Acts 21
21
Warnings on the Journey to Jerusalem
1After # 21:1 Ac 16:10–11 we tore ourselves away from them, we set sail straight for Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded and set sail. 3After we sighted Cyprus, passing to the south of it, # 21:3 Lit leaving it on the left we sailed on to Syria and arrived at Tyre, since the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. # 21:4 Ac 11:26; 20:23; 21:11 5When our time had come to an end, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray, 6we said farewell to one another and boarded the ship, and they returned home.
7When we completed our voyage # 21:7 Or As we continued our voyage from Tyre, we reached Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. # 21:7 Jn 21:23; Ac 12:20 8The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip # 21:8 Ac 6:5; 8:5 the evangelist, # 21:8 Eph 4:11; 2Tm 4:5 who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. 9This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. # 21:9 Lk 2:36; Ac 2:7; 13:1; 1Co 11:5
10After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’ ” # 21:11 1Kg 22:11; Jr 13:1–11; Mt 20:19; Ac 20:23; 21:33 12When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” # 21:13 Ac 5:41; 9:16; 20:24
14Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.” # 21:14 Mt 6:10; Lk 22:42
Conflict over the Gentile Mission
15After this we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and brought us to Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay. # 21:16 Ac 8:40; 21:3–4
17When we reached Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us warmly. # 21:17 Ac 15:4; 21:7 18The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. # 21:18 Ac 11:30; 12:17; 15:13 19After greeting them, he reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. # 21:19 Ac 1:17; 14:27; Rm 15:18–19
20When they heard it, they glorified God and said, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous # 21:20 Ac 22:3; Rm 10:12; Gl 1:14 for the law. 21But they have been informed about you — that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to live according to our customs. # 21:21 Ac 6:14; 15:19–20; 21:28; 1Co 7:18 22So what is to be done? # 21:22 Other mss add A multitude has to come together, since They will certainly hear that you’ve come. 23Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have made a vow. 24Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay for them to get their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law. # 21:24 Jn 11:55; Ac 18:18; 21:26; 24:18 25With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that # 21:25 Other mss add they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
The Riot in the Temple
26So the next day, Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering would be made for each of them. # 21:26 Nm 6:13; Ac 24:18 27When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him, # 21:27 Ac 24:18; 26:21 28shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What’s more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” # 21:28 Mt 24:15; Ac 24:6 29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. # 21:29 Ac 18:19; 20:4
30The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. # 21:30 2Kg 11:15; Ac 16:19; 26:21
31As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos. 32Taking along soldiers and centurions, he immediately ran down to them. Seeing the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33Then the commander approached, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. # 21:33 Ac 12:6; 20:23; 21:11; Eph 6:20; 2Tm 1:16; 2:9 He asked who he was and what he had done. 34Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks. # 21:34 Ac 19:32; 23:10 35When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36for the mass of people followed, yelling, “Get rid of him! ” # 21:36 Lk 23:18; Jn 19:15; Ac 22:22
Paul’s Defense before the Jerusalem Mob
37As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say something to you? ”
He replied, “You know how to speak Greek? 38Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led four thousand men of the Assassins into the wilderness? ” # 21:38 Mt 24:26; Ac 5:36
39Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus of Cilicia, # 21:39 Ac 9:11; 22:3 a citizen of an important city. Now I ask you, let me speak to the people.”
40After he had given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a great hush, he addressed them in Aramaic: # 21:40 Or Hebrew,# 21:40 Jn 5:2; Ac 12:17
Currently Selected:
Acts 21: CSB
Highlight
Copy
Compare
Share
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Gevurot Meyruach Hakodesh 21
21
1And when it came about that we set sail, having parted from them, having run a straight course, we came to Cos. And on the next day we got to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2And having found an oniyah crossing over to Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. 3And having come within sight of Cyprus, and leaving Cyprus behind on our left, we were sailing to Syria and we arrived in Tzor, for there the oniyah was unloading its cargo. 4And after having searched for Moshiachʼs talmidim there, we stayed in Tzor shivah yamim. And Moshiachʼs talmidim were telling Rav Sha'ul by the Ruach Hakodesh not to make any aliyah (ascent) to Yerushalayim. 5But when our yamim there were ended, we departed and everyone, including nashim and yeladim, were accompanying us as far as the outskirts of the city; and falling down on the beach, we all were davening. 6And having bid them Shalom, we embarked in the oniyah, and they returned to their own batim.
7And when we had completed the voyage from Tzor, we arrived in Ptolemais, and, having given a Shalom greeting to the Achim b'Moshiach there, we stayed yom echad with them. 8And on the next day, having left, we came to Caesarea; and entered the bais of Philippos, the maggid of the Besuras HaGeulah who was one of HaShivah.#21:8 see Ac 6:3 And we stayed with him. 9And Philippos was the abba of arbah banot, betulot, who were gifted in giving a dvar nevuah.#21:9 Ex 15:20; Judg 4:4; Neh 6:14 10And remaining there many yamim, a certain one came down from Yehudah, a navi, Agav by name. 11And when he came to us, he took Rav Sha'ulʼs gartel and, having bound his own feet and hands with it, Agav said, So says the Ruach Hakodesh: this is the way the Yehudim in Yerushalayim will bind the man who owns this gartel, and they will hand him over to the Goyim.#21:11 1Kgs 22:11; Isa 20:2-4; Jer 13:1-11 12And when we heard these things, we were begging Rav Sha'ul, both we and the locals, not to make any aliyah (ascent) to Yerushalayim. 13Then Rav Sha'ul answered, What are you doing weeping and breaking my lev (heart)? For I am prepared not only to be bound but to die al kiddush ha-Shem in Yerushalayim, for haShem of the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua. 14And not persuading him, we remained silent, having said, Let the ratzon Hashem be done.
15And after these yamim, having made preparations, we were making an aliyah to Yerushalayim. 16And also some of Moshiachʼs talmidim from Caesarea traveled with us, bringing us for hachnosas orchim to the bais of the Cyprian Mnason, one of Moshiachʼs talmidim of long standing.#21:16 an early disciple
17And when we arrived in Yerushalayim, the Achim b'Moshiach there gave us a kabbalat panim welcome with lev same'ach. 18And on the following day Rav Sha'ul was going in with us to Ya'akov,#21:18 See Ya'akov's letter which precedes the two Igrot Kodesh of Kefa. and all the Ziknei HaKehillah came. 19And having given them a Shalom greeting, Rav Sha'ul was explaining one by one the things Hashem did through his avodas kodesh as Moshiachʼs Shliach to the Umot ha-Olam. 20And the ones who heard were saying, Baruch Hashem! And they said to him, You see, Ach b'Moshiach, how many thousands there are among the Yehudim who have emunah#21:20 in our Moshiach and they all have kanous (zealousness), are shomer mitzvot for the Torah.#21:20 Sinai Covenant and its mitzvot 21And these Orthodox Jewish ma'aminim hameshichiyim have heard a rumor informing them about you, that you teach the Yehudim living among the Goyim in the Golus to be shmad and to commit apostasy from Moshe,#21:21 Rabbeinu, i.e., Orthodox Judaism telling them to abandon bris milah for Bnei Yisroel and not to be shomer regarding the darkhei haTorah#21:21 i.e. the Sinai Covenant and its mitzvot (ways of the Torah).#21:21 Num 6:2,5 22What then is to be done? Certainly these Orthodox Jewish ma'aminim hameshichiyim#21:22 i.e., who have emunah in our Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua, Ac 21:20 will get word that you have come. 23This, therefore, do what we tell you. There are with us arba'ah anashim who are under a neder Nezirim. 24Go! Take these for hitkaddeshut (purification) and purify yourself with them and pay expenses for them, that they may cut their hair; then all shall have da'as that there is no emes to the rumor; then it shall be clear that you yourself are in agreement and frum regarding the darkhei haTorah and that you are charedi and shomer mitzvot, in the ranks of those who practice Orthodox Judaism.#21:24 Num 6:1-21, Mishnah tractate Nazir 25And concerning the Goyim coming to#21:25 Orthodox Jewish emunah, we have sent an iggeret with our decision that they avoid what is offered to elilim and dahm and what is strangled and zenut. 26Then Rav Sha'ul took the anashim on the following day, and he went with them for tohorah (purification) and was entering the Beis Hamikdash, giving notice of the completion of the yamim of the tohorah until was offered for each one of them the korban.#21:26 Num 6:13-20
27Now when the shivat yamim were about to be completed, unbelieving Yehudim from the Province of Asia [Ephesus], having seen Rav Sha'ul in the Beis Hamikdash, were stirring up all the multitude, and they laid their hands on him,#21:27 Jer 26:8 28Crying out, Anashim, Bnei Yisroel, help us! This one is the ish who is giving shiurim to everyone everywhere keneged (against, in opposition to) HaAm#21:28 Yisroel and the Torah of Moshe Rabbenu and this Makom HaKadosh, and in addition also he brought Yevanim into the Beis Hamikdash and has defiled Makom HaKadosh HaZeh.#21:28 the Beis Hamikdash 29— For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Rav Sha'ul and they had jumped to the conclusion and made the unwarranted assumption that Rav Sha'ul had brought Trophimus past the Soreg#21:29 barrier of the holy precinct in the Beis Hamikdash. 30— And the whole city was aroused and the people were rushing together, and they seized Rav Sha'ul, and they were dragging him outside the Beit Hamikdash; and immediately the delatot were shut. 31And while they were trying to kill him, a report went up to a tribune of the Roman cohort that all Yerushalayim was in an oifshtand (uprising) uproar. 32At once he took his chaiyalim and centurions and ran down to them, and when the rioters saw the Roman tribune and the chaiyalim, they stopped beating Rav Sha'ul. 33Then the Roman tribune came near and took hold of Rav Sha'ul and ordered him to be bound with two sharsherot (chains), and the tribune was inquiring who he might be and what he had done. 34Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another, and the tribune was not able to have da'as of anything definite because of the noise, so he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35And when Rav Sha'ul was on the steps, it came about that he was carried by the chaiyalim, because of the violence of the multitude, 36For the crowd kept following and shouting, Away with him!
37And just when he was about to be brought into the barracks, Rav Sha'ul says to the Roman tribune, Is it permissible for me to say something to you? And the tribune said, Ellinisti Ginoskeis? (Do you know Greek?) 38Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up an intifada and led out four thousand assassins into the wilderness? 39And Rav Sha'ul said, I gufa (myself) am an ish Yehudi from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. And I ask you to allow me to speak to the people. 40And when the tribune had given permission, Rav Sha'ul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. And a great silence fell upon the crowd. Then Rav Sha'ul addressed the multitude in the language of the Hebrews.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Copy
Compare
Share
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
THE ORTHODOX JEWISH BIBLE
FOURTH EDITION REVISED © Artists For Israel Intl Inc., 2002-2011, 2021, 2024.