13
But Paul wouldn't budge: "Why all this hysteria? Why do you insist on making a scene and making it even harder for me? You're looking at this backwards. The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can't you see that?"
14
We saw that we weren't making even a dent in his resolve, and gave up. "It's in God's hands now," we said. "Master, you handle it."
15
It wasn't long before we had our luggage together and were on our way to Jerusalem.
16
Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and took us to the home of Mnason, who received us warmly as his guests. A native of Cyprus, he had been among the earliest disciples.
17
In Jerusalem, our friends, glad to see us, received us with open arms.
18
The first thing next morning, we took Paul to see James. All the church leaders were there.
19
After a time of greeting and small talk, Paul told the story, detail by detail, of what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20
They listened with delight and gave God the glory.
21
They've been told that you advise believing Jews who live surrounded by Gentiles to go light on Moses, telling them that they don't need to circumcise their children or keep up the old traditions. This isn't sitting at all well with them.
22
"We're worried about what will happen when they discover you're in town. There's bound to be trouble. So here is what we want you to do:
23
There are four men from our company who have taken a vow involving ritual purification, but have no money to pay the expenses.