(KJV) Acts 21¹

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⥃Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem

[1] And it came to pass, that after we were² gotten from them, and had³ launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos⁴, and the [day] following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: [2] And finding⁵ a ship sailing over unto Phenicia⁶, we went aboard, and set forth. [3] Now when we had discovered Cyprus⁷, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria⁸, and landed at Tyre⁹: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. [4] And finding¹⁰ disciples, we¹¹ tarried there seven days: who said¹² to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. [5] And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they¹³ all brought us on our way, with¹⁴ wives and children, till [we were] out of the city: and we kneeled¹⁵ down on the shore, and prayed. [6] And when we had taken¹⁶ our leave one of another, we took ship; and they¹⁷ returned home again. [7] And when we had finished [our] course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted¹⁸ the brethren, and abode¹⁹ with them one day.

⥃Paul Visits Philip the Evangelist

[8] And the next [day] we that²⁰ were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cesarea²¹: and we entered into the house of Philip²² the evangelist²³, which was [one] of the seven; and abode with him. [9] And the same man had four daughters, virgins²⁴, which²⁵ did prophesy. [10] And as²⁶ we tarried [there] many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus²⁷. [11] And when he was come unto us, he took²⁸ Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus²⁹ saith the Holy Ghost, So shall³⁰ the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall³¹ deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles. [12] And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought³² him not to go up to Jerusalem. [13] Then Paul answered, What³³ mean ye to weep³⁴ and to break mine heart? for³⁵ I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. [14] And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will³⁶ of the Lord be done. [15] And after those days we took up our carriages, and went³⁷ up to Jerusalem. [16] There went with us also [certain] of the³⁸ disciples of Cesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus³⁹, an old⁴⁰ disciple, with whom we should lodge.

⥃Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

[17] And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren⁴¹ received us gladly. [18] And the [day] following Paul went in with us unto⁴² James; and all⁴³ the elders were present. [19] And when he had saluted them, he declared⁴⁴ particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by⁴⁵ his ministry. [20] And when they heard [it], they glorified⁴⁶ the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how⁴⁷ many thousands⁴⁸ of Jews there are which believe; and they⁴⁹ are all zealous of the law: [21] And they are informed of thee, that thou⁵⁰ teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise [their] children, neither to walk after the customs. [22] What is it therefore? the multitude⁵¹ must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. [23] Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have⁵² four men which have a vow on them; [24] Them take, and purify⁵³ thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they⁵⁴ may shave [their] heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but⁵⁵ [that] thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. [25] As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have⁵⁶ written [and] concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from [things] offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. [26] Then⁵⁷ Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered⁵⁸ into the temple, to signify⁵⁹ the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

⥃Paul Seized at the Temple

[27] And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews⁶⁰ which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred⁶¹ up all the people, and laid⁶² hands on him, [28] Crying out, Men⁶³ of Israel, help: This is⁶⁴ the man, that teacheth all [men] every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought⁶⁵ Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. [29] (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus⁶⁶ an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) [30] And all⁶⁷ the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they⁶⁸ took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. [31] And as⁶⁹ they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief⁷⁰ captain of the band, that all⁷¹ Jerusalem was in an uproar. [32] Who immediately took⁷² soldiers and centurions, and ran⁷³ down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating⁷⁴ of Paul. [33] Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded [him] to be⁷⁵ bound with two chains; and demanded⁷⁶ who he was, and what he had done. [34] And some cried⁷⁷ one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know⁷⁸ the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into⁷⁹ the castle. [35] And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for⁸⁰ the violence of the people. [36] For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.⁸¹

⥃Paul Addresses the Crowd

[37] And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?⁸² [38] Art not thou that⁸³ Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? [39] But Paul said, I am⁸⁴ a man [which am] a Jew of Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia⁸⁵, a citizen⁸⁶ of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer⁸⁷ me to speak unto the people. [40] And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on⁸⁸ the stairs, and beckoned⁸⁹ with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great⁹⁰ silence, he spake unto [them] in the Hebrew⁹¹ tongue, saying,

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