21:1   When we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara;

21:2   and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

21:3  When we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship unloaded its cargo.

21:4   After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.

21:5   When our days there ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another.

21:6   Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

21:7   When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day.

21:8   On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who we acknowledged as one of the seven, we stayed with him.

21:9   Now this man had four virgin daughters who served as prophetesses.

21:10   As we stayed there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

21:11   And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, " The Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

21:12   When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.

21:13   Then Paul answered, "What do you do this for, weeping and breaking my heart? For I feel ready not only for them to bind me, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

21:14   And since he would not let himself become persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, " May the will of the Lord take place!"

21:15  After these days we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem.

21:16   Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we could lodge.

21:17   After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

21:18   And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders presented themselves

21:19   After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

21:20  And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there exist among the Jews of those who have believed, and they all show zeal for the Law;

21:21  and they have received testimony about you, that you teach all the Jews who dwell among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

21:22   "What, then, can we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

21:23   "Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who made a vow;

21:24  take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that no truth exists concerning the things which they have heard about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.

21:25  "But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what they strangle and from fornication."

21:26  Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice had become offered for each one of them.

21:27   When the seven days almost ended, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him,

21:28  crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! This man preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

21:29   For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

21:30   Then all the city became provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the shut the doors .

21:31   While they sought to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem had fallen into confusion.

21:32   At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

21:33   Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered them to bind him with two chains; and he began asking his name and his reason for coming there.

21:34  But among the crowd some shouted one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.

21:35   When he got to the stairs, the soldiers carried Paul because of the violence of the mob;

21:36   for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, " Away with him!"

21:37   As they prepared to bring Paul into the barracks, he said to the commander, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?

21:38  "Then you don't seem to fit the description of the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assasins out into the wilderness.

21:39  But Paul said, " I identify myself as a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people."

21:40  When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned to the people with his hand; and when there a great hush fell upon the crowds, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect, saying,