Acts 21

Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem

1After we tore ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed a direct course for the island of Kos, and on the next day to the island of Rhodes, # 21:1 Both Kos and Rhodes are Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. and from there to Patara. # 21:1 A city on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. 2There we found a ship that was crossing over to Syria, # 21:2 Or “Phoenicia,” a Greek term for coastal Lebanon and Syria. so we went aboard and sailed away. 3After we sighted Cyprus and sailed south of it, we docked at Tyre # 21:3 Tyre was a city in Phoenicia. They would have sailed four or five days from Patara to reach Tyre. in Syria, where the ship unloaded its cargo.

4When we went ashore we found a number of believers and stayed with them for a week. They prophesied to Paul repeatedly, warning him by the Holy Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. 5When it was time for us to leave and be on our way, everyone—men, women, and children—accompanied us out of the city down to the beach. After we all knelt in the sand and prayed together, 6we kissed one another, # 21:6 As translated from the Aramaic idiom “one to one” (kissed). said our good-byes, and boarded the ship, while the believers went back to their homes.

7From Tyre we sailed # 21:7 The text can mean either “continued our journey” or “completed our journey.” If they completed their journey by boat to Akko, they would have gone by land to Caesarea. Akko, or Ptolemais, was named after the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus in 261 BC (Epistulae Aristeas 115; 1 Macc. 5:15). See also Judg. 1:31. on to the town of Akko and greeted the believers there with peace. # 21:7 As translated from the Aramaic. We stayed with them for a day. 8Then we went on to Caesarea and stayed for several days # 21:8 This information is supplied from v. 10. in the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven deacons # 21:8 See Acts 6:1–7. An evangelist is simply “a preacher of the good news” or in Aramaic, “a preacher of the hope.” Philip is described as both an evangelist and a deacon (servant). Every minister must become a servant. and 9the father of four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

10During our stay of several days, Agabus, # 21:10 See Acts 11:28. a prophet from Judea, came to visit us. 11As a prophetic gesture, he took Paul’s belt and tied his own hands and feet with it as he prophesied, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘The one who owns this belt will be tied up in this same way by the Jews and they will hand him over to those who are not Jews.’ ” # 21:11 Or “gentiles”; i.e., the Romans.

12When we heard this, both we and the believers of Caesarea begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 13But Paul replied, “Why do you cry and break my heart with your tears? Don’t you know that I’m prepared not only to be imprisoned but to die in Jerusalem for the sake of the wonder of the name of our Lord Jesus?”

14Because we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said nothing more except “May the will of the Lord be done.”

Paul Arrives in Jerusalem

15Afterward we packed our bags and set off for Jerusalem, 16with some of the believers from Caesarea accompanying us. They brought us to a village # 21:16 Implied in the text and found in a few Greek manuscripts. where they introduced us to Mnason, a Cypriot, one of the original disciples, # 21:16 That is, one of the first converts. He may have been one of the original converts at Pentecost or one of the first disciples converted by Paul and Barnabas. Mnason means “remembering.” and he offered us hospitality.

17When we finally arrived in Jerusalem, the believers welcomed us with delight. 18The next day Paul and our team had a meeting with Jacob # 21:18 That is, Jacob (James) the brother of our Lord Jesus, not the apostle Jacob who was martyred. and all the elders of the Jerusalem church. 19After greeting everyone, Paul explained in detail what God had accomplished through his ministry among the non-Jewish people.

20When they heard Paul’s report, they praised God. And they said to him, “You should know, brother, that there are many tens of thousands of Jews who have also embraced the faith and are passionately keeping the law of Moses. 21But they’ve heard a rumor that you’ve been instructing the Jews everywhere to abandon Moses # 21:21 Or “apostasy from [the law of] Moses.” by telling them they don’t need to circumcise their children or keep our Jewish customs. 22They will certainly hear that you’ve come to Jerusalem. So what is the proper way to proceed? 23We urge you to follow our suggestion. We have four men here who have taken a vow and are ready to have their heads shaved. 24Now go with them to the temple and sponsor them in their purification ceremony, # 21:24 This could have been the completion of a Nazarite vow (Num. 6:1–12) or a reference to the Jewish custom of when a Jew returned from a trip to a foreign (pagan) land, he would purify himself of the defilement of being with unbelievers (Mishnah Oholoth 2:3). and pay all their required expenses. Then everyone will know that the rumors they’ve heard are false. They’ll see that you are one who lives according to the law of Moses. 25But in reference to the non-Jewish believers, we’ve sent them a letter with our decision, stating that they should avoid eating meat that has been offered to an idol, or eating blood or any animal that has been strangled, and to avoid sexual immorality.” # 21:25 It seems strange that Jacob makes no mention of the offering that Paul brought for the poor saints in Jerusalem, which was the reason for leaving his missionary work to come to Jerusalem. Instead, Jacob wants to ensure the purity of Paul’s message. There is at least a hint that Paul’s ministry was not always well received in Judea. See Rom. 15:30–31.

Paul Arrested in Jerusalem

26The next day, Paul took the four men to the temple and ceremonially purified himself along with them. He publicly gave notice of the date when their vows would end and when sacrifices would be offered for each of them.

27When the seven-day period # 21:27 This could also mean “the Sabbath.” was almost over, a number of Jews from western Turkey # 21:27 Or “Asia (Minor).” They were possibly in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. who had seen him in the temple courts stirred up the whole crowd against him. Seizing him, 28they shouted, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everywhere what is contrary to our nation, our law, and this temple. And not only that, but now he brings these non-Jewish men with him into the inner courts of our temple! They have made this sacred place ritually unclean.” 29(For Trophimus, an Ephesian, had been seen previously with him, and they assumed that he entered the inner courts with Paul.)

30This ignited a huge riot in the city as all the people came together to seize Paul and drag him out of the temple courts, closing the gates behind him. 31But as they were about to kill Paul, the news reached the commander of the Roman garrison # 21:31 The Roman commander was in charge of about six hundred soldiers. that the entire city was in an uproar. 32He immediately ran out to the crowd with a large number of his officers and soldiers. When the crowd saw them coming, they stopped beating Paul. 33The commander arrested him and ordered that he be bound with two chains. He then asked, “Who is he and what has he done wrong?”

34Some in the crowd shouted one thing and others something else, just adding to the confusion. Since the commander was unable to get to the truth because of the disturbance, he ordered that Paul be brought back to their headquarters. 35When they reached the steps leading up to the fortress, # 21:35 This was the Antonia Fortress (or Tower) built by Herod the Great in 19 BC. they had to protect Paul and carry him up because of the violent mob following them, 36and everyone was screaming out, “Away with this man! Kill him!”

37As Paul was being led to the entrance of the compound, he said to the commander in Greek, “May I have a word with you?”

The commander replied, “So you know Greek, do you? # 21:37 The commander was surprised that Paul could speak some Greek, for the people living in Israel at that time did not speak Greek. Paul, an educated Jew from Turkey, spoke to the commander in the common language of the Roman Empire. 38Aren’t you that Egyptian fanatic who started a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand assassins # 21:38 The Greek word used here is Sicarii, a sect of Jewish nationalists who were violently hostile to Roman rule. They got their name from the small dagger known as a sicarii. out into the wilderness?”

39Paul answered, “I am, in fact, a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a well-known city of southern Turkey where I was born. I beg you, sir, please give me a moment to speak to these people.”

40When the commander gave his permission, Paul stood on the steps and gestured with his hands for the people to listen. When the crowd quieted down, Paul addressed them in Aramaic # 21:40 Or “Hebrew.” The Hebrew language had been replaced with Aramaic during the Babylonian captivity. For more than a thousand years the Aramaic language remained the language of the Jewish people. Note that Paul did not address the Jewish people in Greek. and said:

Currently Selected:

Acts 21: TPT

Highlight

Copy

Compare

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Learn More About The Passion Translation

Acts 21

Paul Goes to Jerusalem

1After we said goodbye to the elders, we sailed away straight to Cos island. The next day we went to the island of Rhodes, and from there we went to Patara. 2There we found a ship that was going to the area of Phoenicia. We got on the ship and sailed away.

3We sailed near the island of Cyprus. We could see it on the north side, but we did not stop. We sailed to the country of Syria. We stopped at Tyre because the ship needed to unload its cargo there. 4We found the Lord’s followers there and stayed with them for seven days. They warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem because of what the Spirit had told them. 5But when our time there was up, we returned to the ship to continue our trip. All the followers, even the women and children, came with us to the seashore. We all knelt down on the beach, prayed, 6and said goodbye. Then we got on the ship, and the followers went home.

7We continued our trip from Tyre and went to the city of Ptolemais. We greeted the believers there and stayed with them one day. 8The next day we left Ptolemais and went to the city of Caesarea. We went into the home of Philip and stayed with him. He had the work of telling the Good News. He was one of the seven helpers.#21:8 seven helpers Men chosen for a special work. See Acts 6:1-6. 9He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophesying.

10After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came from Judea. 11He came to us and borrowed Paul’s belt. He used it to tie his own hands and feet. He said, “The Holy Spirit tells me, ‘This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man who wears this belt.#21:11 belt Paul’s belt; so Agabus means that the Jews in Jerusalem will tie Paul up (arrest him). Then they will hand him over to people who don’t know God.’”

12When we heard this, we and the other followers there begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 13But he said, “Why are you crying and making me feel so sad? I am willing to be put in jail in Jerusalem. I am even ready to die for the name of the Lord Jesus!”

14We could not persuade him to stay away from Jerusalem. So we stopped begging him and said, “We pray that what the Lord wants will be done.”

15After this, we got ready and left for Jerusalem. 16Some of the followers of Jesus from Caesarea went with us. These followers took us to the home of Mnason, a man from Cyprus, who was one of the first people to be a follower of Jesus. They took us to his home so that we could stay with him.

Paul Visits James

17The brothers and sisters in Jerusalem were very happy to see us. 18The next day Paul went with us to visit James, and all the elders were there. 19After greeting them, Paul told them point by point all that God had used him to do among the non-Jewish people.

20When the leaders heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul, “Brother, you can see that thousands of Jews have become believers, but they think it is very important to obey the Law of Moses. 21They have been told that you teach the Jews who live in non-Jewish regions to stop following the Law of Moses. They have heard that you tell them not to circumcise their sons or follow our other customs.

22“What should we do? The Jewish believers here will learn that you have come. 23So we will tell you what to do: Four of our men have made a vow#21:23 vow Probably a Nazirite vow, a time of special dedication and service promised to God. See “Nazirite” in the Word List. to God. 24Take these men with you and share in their cleansing ceremony.#21:24 cleansing ceremony The special things Jews did to end the Nazirite vow. Also in verse 26. Pay their expenses so that they can shave their heads.#21:24 shave their heads To show that their vow was finished. This will prove to everyone that the things they have heard about you are not true. They will see that you obey the Law of Moses in your own life.

25“In regard to the non-Jewish believers, we have already sent a letter to them saying what we think they should do:

‘Don’t eat food that has been given to idols.

Don’t eat meat from animals that have been strangled or any meat that still has the blood in it.

Don’t be involved in sexual sin.’”

Paul Is Arrested

26So Paul took the four men with him. The next day he shared in their cleansing ceremony. Then he went to the Temple area and announced the time when the days of the cleansing ceremony would be finished. On the last day an offering would be given for each of the men.

27When the seven-day period was almost finished, some Jews from Asia saw Paul in the Temple area. They stirred up everyone into an angry mob. They grabbed Paul 28and shouted, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who is teaching things that are against the Law of Moses, against our people, and against this Temple of ours. This is what he teaches people everywhere. And now he has brought some Greeks into the Temple area and has made this holy place unclean!” 29(The Jews said this because they had seen Trophimus with Paul in Jerusalem. Trophimus was a man from Ephesus. The Jews thought that Paul had taken him into the holy area of the Temple.)

30An angry reaction spread throughout the city, and everyone came running to the Temple. They grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the holy area, and the gates were closed immediately. 31While they were trying to kill Paul, the commander of the Roman army in Jerusalem got word that the whole city was in a state of riot. 32Immediately the commander ran to where the crowd had gathered, taking with him some army officers and soldiers. When the people saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33The commander went over to Paul and arrested him. He told his soldiers to tie him up with two chains. Then he asked, “Who is this man? What has he done wrong?” 34Some people there were shouting one thing, and others were shouting something else. Because of all this confusion and shouting, the commander could not learn the truth about what had happened. So he told the soldiers to take Paul to the army building. 35-36The whole crowd was following them. When the soldiers came to the steps, they had to carry Paul. They did this to protect him, because the people were ready to hurt him. The people were shouting, “Kill him!”

37When the soldiers were ready to take Paul into the army building, he asked the commander, “Can I say something to you?”

The commander said, “Oh, you speak Greek? 38Then you are not the man I thought you were. I thought you were the Egyptian who started some trouble against the government not long ago and led four thousand terrorists out to the desert.”

39Paul said, “No, I am a Jew from Tarsus in the country of Cilicia. I am a citizen of that important city. Please, let me speak to the people.”

40The commander told Paul he could speak. So he stood on the steps and waved his hand so that the people would be quiet. The people became quiet and Paul spoke to them in Aramaic.

Currently Selected:

Highlight

Copy

Compare

Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in

Learn More About Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version