in this way at Jerusalem. And they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

¹²And when we had heard this, both we and those who were from that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

¹³Then Paul responded by saying: “What do you accomplish by weeping and afflicting my heart? For I am prepared, not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

¹⁴And since we were not able to persuade him, we quieted, saying: “May the will of the Lord be done.”

¹⁵Then, after those days, having made preparations, we ascended to Jerusalem.

¹⁶Now some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing with them a certain Cypriot named Mnason, a very old disciple, whose guests we would be.

¹⁷And when we had arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us willingly.

¹⁸Then, on the following day, Paul entered with us to James. And all the elders were assembled.

¹⁹And when he had greeted them, he explained each thing that God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.

²⁰And they, upon hearing it, magnified God and said to him: “You understand, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.

²¹Now they have heard about you, that you are teaching those Jews who are among the Gentiles to withdraw from Moses, telling them that they should not circumcise their sons, nor act according to custom.

²²What is next? The multitude ought to be convened. For they will hear that you have arrived.

²³Therefore, do this thing that we ask of you: We have four men, who are under a vow.

²⁴Take these and sanctify yourself with them, and require them to shave their heads. And then everyone will know that the things that they have heard about you are false, but that you yourself walk in keeping with the law.

²⁵But, about those Gentiles who have believed, we have written a judgment that they should keep themselves from what has been immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication.”

²⁶Then Paul, taking the men on the next day, was purified with them, and he entered the temple, announcing the process of the days of purification, until an oblation would be offered on behalf of each one of them.

²⁷But when the seven days were reaching completion, those Jews who were from Asia, when they had seen him in the temple, incited all the people, and they laid hands on him, crying out:

²⁸“Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching, everyone, everywhere, against the people and the law and this place. Furthermore, he has even brought Gentiles into the temple, and he has violated this holy place.”

²⁹(For they had seen Trophimus, an Ephesian, in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

³⁰And the entire city was stirred up. And it happened that the people ran together. And apprehending Paul, they dragged him outside of the temple. And immediately the doors were closed.

³¹Then, as they were seeking to kill him, it was reported to the tribune of the cohort: “All Jerusalem is in confusion.”

³²And so, immediately taking soldiers and centurions, he rushed down to them. And when they had seen the tribune and the soldiers, they ceased to strike Paul.

³³Then the tribune, drawing near, apprehended him and ordered that he be bound with two chains. And he was asking who he was and what he had done.

³⁴Then they were crying out various things within the crowd. And since he could not understand anything clearly because of the noise, he ordered him to be brought into the fortress.

³⁵And when he had arrived at the stairs, it happened that he was carried up by the soldiers, because of the threat of violence from the people.

³⁶For the multitude of the people were following and crying out, “Take him away!”

³⁷And as Paul was beginning to be brought into the fortress, he said to the tribune, “Is it permissible for me to say something to you?” And he said, “You know Greek?

³⁸So then, are you not that Egyptian who before these days incited a rebellion and led out into the desert four thousand murderous men?”

³⁹But Paul said to him: “I am a man, indeed a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a well-known city. So I petition you, permit me to speak to the people.”

⁴⁰And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned with his hand to the people. And when a great silence occurred, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:

Acts 21

¹And when it came to pass that, being parted from them, we set sail, we came with a straight course to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes: and from thence to Patara.

²And when we had found a ship sailing over to Phenice, we went aboard and set forth.

³And when we had discovered Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed into Syria, and came to Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

⁴And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

⁵And the days being expired, departing we went forward, they all bringing us on our way, with their wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we kneeled down on the shore: and we prayed.

⁶And when we had bid one another farewell, we took ship. And they returned home.

⁷But we, having finished the voyage by sea, from Tyre came down to Ptolemais: and saluting the brethren, we abode one day with them.

⁸And the next day departing, we came to Caesarea. And entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him.

⁹And he had four daughters, virgins, who did prophesy.

¹⁰And as we tarried there for some days, there came from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

¹¹Who, when he was come to us, took Paul's girdle: and binding his own feet and hands, he said: Thus saith the Holy Ghost: The man whose girdle this is, the Jews shall bind in this manner in Jerusalem and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

¹²Which when we had heard, both we and they that were of that place desired him that he would not go up to Jerusalem.

¹³Then Paul answered and said: What do you mean, weeping and afflicting my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but to die also in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁴And when we could not persuade him, we ceased, saying: The will of the Lord be done.

¹⁵And after those days, being prepared, we went up to Jerusalem.

¹⁶And there went also with us some of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing with them one Mnason a Cyprian, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.

¹⁷And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

¹⁸And the day following, Paul went in with us unto James: and all the ancients were assembled.

¹⁹Whom when he had saluted, he related particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

²⁰But they hearing it, glorified God and said to him: Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews that have believed: and they are all zealous for the law.

²¹Now they have heard of thee that thou teachest those Jews, who are among the Gentiles to depart from Moses: saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor walk according to the custom.

²²What is it therefore? The multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

²³Do therefore this that we say to thee. We have four men, who have a vow on them.

²⁴Take these and sanctify thyself with them: and bestow on them, that they may shave their heads. And all will know that the things which they have heard of these are false: but that thou thyself also walkest keeping the law.

²⁵But, as touching the Gentiles that believe, we have written, decreeing that they should only refrain themselves from that which has been offered to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication.

²⁶Then Paul took the men and, the next day being purified with them, entered into the temple, giving notice of the accomplishment of the days of purification, until an oblation should be offered for every one of them.

²⁷But when the seven days were drawing to an end, those Jews that were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people and laid hands upon him, crying out:

²⁸Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people and the law and this place; and moreover hath brought in Gentiles into the temple and hath violated this holy place.

²⁹(For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him. whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

³⁰And he whole city was in an uproar: and the people ran together. And taking Paul, they drew him out of the temple: and immediately the doors were shut.

³¹And as they went about to kill him, it was told the tribune of the band that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

³²Who, forthwith taking with him soldiers and centurions, ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they left off beating Paul.

³³Then the tribune, coming near, took him and commanded him to be bound with two chains: and demanded who he was and what he had done.

³⁴And 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.

³⁵And when he was come to the stairs, it fell out that he was carried by the soldiers, because of the violence of the people.

³⁶For the multitude of the people followed after, crying: Away with him!

³⁷And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith to the tribune: May I speak something to thee? Who said: Canst thou speak Greek?

³⁸Art not thou that Egyptian who before these days didst raise a tumult and didst lead forth into the desert four thousand men that were murderers?

³⁹But Paul said to him: I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. And I beseech thee, suffer me to speak to the people.

⁴⁰And when he had given him leave, Paul standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. And a great silence being made, he spoke unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying: