Acts 21:1–40

¹ After we had torn ourselves away from them, we sailed directly to Cos, and the next day on to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ² Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded it and set sail. ³ After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴ We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ⁵ But when our time there had ended, we set out on our journey. All the disciples, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city and knelt down on the beach to pray with us. ⁶ And after we had said our farewells, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home. ⁷ When we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. ⁸ Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. ¹⁰ After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’” ¹² When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” ¹⁵ After these days, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple. ¹⁷ When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully. ¹⁸ The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. ²⁰ When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. ²¹ But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs. ²² What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. ²³ Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. ²⁴ Take these men, pu…