CHAPTERS 15-21
ACTS#15
1 ¶ And certain men which came down from Judaea taught
the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye
cannot be saved.
2 When therefore
Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they
determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to
Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being
brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria,
declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all
the brethren.
4 And when they
were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles
and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose
up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was
needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 ¶ And the apostles and elders came together for to
consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing,
Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good
while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear
the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which
knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he
did unto us;
9 And put no
difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore
why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither
our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe
that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as
they.
12 Then all the
multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what
miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 And after they
had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto
me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first
did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this
agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I
will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen
down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the
residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my
name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God
are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 Wherefore my
sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned
to God:
20 But that we
write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from
fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city
them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22 ¶ Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the
whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the
brethren:
23 And they wrote
letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send
greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and
Cilicia:
24 Forasmuch as
we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with
words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law:
to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good
unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our
beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have
hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent
therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to
us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye
abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled,
and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare
ye well.
30 So when they
were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude
together, they delivered the epistle:
31 Which when
they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32 And Judas and
Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words,
and confirmed them.
33 And after they
had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the
apostles.
34
Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch,
teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 ¶ And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us
go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of
the Lord, and see how they do.
37 And Barnabas
determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul
thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia,
and went not with them to the work.
39 And the contention
was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and
so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose
Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went
through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
1 ¶ Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a
certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was
a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well
reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul
have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews
which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4 And as they
went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were
ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the
churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
6 ¶ Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the
region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in
Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed
to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they
passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9 And a vision
appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him,
saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10 And after he
had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly
gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
11 Therefore
loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next
day to Neapolis;
12 And from
thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a
colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13 And on the
sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be
made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of
purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart
the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15 And when she
was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me
to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she
constrained us.
16 ¶ And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain
damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters
much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same
followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most
high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18 And this did
she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I
command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out
the same hour.
19 And when her
masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas,
and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20 And brought
them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble
our city,
21
And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive,
neither to observe, being Romans.
22 And the
multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their
clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23 And when they
had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the
jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having
received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet
fast in the stocks.
25 ¶ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang
praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly
there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were
shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were
loosed.
27 And the keeper
of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he
drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners
had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do
thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called
for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and
Silas,
30 And brought them
out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said,
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake
unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took
them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he
and all his, straightway.
34 And when he
had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced,
believing in God with all his house.
35 ¶ And when it was day,
the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36 And the keeper
of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you
go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37 But Paul said
unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast
us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them
come themselves and fetch us out.
38 And the
serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they
heard that they were Romans.
39 And they came
and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the
city.
40 And they went
out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen
the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
1 ¶ Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and
Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
2 And Paul, as
his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them
out of the scriptures,
3 Opening and
alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead;
and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
4 And some of
them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a
great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
5 But the Jews
which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the
baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and
assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 And when they
found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the
city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither
also;
7
Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the
decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they
troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 And when they
had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
10 ¶ And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and
Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the
Jews.
11 These were
more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were
so.
12 Therefore many
of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a
few.
13 But when the Jews
of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at
Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
14 And then immediately the brethren sent away
Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
15 And they that
conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas
and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
16 ¶ Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit
was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
17 Therefore
disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in
the market daily with them that met with him.
18 Then certain
philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some
said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth
of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19 And they took
him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new
doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
20 For thou
bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these
things mean.
21
(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent
their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
22 ¶ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and
said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I
passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription,
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto
you.
24 God that made
the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth,
dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is
worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to
all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made
of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and
hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they
should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though
he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our
being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his
offspring.
29 Forasmuch then
as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like
unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
30 And the times
of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to
repent:
31 Because he
hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by
that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men,
in that he hath raised him from the dead.
32 ¶ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead,
some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
33 So Paul
departed from among them.
34 Howbeit
certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the
Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
1 ¶ After these things Paul departed from Athens, and
came to Corinth;
2 And found a certain
Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife
Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:)
and came unto them.
3 And because he
was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation
they were tentmakers.
4 And he reasoned
in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
5 And when Silas
and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and
testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
6 And when they
opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them,
Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto
the Gentiles.
7 ¶ And he departed
thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that
worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
8 And Crispus,
the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and
many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
9 Then spake the
Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid,
but speak, and hold not thy peace:
10 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt
thee: for I have much people in this city.
11 And he
continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
12 ¶ And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews
made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment
seat,
13 Saying, This
fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
14 And when Paul was now about to open his
mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked
lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:
15 But if it be a
question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no
judge of such matters.
16 And he drave
them from the judgment seat.
17 Then all the
Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before
the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.
18 ¶ And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while,
and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with
him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
19 And he came to
Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and
reasoned with the Jews.
20 When they
desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;
21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by
all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again
unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
22 And when he
had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to
Antioch.
23 And after he
had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia
and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
24 ¶ And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria,
an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was
instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake
and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began
to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard,
they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
27 And when he
was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples
to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed
through grace:
28 For he mightily
convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus
was Christ.
1 ¶ And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at
Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and
finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto
them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto
him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said
unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul,
John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people,
that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ
Jesus.
5 When they heard
this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul
had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with
tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
8 ¶ And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for
the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the
kingdom of God.
9 But when divers
were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the
multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily
in the school of one Tyrannus.
10 And this
continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard
the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11 And God
wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from
his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases
departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
13 ¶ Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took
upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus,
saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a
Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil
spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in
whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed
against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 And this was
known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on
them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18 And many that
believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19 Many of them
also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them
before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand
pieces of silver.
20 So mightily
grew the word of God and prevailed.
21 ¶ After these things
were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia
and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also
see Rome.
22 So he sent
into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but
he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
23 And the same time
there arose no small stir about that way.
24 For a certain
man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana,
brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called
together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by
this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye
see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this
Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods,
which are made with hands:
27 So that not
only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple
of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be
destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard these sayings, they were
full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole
city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of
Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the
theatre.
30 And when Paul
would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 And certain of
the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he
would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore
cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more
part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And they drew
Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander
beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they
knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried
out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
35 And when the townclerk had appeased the
people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that
the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of
the image which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then
that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do
nothing rashly.
37 For ye have
brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet
blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore if
Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man,
the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye
enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful
assembly.
40 For we are in
danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause
whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he
had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
1 ¶ And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him
the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
2 And when he had
gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into
Greece,
3 And there abode
three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into
Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
4 And there
accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians,
Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia,
Tychicus and Trophimus.
5 These going
before tarried for us at Troas.
6 And we sailed
away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to
Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
7 ¶ And upon the first day
of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached
unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until
midnight.
8 And there were
many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.
9 And there sat
in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep:
and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the
third loft, and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went
down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his
life is in him.
11 When he
therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long
while, even till break of day, so he departed.
12 And they
brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.
13 ¶ And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos,
there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go
afoot.
14 And when he met with us at Assos, we took
him in, and came to Mitylene.
15 And we sailed
thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived
at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.
16 For Paul had
determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for
he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of
Pentecost.
17 ¶ And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the
elders of the church.
18 And when they
were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came
into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19 Serving the
Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which
befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20 And how I kept
back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught
you publickly, and from house to house,
21
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now,
behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that
shall befall me there:
23 Save that the
Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide
me.
24 But none of
these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might
finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord
Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now,
behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of
God, shall see my face no more.
26 Wherefore I
take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
27 For I have not
shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock,
over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of
God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know
this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not
sparing the flock.
30 Also of your
own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them.
31 Therefore
watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn
every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren,
I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you
up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
33 I have coveted
no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye
yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to
them that were with me.
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so
labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord
Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to
receive.
36 ¶ And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and
prayed with them all.
37 And they all
wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
38 Sorrowing most
of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And
they accompanied him unto the ship.
1 ¶ And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from
them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day
following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
2 And finding a
ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3 Now when we had
discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and
landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
4 And finding
disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit,
that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 And when we had
accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us
on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we
kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6 And when we had
taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
7 And when we had finished our course from
Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one
day.
8 ¶ And the next day we that were of Paul's company
departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the
evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same
man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10 And as we
tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named
Agabus.
11 And when he
was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and
said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man
that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 And when we
heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to
Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul
answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to
be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we
ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
15 ¶ And after those days we took up our carriages, and
went up to Jerusalem.
16 There went
with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one
Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
17 And when we
were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18 And the day
following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19 And when he
had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the
Gentiles by his ministry.
20 And when they
heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how
many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the
law:
21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest
all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they
ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
22 What is it
therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou
art come.
23 Do therefore
this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and
purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave
their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed
concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and
keepest the law.
25 As touching
the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no
such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols,
and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
26 Then Paul took
the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple,
to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering
should be offered for every one of them.
27 ¶ And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews
which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people,
and laid hands on him,
28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the
man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and
this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted
this holy place.
29 (For they had
seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that
Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 And all the
city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him
out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
31 And as they
went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that
all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 Who
immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they
saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
33 Then the chief
captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains;
and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34 And some cried
one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the
certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was,
that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36 For the
multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
37 And as Paul
was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto
thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?
38 Art not thou
that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into
the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
39 But Paul said,
I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean
city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
40 And when he
had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand
unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in
the Hebrew tongue, saying,