Worsley - Acts - 21

21:1  Now as soon as we had parted from them, and set sail, we came in a strait course to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes, and from thence to Patara.

21:2  And finding a ship there, which was passing over to Phenicia, we went aboard it, and set sail.

21:3  And coming in fight of Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed to Syria, and came down to Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade.

21:4  And we stayed there seven days; having met with some disciples: who told Paul by the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem.

21:5  But when we had completed these days, we departed and went our way, all of them attending us with their wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore and prayed.

21:6  And having taken leave of each other, we went into the ship, and they returned home.

21:7  And we finishing our voyage, came down from Tyre to Ptolemais, and saluting the brethren stayed with them one day.

21:8  On the morrow Paul and those that were with him departed from Ptolemais, and came to Cesarea; and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven deacons, we stayed with him.

21:9  And he had four daughters virgins, that were prophetesses.

21:10  And as we abode there several days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus:

21:11  and he came to us, and taking up Paul's girdle, and binding his own hands and feet, he said, Thus saith the holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man whose girdle this is, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

21:12  And when we heard these things, both we and those of the place intreated him not to go up to Jerusalem.

21:13  But Paul answered, What do ye mean, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

21:14  And as he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

21:15  And after these days were expired, we packed up our things, and went to Jerusalem.

21:16  And there went also with us from Cesarea some of the disciples, who brought us to one Mnason a Cyprian, an old disciple, with whom we were to lodge.

21:17  And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us with joy.

21:18  And the next day Paul went in with us to James: and all the elders were present.

21:19  And when he had saluted them, he gave a particular narrative of the things which God had done among the Gentiles by his ministry.

21:20  And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, Thou seest, brother, how many myriads there are of the believing Jews, and they are all zealous for the law.

21:21  And they have heard of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews, who are among the Gentiles, to forsake the law of Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, nor to walk after our customs.

21:22  What then is to be done? The people must necessarily meet together; for they will hear that thou art come.

21:23  Do this therefore, which we advise thee. Here are four men with us, that have a vow upon them: take these and be purified with them,

21:24  and join in their expences, that they may shave their head: and that all may know, that there is nothing in what they have heard of thee; but thou thyself walkest according to the law.

21:25  But as to the believing Gentiles, we have written and determined, that they need observe no such thing; only to keep themselves from what is offered to idols, and from blood, and from any thing strangled, and from fornication.

21:26  Then Paul took the men, and the next day being purified with them entered into the temple to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification till an offering should be offered for every one of them.

21:27  But when the seven days were near ended, the Jews that came from Asia seeing him in the temple, raised a tumult among the people, and laid hands on him, crying out, Men of Israel, help:

21:28  this is the man that teaches all men every where against the people of the Jews, and the law, and this sacred place? and besides, hath brought Greeks too into the temple, and polluted this holy place.

21:29  (For they had before seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they thought Paul had brought into the temple.)

21:30  And the whole city was moved, and there was a concourse of the people: and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the gates were shut.

21:31  And as they were going to kill him, a report came to the tribune of the cohort, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar:

21:32  who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the chiliarch and the soldiers, they left off beating Paul.

21:33  Then the commanding officer came near and took him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and inquired, who he was, and what he had done.

21:34  But some in the croud bawled out one thing and some another: and as he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

21:35  And when he was upon the stairs, he was even borne by the soldiers, because of the violence of the people.

21:36  For the multitude followed crying out, Away with him.

21:37  And as Paul was going to be led into the castle, he said to the tribune, May I be allowed to speak a word to thee? And he said, Canst thou speak Greek?

21:38  Art not thou that Egyptian, who before this madest a sedition, and didst lead out into the wilderness four thousand murtherers?

21:39  But Paul said, I am indeed a Jew, a man of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beg thou wouldest permit me to speak to the people.

21:40  And when he gave him leave, Paul standing on the stairs made a sign with the hand to the people: and there being a great silence made, He spake to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,