15Afterthesedays we gotready and 1started on our way up to Jerusalem.
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Some of 2the disciples from 3Caesareaalsocame with us, taking us to Mnason of 4Cyprus, a 5disciple of longstanding with whom we were to lodge.
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After we arrived in Jerusalem, 6the brethrenreceived us gladly.
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And the following day Paulwent in with us to 7James, and all8the elders were present.
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After he had greeted them, he 9began to relateone by one the things whichGod had doneamong the Gentilesthrough his 10ministry.
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And when they heard it they began 11glorifyingGod; and they said to him, "You see, brother, howmanythousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all12zealous for the Law;
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and they have been toldabout you, that you are 13teachingall the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsakeMoses, telling them 14not to circumcise their childrennor to walk according to 15the customs.
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"What, then, is to be done? They will certainlyhear that you have come.
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"Thereforedothis that we tell you. We have fourmen who 16are under* a vow;
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take them and 17purify yourself along with them, and pay their expensesso that they may 18shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been toldabout you, but that you yourselfalsowalkorderly, keeping the Law.
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"But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, 19having decided that they should abstain from meatsacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication."
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ThenPaultook the men, and the nextday, 20purifying himself along with them, 21went into the templegivingnotice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for eachone of them.
Paul Seized in the Temple
27When22the sevendays were almostover, 23the Jews from 24Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laidhands on him,
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crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! 25This is the man who preaches to allmeneverywhereagainst our people and the Law and thisplace; and besides he has evenbroughtGreeks into the temple and has 26defiledthisholyplace."
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For they had previouslyseen27Trophimus the 28Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
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Thenall the city was provoked, and the peoplerushedtogether, and takinghold of Paul they 29dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.
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While they were seeking to kill him, a reportcame up to the commander of the 30Roman cohort that allJerusalem was in confusion.
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At once he 31tookalong some soldiers and centurions and randown to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stoppedbeatingPaul.
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Then the commandercame up and tookhold of him, and ordered him to be 32bound with 33twochains; and he began askingwho he was and what he had done.
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But among the crowd34some were shouting one thing and someanother, and when he could not find out the factsbecause of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into 35the barracks.
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When he got to 36the stairs, he was carried by the soldiersbecause of the violence of the mob;
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for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, "37Away with him!"
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As Paul was about to be brought into 38the barracks, he said to the commander, "May I saysomething to you?" And he said, "Do you knowGreek?
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"Then you are not 39the Egyptian who sometimeagostirred up a revolt and led the fourthousandmen of the Assassins out 40into the wilderness?"
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But Paulsaid, "41I am a Jew of Tarsus in 42Cilicia, a citizen of noinsignificantcity; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people."
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When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on 43the stairs, 44motioned to the people with his hand; and when there was a greathush, he spoke to them in the 45Hebrewdialect, saying,