Acts 21:17-40 ▼

17 And, when we came to Jerusalem, the brethren gladly received us.

18 And, on the following day, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.

19 And, having saluted them, he narrated, one by one, each of the things God wrought among the gentiles through his ministry.

20 And they, hearing it , were glorifying God, and said to him, "You observe, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews, of those who have believed; and they are all zealous for the law.

21 And they were informed by report concerning you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, nor to walk after the customs.

22 What is it, therefore? They will certainly hear that you have come.

23 Do this, therefore, which we say to you: we have four men who have a vow on them;

24 taking these to yourself , be purified with them, and incur expense for them, that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing in those things of which they have been instructed concerning you; but that you yourself also are walking orderly, keeping the law.

25 But concerning the gentiles who have believed, we sent to them , having given judgment, that they should keep themselves from idol-sacrifices, and from blood, and from anything strangled, and from fornication."

26 Then Paul, taking the men, on the next day, having been purified with them, was entering into the temple, announcing the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering should be offered for each one of them.

27 And, when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, having beheld him in the temple, were stirring up all the multitude, and they laid their hands upon him,

28 crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place! and, further, he brought Greeks also into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!"

29 (For they had previously seen with him in the city Trophimus, the Ephesian, whom they were supposing that Paul brought into the temple).

30 And all the city was moved, and there was a running together of the people; and, laying hold of Paul, they were dragging him out of the temple; and straightway the doors were shut.

31 And, as they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion;

32 who, at once, taking with him soldiers and centurions, ran down upon them; and they, seeing the chief captain and the soldiers, ceased beating Paul.

33 Then the chief captain, coming near, laid hold of him, and ordered that he be bound with two chains; and he was inquiring who he was, and what he had done.

34 And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd; and, when he could not ascertain the certainty because of the tumult, he ordered that he be brought into the castle.

35 And, when he came upon the stairway, it happened that he was borne along by the soldiers on account of the violence of the multitude;

36 for the throng of the people was following after, crying out, "Away with him!"

37 And, when about to be led into the castle, Paul says to the chief captain, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?

38 Are you not, then, the Egyptian who, before these days, caused a revolt, and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?"

39 But Paul said, "I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I beseech you, permit me to speak to the people."

40 And, when he gave him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people; and, when there was great silence, he spake to them in the Hebrew language, saying: