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Acts 21:1-26

Listen to Acts 21:1-26

Paul Goes to Jerusalem

1 And when 1we had parted from them and set sail, we 2came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. [a]
2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.
4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And 3through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, 4accompanied us until we were outside the city. And 5kneeling down on the beach, we prayed
6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted 6the brothers[b] and stayed with them for one day.
8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of 7Philip 8the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9 He had four unmarried daughters, 9who prophesied.
10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named 10Agabus came down from Judea.
11 And coming to us, he 11took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, 12“Thus says the Holy Spirit, 13‘This is how the Jews[c] at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and 14deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. ’”
12 When we heard this, we and the people there 15urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, 16“What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For 17I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem 18for the name of the Lord Jesus. ”
14 And since he would not be persuaded, 19we ceased and said, 20“Let the will of the Lord be done. ”
15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.
16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.

Paul Visits James

17 When we had come to Jerusalem, 21the brothers received us gladly.
18 On the following day Paul went in with us to 22James, and all 23the elders were present.
19 After greeting them, 24he related one by one 25the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his 26ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they 27glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all 28zealous for the law,
21 and they have been told about you that you teach all 29the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, 30telling them 31not to circumcise their children or 32walk according to 33our customs.
22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.
23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men 34who are under a vow;
24 take these men and 35purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, 36so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.
25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, 37we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, [d] and from sexual immorality. ”
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day 38he purified himself along with them and 39went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and 40the offering presented for each one of them.

Cross References 40

  • 1. 21:1 See ch. 16:10
  • 2. 21:1 ch. 16:11
  • 3. 21:4 ver. 11; ch. 20:23
  • 4. 21:5 ch. 20:38
  • 5. 21:5 ch. 20:36
  • 6. 21:7 See John 21:23
  • 7. 21:8 ch. 6:5; 8:5
  • 8. 21:8 Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5
  • 9. 21:9 ch. 2:17, 18; Luke 2:36; 1 Cor. 11:5; See ch. 13:1
  • 10. 21:10 ch. 11:28
  • 11. 21:11 [1 Sam. 15:27, 28; 1 Kgs. 11:30; Isa. 20:3; Jer. 13:1-11; 27:2]
  • 12. 21:11 See ch. 20:23
  • 13. 21:11 [ver. 33]; See ch. 9:16
  • 14. 21:11 [ver. 31-33; Matt. 20:19]
  • 15. 21:12 [Matt. 16:21-23]
  • 16. 21:13 [See ver. 12 above]
  • 17. 21:13 ch. 20:24; Rom. 8:36; 2 Cor. 4:16; 12:10; Phil. 2:17; [ch. 15:26]
  • 18. 21:13 See ch. 5:41
  • 19. 21:14 [Ruth 1:18]
  • 20. 21:14 See Matt. 6:10
  • 21. 21:17 ver. 7; [ch. 15:4]
  • 22. 21:18 See ch. 12:17
  • 23. 21:18 See ch. 11:30
  • 24. 21:19 See ch. 14:27
  • 25. 21:19 [Rom. 15:18, 19]
  • 26. 21:19 See ch. 1:17
  • 27. 21:20 ch. 11:18
  • 28. 21:20 ch. 22:3; Rom. 10:2; Gal. 1:14
  • 29. 21:21 [James 1:1]
  • 30. 21:21 ver. 28
  • 31. 21:21 [Rom. 2:28, 29; 1 Cor. 7:19]
  • 32. 21:21 [Mark 7:5; Gal. 2:14]
  • 33. 21:21 ch. 6:14; 15:1
  • 34. 21:23 [ch. 18:18]
  • 35. 21:24 ver. 26; ch. 24:18; [John 11:55]
  • 36. 21:24 [See ver. 23 above]
  • 37. 21:25 See ch. 15:19, 20, 29
  • 38. 21:26 [See ver. 24 above]
  • 39. 21:26 [Num. 6:13]
  • 40. 21:26 [Num. 6:9-12]

Footnotes 4

  • [a] 21:1 Some manuscripts add 'and Myra'
  • [b] 21:7 Or 'brothers and sisters'; also verse 17
  • [c] 21:11 Greek 'Ioudaioi' probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time
  • [d] 21:25 Some manuscripts omit 'and from what has been strangled'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025

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