Paul in Tire, Ptolemais and Caesarea, his arrival in Jerusalem - Acts Chapter 21

Paul in Tire, Ptolemais and Caesarea, his arrival in Jerusalem, and the uproar of the people in the temple, and Paul makes his defense

1 - And it came to pass, when we departed from them, that we sailed, and went running straight ahead, and came to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, whence we passed unto Patara.

2 - And finding a ship going to Phenicia, we sailed into it, and we departed.

3 - And when we went into Cyprus, leaving her on the left, we sailed to Syria, and came to Tire; because the ship was to be unloaded there.

4 - And when we had found disciples, we abode there seven days; and they by the Spirit told Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

5 - And when those days were gone, we went out, and went on our way, and followed them all, with their wives and children, out of the city; and, kneeling on the shore, we pray.

6 - And saying goodbye to one another, we went up to the ship; and they returned to their homes.

7 - And we, when the tents of Tyrus were completed, came to Ptolemais; and having greeted the brethren, we were with them one day. 8 - And on the next day Paul departed from there, and we who were with him, came to Caesarea; and when we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.

9 - And he had these four virgin daughters, who prophesied.

10 - And tarrying there for many days, a prophet came from Judea by the name of Agabus;

11 - And when he had come unto us, he took the sash of Paul, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, This is what the Holy Spirit saith: Thus shall the Jews bind the man of whom is this brace, and deliver him in the hands of the Gentiles.

12 - And when we heard this, we beseeched him, and we who were of that place, not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 - But Paul answered and said, What do ye, weeping and bruising my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but still to die in Jerusalem by the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 - And because we could not persuade him, we were still, saying, Let the will of the Lord be done.

15 - And after those days, when we had made our preparations, we went up to Jerusalem.

16 - And certain of the disciples of Caesarea also went with us, and took with him a certain Mnasom, a cipol, an ancient disciple, with whom we were to stay.

Arrival of Paul in Jerusalem

17 - And as soon as we came to Jerusalem, the brethren received us with much good will.

18 - And the next day Paul came with us into the house of James, and all the elders came in.

19 - And when he had greeted them, he told them the little things which he had done among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20 - And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Ye see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there be that believe, and all are keepers of the law.

21 - And they were told concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews that are among the Gentiles to depart from Moses, saying that they should not circumcise their children, nor walk according to the custom of the law.

22 - What shall we do then? in any case it is necessary that the crowd be united; because they have heard that you are coming.

23 - Do this thing that we say unto you, We have four men that vowed.

24 - And take these with thee, and sanctify themselves with them, and make them expended for them, that they may shave their heads, and all shall know that there is nothing of that which they have been informed of thee, but that thou also keepest the law .

25 - But as for them that believe the Gentiles, we have written, and found it good, that they observe none of these things; but that they keep only what is sacrificed to idols, and of blood, and of suffocation and fornication.

26 - And Paul took these men with him, and went into the temple the next day, being sanctified with them, and preached that the days of purification were fulfilled. and there he stayed until he offered the offering for each of them.

Uprising in the temple

27 And when the seven days were almost come to an end, the Jews of Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

28 - And crying, Men of Israel, go; this is the man who teaches all against the people and against the law and against this place everywhere; and he also introduced the Greeks into the temple, and profaned this holy place.

29 - For they had seen Trophimus of Ephesus with him in the city, which they thought that Paul had brought into the temple.

30 - And the whole city was troubled, and there was a great company of people; and they took Paul, and dragged him out of the temple, and the doors were shut.

31 - And when they had sought to put him to death, there came to the tribune of the cohort the warning that Jerusalem was all in confusion;

32 - And when he had taken soldiers and centurions with him, he ran to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they ceased to strike Paul.

33 - And the captain came and took him, and bound him with two fetters, and asked him who he was, and what he had made.

34 - And in the multitude some cried one way, some another; but, as he could not know for certain, because of the uproar, he sent him to the fortress.

35 And it came to pass, when they came to the stairs, that the soldiers had to take him because of the violence of the multitude.

36 - For the multitude of the people followed him, crying, Kill him.

Paulo's defense

37 - And when Paul was come into the stronghold, Paul said unto the captain, Is it lawful for me to tell thee anything? And he said, Know the Greek?

38 - Are not you the Egyptian, who before these days made a sedition, and brought into the wilderness four thousand thieves?

39 - But Paul said unto him, Verily I am a Jewish man, a citizen of Tarsus, a city not little celebrated in Cilicia; But I beg you to let me speak to the people.

40 - And when he had permitted it, Paul stood upon the stairs, and motioned with his hand to the people; and when they had made a great noise, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,