21:10 While we remained there for a number of days, 24 a prophet named Agabus 25 came down from Judea. 21:11 He came 26 to us, took 27 Paul’s belt, 28 tied 29 his own hands and feet with it, 30 and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over 31 to the Gentiles.’” 21:12 When we heard this, both we and the local people 32 begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 21:13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking 33 my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, 34 but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 21:14 Because he could not be persuaded, 35 we said no more except, 36 “The Lord’s will be done.” 37
21:15 After these days we got ready 38 and started up 39 to Jerusalem. 21:16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea 40 came along with us too, and brought us to the house 41 of Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple from the earliest times, 42 with whom we were to stay. 21:17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly. 43 21:18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there. 44 21:19 When Paul 45 had greeted them, he began to explain 46 in detail 47 what God 48 had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 21:20 When they heard this, they praised 49 God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews 50 there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers 51 of the law. 52 21:21 They have been informed about you – that you teach all the Jews now living 53 among the Gentiles to abandon 54 Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children 55 or live 56 according to our customs. 21:22 What then should we do? They will no doubt 57 hear that you have come. 21:23 So do what 58 we tell you: We have four men 59 who have taken 60 a vow; 61 21:24 take them and purify 62 yourself along with them and pay their expenses, 63 so that they may have their heads shaved. 64 Then 65 everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told 66 about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with 67 the law. 68 21:25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided 69 that they should avoid 70 meat that has been sacrificed to idols 71 and blood and what has been strangled 72 and sexual immorality.” 21:26 Then Paul took the men the next day, 73 and after he had purified himself 74 along with them, he went to the temple and gave notice 75 of the completion of the days of purification, 76 when 77 the sacrifice would be offered for each 78 of them. 21:27 When the seven days were almost over, 79 the Jews from the province of Asia 80 who had seen him in the temple area 81 stirred up the whole crowd 82 and seized 83 him, 21:28 shouting, “Men of Israel, 84 help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, 85 and this sanctuary! 86 Furthermore 87 he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple 88 and made this holy place ritually unclean!” 89 21:29 (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, and 90 they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.) 91 21:30 The whole city was stirred up, 92 and the people rushed together. 93 They seized 94 Paul and dragged him out of the temple courts, 95 and immediately the doors were shut. 21:31 While they were trying 96 to kill him, a report 97 was sent up 98 to the commanding officer 99 of the cohort 100 that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 101 21:32 He 102 immediately took 103 soldiers and centurions 104 and ran down to the crowd. 105 When they saw 106 the commanding officer 107 and the soldiers, they stopped beating 108 Paul. 21:33 Then the commanding officer 109 came up and arrested 110 him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains; 111 he 112 then asked who he was and what 113 he had done. 21:34 But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else, 114 and when the commanding officer 115 was unable 116 to find out the truth 117 because of the disturbance, 118 he ordered Paul 119 to be brought into the barracks. 120 21:35 When he came to the steps, Paul 121 had to be carried 122 by the soldiers because of the violence 123 of the mob, 21:36 for a crowd of people 124 followed them, 125 screaming, “Away with him!” 21:37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, 126 he said 127 to the commanding officer, 128 “May I say 129 something to you?” The officer 130 replied, 131 “Do you know Greek? 132 21:38 Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebellion 133 and led the four thousand men of the ‘Assassins’ 134 into the wilderness 135 some time ago?” 136 21:39 Paul answered, 137 “I am a Jew 138 from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. 139 Please 140 allow me to speak to the people.” 21:40 When the commanding officer 141 had given him permission, 142 Paul stood 143 on the steps and gestured 144 to the people with his hand. When they had become silent, 145 he addressed 146 them in Aramaic, 147