21:1-27:1
Luke continues to dramatize Paul's activities and to elevate Paul's importance, depicting him as being a matter of heightened concern to the Apostles, the Jews, the Roman Procurators, and even the Jewish King Agrippa.
Paul's Final Journey to Jerusalem - Dramatic Warnings and Prophecies about Paul
21:1 When we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 21:2 When we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. 21:3 We came in sight of Cyprus; and leaving it on our left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there. 21:4 We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 21:5 When our days there were ended, we left and proceeded on our journey; and all of them, with wives and children, escorted us outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed 21:6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. 21:7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the believers and stayed with them for one day. 21:8 The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him. 21:9 He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. 21:10 While we were staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 21:11 He came to us and took Paul's belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" 21:12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 21:13 Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 21:14 Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, "The Lord's will be done." 21:15 After these days we got ready and started to go up to Jerusalem. 21:16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came along and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.
Paul Meets the "brothers," including James and the Elders - More Warnings
21:17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly. 21:18 The next day Paul went with us to visit James; and all the elders were present. 21:19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 21:20 When they heard it, they praised God. Then they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law. 21:21 They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews living among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs. 21:22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 21:23 So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow. 21:24 Join these men, go through the rite of purification with them, and pay for the shaving of their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself observe and guard the law. 21:25 But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication."
Paul Goes to the Temple; the Jews riot and try to kill him; the whole city is aroused; the Romans intervene to arrest Paul
21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having purified himself, he entered the temple with them, making public the completion of the days of purification when the sacrifice would be made for each of them. 21:27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd. They seized him, 21:28 shouting, "Fellow Israelites, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place; more than that, he has actually brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." 21:29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 21:30 Then all the city was aroused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 21:31 While they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 21:32 Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 21:33 Then the tribune came, arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; he inquired who he was and what he had done. 21:34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another; and as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 21:35 When Paul came to the steps, the violence of the mob was so great that he had to be carried by the soldiers. 21:36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, "Away with him!"
Paul Gives a Speech to the Jewish Crowd in Acts
21:37-22:21
This has the
Second Version of Paul's "Conversion" Recorded in Acts
Paul's Speech Incites a Second Riot; the Romans rescue him again
22:22 Up to this point they listened to him, but then they shouted, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live." 22:23 And while they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and tossing dust into the air, 22:24 the tribune directed that he was to be brought into the barracks, and ordered him to be examined by flogging, to find out the reason for this outcry against him. 22:25 But when they had tied him up with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who is uncondemned?" 22:26 When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, "What are you about to do? This man is a Roman citizen." 22:27 The tribune came and asked Paul, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes." 22:28 The tribune answered, "It cost me a large sum of money to get my citizenship." Paul said, "But I was born a citizen." 22:29 Immediately those who were about to examine him drew back from him; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. 22:30 Since he wanted to find out what Paul was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before them. 23:1 While Paul was looking intently at the council he said, "Brothers, up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God." 23:2 Then the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth. 23:3 At this Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you order me to be struck?" 23:4 Those standing nearby said, "Do you dare to insult God's high priest?" 23:5 And Paul said, "I did not realize, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.'" 23:6 When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead." 23:7 When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 23:8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.) 23:9 Then a great clamor arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees' group stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" 23:10 When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks. 23:11 That night the Lord stood near him and said, "Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome."
The Jews Conspire to Kill Paul
A Roman Tribune Saves him
23:12 In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 23:13 There were more than forty who joined in this conspiracy. 23:14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food until we have killed Paul. 23:15 Now then, you and the council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you, on the pretext that you want to make a more thorough examination of his case. And we are ready to do away with him before he arrives." 23:16 Now the son of Paul's sister heard about the ambush; so he went and gained entrance to the barracks and told Paul. 23:17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to report to him." 23:18 So he took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you; he has something to tell you." 23:19 The tribune took him by the hand, drew him aside privately, and asked, "What is it that you have to report to me?" 23:20 He answered, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more thoroughly into his case. 23:21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill him. They are ready now and are waiting for your consent." 23:22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, ordering him, "Tell no one that you have informed me of this." 23:23 Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, "Get ready to leave by nine o'clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. 23:24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Felix the governor." 23:25 He wrote a letter to this effect: 23:26 "Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 23:27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with the guard and rescued him. 23:28 Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council. 23:29 I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 23:30 When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him."
Paul is Sent to the Procurator Felix
who hears the Jews' Accusations against Paul
23:31 So the
soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him during the
night to Antipatris. 23:32 The
next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the
barracks. 23:33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the
governor, they presented Paul also before him. 23:34
On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he
learned that he was from Cilicia, 23:35 he said, "I will give you a hearing when
your accusers arrive." Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's
headquarters. 24:1 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some
elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case
against Paul to the governor. 24:2 When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began
to accuse him, saying: "Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed
peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight.
24:3 We welcome this in every way and everywhere with utmost gratitude. 24:4
But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary
graciousness. 24:5 We have, in fact, found this man
a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a
ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 24:6
He even tried to profane the temple, and so we seized him.
24:8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him
concerning everything of which we accuse him." 24:9 The Jews also joined in the
charge by asserting that all this was true. 24:10 When the governor motioned to
him to speak, Paul replied: "I cheerfully make my defense, knowing that for many
years you have been a judge over this nation. 24:11 As you can find out, it is
not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. 24:12 They
did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd
either in the synagogues or throughout the city. 24:13 Neither can they prove to
you the charge that they now bring against me. 24:14 But this
I admit to you, that according to the Way,
which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything
laid down according to the law or written in the prophets.
24:15 I have a hope in God--a hope that they themselves also
accept--that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the
unrighteous. 24:16 Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience
toward God and all people. 24:17 Now after some years I came to bring alms to my
nation and to offer sacrifices. 24:18 While I was doing this, they found me in
the temple, completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or
disturbance. 24:19 But there were some Jews from Asia--they ought to be here
before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me. 24:20 Or let
these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council,
24:21 unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before
them, 'It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you
today.'" 24:22 But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way,
adjourned
the hearing with the comment, "When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide
your case." 24:23 Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody, but to
let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care
of his needs. 24:24 Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who
was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ
Jesus. 24:25 And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment,
Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present; when I have an
opportunity, I will send for you." 24:26 At the same time he
[Felix] hoped that money
would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very
often and converse with him.
Felix wanted Money
from Paul
Felix Leaves Paul in Prison for Two Years
The Jews Accuse Paul before Porcius Festus
And again Conspire to Kill Paul
24:27 After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. 25:1 Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem 25:2 where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him 25:3 and requested, as a favor to them against Paul, to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way. 25:4 Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly. 25:5 "So," he said, "let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him." 25:6 After he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. 25:7 When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove. 25:8 Paul said in his defense, "I have in no way committed an offense against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against the emperor." 25:9 But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, "Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?" 25:10 Paul said, "I am appealing to the emperor's tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. 25:11 Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor." 25:12 Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, "You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go." 25:13 After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus. 25:14 Since they were staying there several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix. 25:15 When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him and asked for a sentence against him. 25:16 I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met the accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the charge. 25:17 So when they met here, I lost no time, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. 25:18 When the accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes that I was expecting. 25:19 Instead they had certain points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. 25:20 Since I was at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges. 25:21 But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of his Imperial Majesty, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to the emperor." 25:22 Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him." 25:23 So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then Festus gave the order and Paul was brought in. 25:24 And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. 25:25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and when he appealed to his Imperial Majesty, I decided to send him. 25:26 But I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write-- 25:27 for it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him."
Festus Brings Paul's Case Before the Jewish King Agrippa
Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa and Festus 26:1-28
This has the
Third Version of Paul's "Conversion" Recorded in Acts
26:30 Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them; 26:31 and as they were leaving, they said to one another, "This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment." 26:32 Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor." 27:1 When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius.
Paul is Taken to Rome and Executed under Nero around 65 CE