Acts 21TAB

1 After we had parted from them and put out to sea, we sailed a straight course {euthydromesantes: direct sea route} and reached Cos; on the next day {hexes: following day} we arrived at Rhodes, and from there at Patara.

2 After finding {heurontes: after searching} a ship that was crossing to Phoenicia, we boarded it and sailed {anechthēmen: departed by sea}.

3 When Cyprus {Kypros: Mediterranean island} came into view and we left it to our left, we sailed toward Syria and came ashore at Tyre, because there the ship was to unload its cargo {gomon: freight or burden}.

4 After locating the disciples, we remained there seven days. Through the Spirit {pneuma: Guiding Witness} they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem {Hierosolyma: Holy City}.

5 When our days were completed {exartisai: finished set period}, we left and continued our journey, and all of them—with wives and children—escorted us outside the city; then, after kneeling on the shore, we prayed {proseuxamenoi: heartfelt petition}.

6 After we had said farewell {apospazomai: Affectionate Farewell} to one another, we boarded the ship {ploion: Sea Vessel}; but they went back to their own homes.

7 When we had completed the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; we greeted the brothers {adelphous: fellow believers} and stayed with them {autois: local disciples} for one day.

8 On the following day we departed and arrived in Caesarea, and upon entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven {hepta: chosen servants}, we stayed with him {auto: as his host}.

9 But to this man there were four daughters {thugateres: female offspring}, virgins, who were prophesying {prophēteuousai: declaring God’s message}.

10 While we were staying there for many days, a prophet {prophetes: inspired spokesman} named Agabus {Hagabos: Christian prophet} came down from Judea.

11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit {pneuma to hagion, Prophetic Revealer}: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles {ethnon: non-Jewish peoples}.’”

12 When we heard these things, both we and the local people urged him {auton: the intended traveler} not to go up to Jerusalem {Ierousalem: central city of worship}.

13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart{kardia: inner life center}? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus{Kyrios Iesous, Sacrifice Worthy Lord}.”

14 Since he was not persuaded {peitho: to be convinced}, we became quiet and said, “Let the will of the Lord {Kyrios, Sovereign Director} take place.”

15 After these days, having made preparations {episkeuasamenoi: deliberate readiness}, we went up to Jerusalem {Hierosolyma: central place of worship}.

16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing us to Mnason, a Cypriot and an early {archaio: earliest believer} disciple, with whom we might stay {xenizomai: receive hospitality}.

17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers {adelphoi: fellow believers} welcomed us gladly {asmenos: with open-hearted joy}.

18 On the next day{epiouse: following day} Paul went with us to James, and all the elders{presbyteroi: recognized church leaders} were present.

19 After greeting them, he recounted in detail the things which God {Theos, Sovereign Worker} had done among the Gentiles {ethnesin: non-Jewish peoples} through his ministry.

20 But when they heard this, they were glorifying God {Theos, Recipient Of Praise}, and they said to him, “Brother, you see how many myriads {myriades: tens of thousands} of Jews have believed, and all are zealous for the law.”

21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews among the Gentiles {ethne: non-Jewish nations} apostasy {apostasia: religious defection} from Moses, saying that they should not circumcise their children or walk in the customs.

22 What then should be done? They will certainly {pantos: in any case} hear that you have come {eleluthas: completed arrival}.

23 Therefore do this that we say {lego: give instructions} to you: There are four men among us who have a vow {euche: sacred obligation} upon them.

24 Take these men and undergo purification {hagnizo: ritual cleansing} alongside them, and assume their expenses so that they may shave their heads. Then all will recognize that the claims made about you have no basis, yet you yourself maintain a disciplined life, keeping the law {nomos: Torah instructions}.

25 But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we {hēmeis: Jerusalem leaders} sent word, having decided, that they should keep themselves from what is sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality {porneia: illicit sexual acts}.

26 Then Paul {Paulos: Jewish Apostle} took the men, and on the next day, having purified himself with them, he entered the temple, announcing the fulfillment of the days of purification {hagnismos: vow-related cleansing} until the offering was presented for each one of them.

27 When the seven days were nearly completed, the Jews {Ioudaioi: hostile opponents here} from Asia saw him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and laid hands {cheiras: forceful seizure} on him.

28 They shouted, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the people, and the law {nomou: Torah, foundational commands}, and this place; and furthermore, he brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy {hagion: set apart, consecrated} place.”

29 For they had earlier seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul {Paulos: Apostle to Gentiles} had brought him into the temple {hieron: sacred Jewish precinct}.

30 The whole city {polis: urban population} was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors {thyrai: temple gates} were shut.

31 While they sought to kill him, a report reached the commander {chiliarchos: Roman tribune} of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion {sugchynnetai: thrown into disorder}.

32 At once he took soldiers and centurions and ran down upon them; but when they saw the tribune {chiliarchon: Roman commander} and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul {Paulos: Roman name, Jewish apostle}.

33 Then the commander {chiliarchos: military officer} came up, seized him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains {alysesesi: restraining irons}. He asked who he was and what he had done.

34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and others another; and since he could not learn what was certain {asphales: reliable facts} because of the uproar {thorubos: loud disturbance}, he commanded that he be taken into the barracks.

35 When he reached the steps, it happened that the soldiers had to carry him because of the violence {bian: overwhelming force} of the crowd {ochlou: hostile gathering}.

36 For the multitude {plethos: large agitated crowd} of the people pressed on after him, crying out {krazontes: loud public outcry}, “Take him away!”

37 As Paul {Paulos: detained apostle} prepared to enter the barracks, he addressed the commander {chiliarchos: Roman garrison chief}, “Is it permitted for me to say something to you?” The commander replied, “Do you know Greek?”

38 Are you not, then, the Egyptian who, before these days, stirred up a revolt {anastatosas: caused violent turmoil} and led the four thousand men of the Sicarii {sikarion: hidden dagger men} out into the wilderness?

39 But Paul said, “I am a man, a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, and a citizen of no insignificant city. I beseech {deomai: earnestly request} you; allow me to speak to the crowd {laos: assembled crowd}.”

40 When he had granted permission, Paul {Paulos: Apostle to the Gentiles} stood on the steps {anabathmōn: raised approach} and signaled with his hand to the people. When a great silence came, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,