Actschapter 21

A.Warnings at Every Port: The Will of the Lord Be Donevv. 1-14

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.”

B.Jerusalem: Paul Takes a Vow to Answer the Rumorsvv. 15-26

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, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.” 26 So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.

C.Seized in the Temple, Rescued by Roman Soldiersvv. 27-40

27 When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil. 32 Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. 35 When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. 36 For the crowd that followed him kept shouting, “Away with him!” 37 As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the ‘Assassins’ into the wilderness?” 39 But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.” 40 Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Journey to Jerusalem.

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Journey to Jerusalem. Agabus binds Paul's girdle: 'so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle.' Arrival; James's counsel; Paul takes a vow. A riot in the temple; Paul arrested; permitted to speak to the people.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

History · Luke — Acts overview

A. 1–14 Warnings at Every Port: The Will of the Lord Be Done
B. 15–26 Jerusalem: Paul Takes a Vow to Answer the Rumors
C. 27–40 Seized in the Temple, Rescued by Roman Soldiers

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Acts 2111 verses
- Acts 21:3After sighting Cyprus and passing south of it, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo.
- Acts 21:4We 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.
- Acts 21:8Leaving the next day, we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven.
- Acts 21:10After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
- Acts 21:11Coming 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.’”
- Acts 21:16Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.
- Read Acts 21: 5 more there →
Acts 157 verses
- Acts 15:3Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
- Acts 15:4On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.
- Acts 15:12The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
- Acts 15:13When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!
- Acts 15:19It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
- Acts 15:22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,
- Read Acts 15: 1 more there →
Acts 205 verses
- Acts 20:4Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
- Acts 20:6And after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and five days later we rejoined them in Troas, where we stayed seven days.
- Acts 20:22And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
- Acts 20:24But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
- Acts 20:36When Paul had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.
- Read Acts 20 →
Acts 223 verses
- Acts 22:2When they heard him speak to them in Hebrew, they became even more silent. Then Paul declared,
- Acts 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.
- Acts 22:22The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”
- Read Acts 22 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Acts 263 verses
- Acts 26:9So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Acts 26:20First to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to everyone in the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I declared that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds worthy of their repentance.
- Acts 26:21For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.
- Read Acts 26 →
Acts 182 verses
- Acts 18:18Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.
- Acts 18:22When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem. Then he went down to Antioch.
- Read Acts 18 →
Acts 242 verses
- Acts 24:5We have found this man to be a pestilence, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,
- Acts 24:18At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia
- Read Acts 24 →
Acts 232 verses
- Acts 23:10The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
- Acts 23:27This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen,
- Read Acts 23 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.