1And when we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we ran a straight course and came to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
2And finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
3After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on our left, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.
4After seeking out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And they, through the Spirit, kept telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
5When our time was up, we departed and went on our way, and all of them, with their wives and children, escorted us until we were outside the city. And we knelt on the beach and prayed.
6Then we said farewell to one another and boarded the ship, while they returned to their homes.
7And we completed the voyage from Tyre and arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day.
8On 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.
9He had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
10While we were staying there for a number of days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11He came to us, took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit: “In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over into the hands of the Gentiles.”’
12When we heard this, both we and the local people began to urge him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13Then Paul answered, ‘What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the sake of the name of the Lord Jesus.’
14And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, saying, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’
15After these days, we made our preparations and began to go up to Jerusalem.
16Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing us to a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.
17When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.
18On the following day, Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present.
19After greeting them, he reported in detail, one by one, the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20When they heard this, they glorified God. And they said to him, ‘You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law.’
21But they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to live according to our customs.
22What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.
23Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow.
24Take these men, be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads. Then everyone will know that there is nothing to the rumors they have heard about you, but that you yourself live in observance of the Law.
25As for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.
26Then Paul took the men, and on the next day, having been purified with them, he went into the temple to give notice of the completion of the days of purification, at which time the offering would be made for each one of them.
27When the seven days were nearly completed, the Jews from Asia saw him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and laid hands on him,
28shouting, ‘Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the people and the Law and this place. Furthermore, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.’
29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
30Then the whole city was aroused, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were shut.
31And while they were seeking to kill him, a report went up to the commander of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
33Then the commander approached, arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. And he began to inquire who he was and what he had done.
34But some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.
35And when he came to the steps, it happened that he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,
36for the multitude of the people was following, shouting, “Away with him!”
37As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “Is it permitted for me to say something to you?” And he said, “You know Greek?
38Then you are not the Egyptian who before these days stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Sicarii out into the wilderness?”
39But Paul said, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. And I ask you, permit me to speak to the people.”
40And when he had given permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when a great silence fell, he addressed them in the Hebrew dialect, saying:
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