Acts 21
1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and
had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day
following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: 2And finding a ship
sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. 3Now when we
had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into
Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
4And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to
Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our
way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till
we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they
returned home again.
7And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we
came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one
day.
8And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and
came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the
evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9And the
same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10And as we
tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet,
named Agabus. 11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle,
and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost,
So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and
shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine
heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem
for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to
Jerusalem. 16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of
Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple,
with whom we should lodge.
17And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us
gladly. 18And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all
the elders were present. 19And when he had saluted them, he declared
particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his
ministry.
20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said
unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are
which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21And they are
informed of thee, that thou 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. 22What is it
therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear
that thou art come.
23Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have
four men which have a vow on them; 24Them take, and purify thyself with
them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and
all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning
thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and
keepest the law.
25As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have 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.
26Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with
them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days
of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one
of them.
27And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were
of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and
laid hands on him, 28Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man,
that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and
this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath
polluted this holy place. 29(For they had seen before with him in the
city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought
into the temple.)
30And all the city was moved, and the people ran
together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and
forthwith the doors were shut.
31And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief
captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32Who
immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and
when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of
Paul.
33Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded
him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he
had done. 34And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude:
and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded
him to be carried into the castle.
35And when he came upon the stairs,
so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the
people. 36For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away
with him.
37And 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?
38Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar,
and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were
murderers?
39But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in
Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to
speak unto the people.
40And when he had given him licence, Paul stood
on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when
there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue,
saying,
Acts 22
1 Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now
unto you. 2(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to
them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
3I am verily a man
which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in
this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect
manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all
are this day.
4And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and
delivering into prisons both men and women. 5As also the high priest
doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I
received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them
which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
6And it came
to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus
about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about
me. 7And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou me?
8And I answered, Who art thou, Lord?
And
he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9And
they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they
heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
10And I said, What shall I
do, Lord?
And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and
there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee
to do.
11And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led
by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
12And one
Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all
the Jews which dwelt there, 13Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me,
Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon
him.
14And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou
shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the
voice of his mouth. 15For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what
thou hast seen and heard. 16And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
17And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem,
even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18And saw him
saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for
they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.
19And I said, Lord,
they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that
believed on thee: 20And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I
also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the
raiment of them that slew him.
21And he said unto me, Depart: for I will
send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
22And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up
their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it
is not fit that he should live.
23And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw
dust into the air, 24The chief captain commanded him to be brought into
the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he
might know wherefore they cried so against him.
25And as they bound him
with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful
for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? 26When the
centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take
heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
27Then the chief captain
came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this
freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
29Then straightway they departed from him which should have
examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that
he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
30 On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty
wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and
commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought
Paul down, and set him before them.