Acts 21

King James Version

Full text for Acts Chapter 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.

8¶ And 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.

16There 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.

27¶ 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,

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,

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Paul journeyed towards Jerusalem, receiving multiple prophetic warnings from disciples and Agabus concerning his impending imprisonment and suffering there. Despite these warnings, Paul remained resolute, declaring his readiness to die for Christ. Upon arrival, he met with James and the elders, who advised him to participate in a purification rite to counter false rumors among zealous Jewish believers. While in the temple, Paul was recognized by Asian Jews, falsely accused of defiling the holy place, and violently attacked by a mob, only to be rescued and bound by the Roman chief captain.

Medium Summary

Paul's journey to Jerusalem included stops in Tyre and Caesarea, where disciples, including the prophet Agabus, foretold his binding and delivery to the Gentiles. Despite fervent pleas from his companions, Paul declared his unwavering resolve to face suffering and even death for the name of the Lord Jesus, leading them to concede, "The will of the Lord be done." In Jerusalem, he was warmly received and reported to James and the elders about God's work among the Gentiles. Concerned about widespread rumors among zealous Jewish believers that Paul taught against the Law, the elders advised him to join four men in a purification rite to demonstrate his adherence. However, as Paul completed this rite in the temple, Jews from Asia recognized him, incited a mob with false accusations of defiling the temple, and violently assaulted him. The Roman chief captain intervened, binding Paul and rescuing him from the enraged crowd, then allowed him to address the people from the castle stairs.

Long Summary

Paul and his companions sailed from Coos, through Rhodes and Patara, eventually landing at Tyre, where they found disciples who, through the Spirit, warned Paul not to proceed to Jerusalem. After seven days, they departed amidst emotional farewells and prayer on the shore, continuing their voyage to Ptolemais and then Caesarea. There, they lodged with Philip the evangelist, whose four virgin daughters prophesied. During their stay, the prophet Agabus arrived from Judaea, dramatically taking Paul's girdle to bind his own hands and feet, prophesying that the Jews in Jerusalem would similarly bind Paul and deliver him to the Gentiles. Both Paul's companions and local believers earnestly implored him not to go, but Paul, with unwavering resolve, declared his readiness not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the Lord Jesus's name, leading them to submit, "The will of the Lord be done." Upon arriving in Jerusalem, accompanied by disciples from Caesarea, Paul was gladly received by the brethren. The following day, he met with James and all the elders, recounting in detail God's powerful work among the Gentiles through his ministry, which led them to glorify the Lord. However, the elders expressed concern about the many thousands of Jewish believers who were zealous for the Law and had been falsely informed that Paul taught Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, including circumcision and customs. To dispel these rumors, they advised Paul to join four men who had a Nazarite vow, purify himself with them, and bear their expenses for shaving their heads, thereby demonstrating his own orderly walk and observance of the Law. They reaffirmed the council's decree for Gentile believers. Paul complied, entering the temple the next day to signify the completion of the purification days and await the necessary offerings. As the seven days of purification neared their end, Jews from Asia recognized Paul in the temple, stirred up the entire populace, and seized him, falsely accusing him of teaching against the people, the Law, and the temple, and of bringing Greeks into the holy place. The city was thrown into an uproar, and the mob dragged Paul out of the temple, immediately shutting the doors, intending to kill him. News of the disturbance reached the chief captain of the Roman band, who swiftly descended with soldiers and centurions, causing the mob to cease beating Paul. The chief captain then took Paul, bound him with two chains, and attempted to ascertain the cause of the tumult amidst conflicting shouts from the crowd. Unable to get clear information due to the chaos, he ordered Paul to be carried into the castle, where soldiers had to bear him up the stairs due to the violence of the pursuing multitude, who cried, "Away with him!" As Paul was being led in, he requested and was granted permission to speak to the people, addressing the chief captain in Greek and identifying himself as a Jew from Tarsus.

Core Concepts

  • Prophetic WarningsDisciples at Tyre and the prophet Agabus at Caesarea, through the Holy Spirit, forewarn Paul of the suffering, binding, and delivery into Gentile hands that await him in Jerusalem.
  • Paul's Steadfast ResolveDespite these clear and emotional warnings, Paul demonstrates unwavering determination to proceed to Jerusalem, declaring his readiness to be bound or even die for the name of the Lord Jesus.
  • Jewish Zeal for the LawMany Jewish believers in Jerusalem are described as 'zealous of the law,' leading to concerns among the elders about false reports regarding Paul's alleged teaching against Mosaic customs.
  • Demonstrating ObservanceTo counteract false rumors and show respect for the Law, Paul is advised by the elders to participate in a purification rite with four men who have a vow, and he complies.
  • False Accusation and Mob ViolencePaul is falsely accused by Asian Jews in the temple of teaching against the Law and defiling the holy place by bringing Greeks in, inciting a violent mob that attempts to kill him.
  • Roman InterventionThe Roman chief captain and his soldiers intervene swiftly to rescue Paul from the enraged multitude in the temple, binding him and taking him into protective custody in the castle.
  • Paul's Defense OpportunityAmidst the chaos and his arrest, Paul requests and is granted permission by the chief captain to address the agitated crowd from the castle stairs, preparing to explain himself.