And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a
straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there
to Patara. And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went
aboard and set sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving
it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the
ship was to unload its cargo. And having sought out the disciples,
we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were
telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When our days there were
ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with
wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city.
And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one
another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at
Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one
day. On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we
entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the
seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who
prophesied. While we were staying for many days, a prophet named
Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul's belt
and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy
Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who
owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up
to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and
breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but
even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since
he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the
Lord be done.”
After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. And some
of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the
house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should
lodge.
When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the
elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the
things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him,
“You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of
those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, and they
have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among
the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their
children or walk according to our customs. What then is to be done?
They will certainly hear that you have come. Do therefore what we
tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and
purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that
they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is
nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you
yourself also live in observance of the law. But as for the
Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment
that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols,
and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual
immorality.” Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified
himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice
when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering
presented for each one of them.
When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia,
seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands
on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is
teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and
this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and
has defiled this holy place.” For they had previously seen
Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that
Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was stirred
up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him
out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. And as they
were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort
that all Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took soldiers and
centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and
the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the tribune came up
and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He
inquired who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd were
shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the
facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the
barracks. And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by
the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, for the mob of
the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the
tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know
Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a
revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the
wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a
citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the
people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on
the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was
a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
