Acts 21

1After we parted from them and set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

2And finding a ship sailing across to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

3When we sighted Cyprus and passed it on the left, we sailed to Syria and put in at Tyre, for there the ship was unloading its cargo.

4We found the disciples and stayed there seven days, who through the Spirit kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

5When we had fulfilled the days, we went out and continued our journey while everyone accompanied us with wives and children until outside the city, and kneeling on the shore we prayed.

6We parted from one another and boarded the ship, but they returned to their own homes.

7After completing the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day.

8The next day we set out and arrived in Caesarea, entered the house of Philip the evangelist who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

9He had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

10While we stayed there several days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

11He came to us, took Paul's belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit: 'The Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man whose belt this is in the same way and hand him over into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

12When we heard these things, both we and the locals begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and crushing my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem on behalf of the name of the Lord Jesus."

14Since he would not be convinced, we held our peace, saying, "Let the Lord's will come to pass."

15After these days we packed up and went up to Jerusalem.

16Some disciples from Caesarea also accompanied us, bringing a certain Mnason, a longtime Cypriot disciple, with whom we were to stay.

17When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

18The next day Paul entered with us to James, and all the elders were present.

19After greeting them, he described one by one the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20When they heard it, they glorified God and said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and all remain zealous for the law."

21They have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews among the Gentiles to defect from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor walk according to the customs.

22What then is it? They will certainly hear that you have come.

23Therefore do what we say to you. We have four men who have a vow of their own.

24Take these, purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so they may shave their heads, and everyone will know that those things they have been informed about you are nothing, but you yourself walk orderly and keep the law.

25But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we ourselves have sent, having decided, that they keep themselves from idol sacrifices, blood, strangled things, and sexual immorality.

26Then Paul took the men, and on the following day, purifying himself with them, entered the temple, proclaiming the completion of the days of purification until the offering was presented for each one of them.

27When the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd and laid hands on him.

28Crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; moreover he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple.

30The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and the doors were shut immediately.

31Even as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the cohort's commander that all Jerusalem is being thrown into confusion.

32He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them, but when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33Then the captain approached, seized him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and asked who he was and what he had done.

34Some were shouting one thing, others another, amid the crowd, but he could not determine the truth because of the uproar, so he ordered him brought into the barracks.

35When he reached the stairs, the soldiers carried him because of the crowd's violence.

36For the multitude of the people was following, crying out, “Away with him!”

38Aren't you then the Egyptian who a few days ago caused an uproar and led four thousand assassins into the wilderness?

39But Paul said, “I am a man, indeed a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.”

40When he had permitted it, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned to the people with his hand. As great silence fell, he addressed them in the Hebrew dialect, saying,