New Testament · Gospels and Acts
Acts chapter 21
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After we from them, we set sail and took a straight course to , then the next day to , and from there to Patara.We found a ship crossing over to , so we went aboard and set sail.When we came within sight of , we passed it on our left and sailed on to Syria. We landed at , because that was where the ship was unloading its cargo.We found the there and stayed with them for seven days. Through , they kept telling Paul not to go up to .When our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, came out of the city to see us off. We together,then said goodbye to each other. We boarded the ship, and they went back home.We finished our voyage from Tyre and arrived at , where we greeted the and stayed with them for a day.The next day we left and came to , where we went to the home of , the one who spread the good news—he was one of —and stayed with him.He had four unmarried daughters who .After we had been there several days, a named came down from Judea.He came to us, , and tied his own hands and feet with it. Then he said, “ says this: ‘The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will tie up the man who owns this belt just like this, and they will hand him over to .’”When we heard this, both we and the local people begged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, crying and ? I’m ready not just to be tied up but to die in Jerusalem for the name of .”Since he wouldn’t be talked out of it, we gave up and said, “Let be done.”After those days, we packed up and headed for Jerusalem.Some of the followers from Caesarea came along with us and brought us to the home of from Cyprus, one of the earliest followers, where we would be staying.When we arrived in Jerusalem, the welcomed us warmly.The next day Paul went with us to meet with , and all the were there.After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed report of everything God had done among the through his work.When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to him, “Brother, you can see that there are of Jewish people who have become believers, and all of them are to .They’ve been told that you teach all the Jewish people living among non-Jewish populations to abandon Moses—telling them not to their children or follow .So what should we do? They’re definitely going to hear that you’ve arrived.Here’s what we suggest: We have four men who have made .Take these men, go through the with them, and pay for them to . Then everyone will know that there’s nothing to the rumors about you, and that you yourself live in line with the Law of Moses.As for the , we’ve already sent them our decision: they should stay away from , from blood, from meat of strangled animals, and from .”So the next day Paul took the men and went through the purification ritual with them. Then he went to to give notice of when the purification days would be completed and the offering would be made for each of them.When the seven days were almost over, some Jewish people from saw Paul in the Temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and grabbed him,shouting, “People of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our Law, and this place. And on top of that, he brought Greeks into the Temple and has made !”(They had previously seen in the city with Paul and assumed Paul had brought him into the Temple.)The whole city was thrown into chaos. People came running from everywhere, grabbed Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple. Immediately behind him.While they were trying to kill him, a report reached that all of Jerusalem was in an uproar.He immediately took soldiers and and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.The commander came up, arrested Paul, and ordered him to be bound with . Then he asked who Paul was and what he had done.Different people in the crowd were shouting different things. Since the commander couldn’t get to the truth because of the chaos, he ordered Paul to be taken into .When Paul reached the steps, the soldiers actually had to carry him because of the violence of the mob.The mass of people followed, screaming, “”As Paul was about to be taken inside the barracks, he said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say something to you?” The commander replied, “You speak Greek?Aren’t you who recently started a revolt and led four thousand out into the wilderness?”Paul replied, “I am a Jewish man from —a citizen of no insignificant city. Please, let me speak to the people.”The commander gave him permission. So Paul, standing on the steps, to the people. When a deep silence fell over the crowd, he began to speak to them .