The Journey to Jerusalem with Prophetic Warnings
Study note
Paul and his companions travel by ship through Cos, Rhodes, and Patara to Phoenicia, then to Tyre where disciples urge Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. After a farewell prayer on the beach, they sail to Ptolemais and then to Caesarea, staying with Philip the evangelist. The prophet Agabus dramatically binds his own hands and feet with Paul's belt, prophesying that the Jews in Jerusalem will bind Paul and hand him over to the Gentiles. Despite the pleas of his companions, Paul declares he is ready not only to be bound but to die for the name of Jesus. They finally accept God's will.
1 It was painful to say goodbye, but we finally pulled away and set sail. We went straight to Coos, then to Rhodes the next day, and from there to Patara. 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:
2 We found a ship that was crossing over to Phenicia, boarded it, and set off. And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3 We came within sight of Cyprus, passed it on our left, and kept sailing toward Syria. We docked at Tyre, where the ship needed to unload its cargo. Now 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.
4 We tracked down some believers there and stayed with them for a week. Led by the Spirit, they kept telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 But when our time was up, we continued on our way. The whole community -- men, women, and children -- walked with us out of the city. There on the beach, we all knelt and prayed together. And 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.
6 We hugged each other goodbye. Then we climbed aboard the ship, and they headed home. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais. We greeted the believers there and spent one day with them. And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8 The next day, we traveled to Caesarea. We stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist. He was one of the seven men first chosen to serve the church. And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 Philip had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10 While we were there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judaea. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 He came to us, took Paul's belt, and tied his own hands and feet with it. Then he said, "The Holy Spirit says this: the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will tie up the man who owns this belt. Then they will hand him over to the non-Jewish leaders." And 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.
12 When we heard this, all of us -- our group and the local believers -- begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 But Paul replied, "Why are you crying and tearing my heart apart? I am prepared not just to be tied up but even to die in Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus." Then 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.
14 Since we could not change his mind, we gave up and said, "Let the Lord's will be done." And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Paul Arrives in Jerusalem and Meets with James
Study note
Paul is warmly received in Jerusalem and reports to James and the elders what God has done among the Gentiles. They praise God but raise a concern: thousands of Jewish believers zealous for the law have heard that Paul teaches Jews to abandon Moses. To address these rumors, they advise Paul to join four men who have taken a vow, paying their expenses and undergoing purification with them. This will demonstrate that Paul himself still respects the law. Paul agrees and goes to the temple to complete the purification.
15 After packing up, we started our trip to Jerusalem. And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
16 Some of the believers from Caesarea traveled with us. They brought us to the house of Mnason, a man from Cyprus who had been a believer since the early days. He would be our host. There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cæsarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
17 When we reached Jerusalem, the believers there gave us a warm welcome. And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18 The following day, Paul went with us to visit James. All the church elders were there. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19 Paul greeted them. Then he told them in detail everything God had done among the non-Jewish people through his work. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 When they heard it all, they praised God. Then they said, "Brother, look at how many thousands of Jewish people have come to believe, and every one of them is passionate about following the law of Moses. And 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:
21 But they have heard rumors about you -- that you teach Jewish people living among Gentiles to abandon Moses. They say you tell them not to circumcise their children or practice Jewish customs. And 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.
22 What should we do about this? Word will definitely get around that you have arrived. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23 So please follow our suggestion. Four men here have made a special vow. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Join them, go through the purification process with them, and cover their expenses so they can shave their heads. That way, everyone will see that the rumors about you are false and that you still honor and follow the law yourself. Them 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.
25 As for the Gentile believers, we already sent them a letter with our decision. They should stay away from food given to idols, from blood, from meat of strangled animals, and from sexual sin." As 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.
26 Paul agreed and did it. The very next day, he went through the purification ceremony with the four men. Then he went to the temple and publicly announced when the purification period would end and when the offerings would be made for each of them. Then 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.
Paul Seized in the Temple
Study note
Near the end of the seven-day purification period, Jews from Asia recognize Paul in the temple. They stir up the crowd by falsely accusing him of teaching against the Jewish people, the law, and the temple, and of bringing Greeks into the temple's sacred area. The mob seizes Paul, drags him from the temple, and begins beating him. The Roman commander hears about the uproar, rushes in with soldiers, and arrests Paul, binding him with chains. The crowd is so violent that soldiers must carry Paul up the steps to the barracks.
27 The seven-day purification period was almost over when some Jews from the province of Asia spotted Paul in the temple. They whipped the whole crowd into a frenzy and grabbed him. And 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,
28 "Israelites, help us!" they screamed. "This is the man who goes everywhere teaching everyone to disrespect our people, our law, and this sacred temple! On top of all that, he brought Greeks right into the temple and made this sanctuary unclean!" Crying 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 (They said this because they had seen Trophimus from Ephesus with Paul in the city. They guessed that Paul had taken him into the temple.) (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 The whole city erupted. People came running from every direction. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and the gates were immediately slammed shut. And 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.
31 The mob was trying to beat Paul to death. Then the commander of the Roman troops heard that all of Jerusalem had broken into chaos. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 He immediately gathered soldiers and officers and charged down to the scene. When the crowd saw the soldiers coming, they stopped beating Paul. Who 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.
33 The commander arrested Paul and ordered him chained with two chains. Then he tried to find out who Paul was and what he had done. Then 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.
34 People in the crowd were yelling different things. Since the commander could not get to the truth because of all the noise and confusion, he ordered Paul taken to the army barracks. And 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.
35 When they reached the steps of the army building, the crowd was so wild that the soldiers had to carry Paul to keep him safe. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36 The mob kept following, screaming, "Get rid of him!" For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
Paul Requests to Address the Crowd
Study note
As Paul is about to enter the barracks, he asks the Roman commander for permission to speak, surprising him by speaking Greek. The commander had assumed Paul was an Egyptian rebel. Paul identifies himself as a Jew from the distinguished city of Tarsus and is granted permission to address the crowd. Standing on the stairs, he motions for silence and begins to speak in Hebrew.
37 Just before they brought him inside the barracks, Paul asked the commander, "Would you let me say something to you?" The commander looked surprised and said, "You speak Greek?" 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?
38 "Are you that Egyptian rebel? The one who just recently started an uprising? He led four thousand killers into the desert." Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
39 "No," Paul answered. "I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia -- it is an important city. Please, give me permission to speak to the crowd." But 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.
40 The commander gave his permission. So Paul stood on the barracks steps and raised his hand. When the crowd got quiet, he spoke to them in Hebrew. And 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,