Paul is warned— again

1So after disengaging ourselves from them we were able to set sail, and running a straight course we came to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

2We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail.

3When we had sighted Cyprus we passed it on the left, sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, because it was there that the ship was to unload the cargo.

4Upon finding disciples we stayed there seven days; these, through the Spirit, told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁴⁴¹

5But when our time was up, as we left to go on our way, they all, including women and children, ⁴⁴²accompanied us out of the city, and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.

6After we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship and they returned to their homes.

7Now upon arriving in Ptolemais, the voyage from Tyre ended; so greeting the brothers we stayed with them one day.

8Leaving the next day, we ⁴⁴³came to Caesarea; and entering the house of Philip the evangelist (being of ‘the Seven’), we stayed with him.

9(This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.) ⁴⁴⁴

Agabus, again

10Now as we stayed there a number of days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

11Joining us he took Paul's belt, bound his feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: ‘In this way, in Jerusalem, the Jews will bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”

12Well, when we heard these things, both we and the local residents, we pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13But Paul answered: “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die ⁴⁴⁵in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

14When he would not be dissuaded, we stopped, saying, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” ⁴⁴⁶

Jerusalem

15So after those days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.

16Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing us to a certain Mnason, of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.

17And when we arrived in Jerusalem the brothers received us gladly.

18The next day Paul, with us, went to see James, and all the elders were present. ⁴⁴⁷

19After greeting them he reported one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

Paul submits to a false agenda

20But after listening they ‘glorified’ the Lord ⁴⁴⁸by saying to him: ⁴⁴⁹“You see, brother, how many tens of thousands are the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;

21but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to our customs. ⁴⁵⁰

22What then? The assembly will certainly gather, ⁴⁵¹since they will hear that you have come.

23So do this that we say to you: There are four men with us who have taken a vow.

24Take them and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that there is nothing to the things that they have been informed about you; rather that you yourself are in line, keeping the law.

25But concerning the Gentiles who believe we have written, having judged that they need observe no such thing, except ⁴⁵²that they should keep themselves from that offered to idols, from the blood, from anything strangled, and from fornication.” ⁴⁵³

Paul arrested

26Then Paul took the men and purified himself with them; the next day he entered the temple to give notice of the completion of the days of purification, when the offering would be made for each one of them.

27Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, having seen him in the temple, mobilized a whole crowd and seized him,

28shouting: “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Not only that, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place!”

29(They had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30The whole city was aroused and a mob of people formed. So having seized Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.

31As they were trying to kill him, ⁴⁵⁴news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

32He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down among them, and when they saw the commander and the soldiers they stopped beating Paul.

33Then the commander came up and took hold of him, ⁴⁵⁵commanded that he be bound with two chains, and started inquiring who he was and what he had done.

34Well some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another; so when he could not ascertain the truth, because of the uproar, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks.

35When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers, because of the violence of the mob. ⁴⁵⁶

36Because the crowd kept following and shouting, “Away with him!” ⁴⁵⁷

37As Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” So he said: “Do you know Greek?

38Aren't you the Egyptian who some time ago started a revolt and led the four thousand men of ‘the Assassins’ out into the wilderness?”

39But Paul said, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a not insignificant city; but I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”

40So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people with his hand. When there was a great silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: