Acts 21

When we had departed from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for the ship was there to unload her cargo.

Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.

After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day.

On the next day, we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea. We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

Coming to us and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘So the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

When we heard these things, both we and the people of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”

After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.

Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay.

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.

When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.

They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.

They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children and not to walk after the customs.

What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.

Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow.

Take them and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law.

But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality.”

Then Paul took the men, and the next day purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.

When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him,

crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place!”

For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

All the city was moved and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Immediately the doors were shut.

As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul.

Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.

Some shouted one thing and some another, among the crowd. When he couldn’t find out the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be brought into the barracks.

When he came to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;

for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!”

As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, “May I speak to you?” He said, “Do you know Greek?

Aren’t you then the Egyptian who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?”

But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”

When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter records Paul’s final journey to Jerusalem, where he is received by the church and advised to demonstrate his commitment to the Mosaic law to quell rumors about his teaching. Despite clear warnings from the Holy Spirit through prophets that suffering awaits him in the city, Paul resolutely determines to go, culminating in his arrest in the temple amid false accusations that ignite a violent reaction from the Jewish crowd.

Flow.

Paul and his companions travel from Miletus to Jerusalem, stopping at Tyre and Caesarea, where disciples and the prophet Agabus warn him not to go to Jerusalem.
In Caesarea, Paul is urged by believers to avoid danger, but he insists on fulfilling God’s will, even unto death.
Arriving in Jerusalem, Paul meets with James and the elders, who propose a public act of Jewish piety to show his adherence to the law.
After Paul begins this act in the temple, he is seized by a mob accusing him of defiling the temple and teaching against the law, leading to his arrest by Roman authorities.

Connections. Following chapter 20, in which Paul’s final journey begins and he predicts his own impending suffering in Jerusalem (WCF 6.6), this chapter shows the fulfillment of those warnings as the path toward his imprisonment becomes unmistakable. The tensions over the law and Gentile inclusion that simmer beneath Paul’s ministry now erupt publicly, setting the conflict that chapter 22 takes up as Paul defends himself before the people and authorities in Jerusalem, beginning his long journey to Rome under Roman custody.

What it teaches. The chapter demonstrates Paul’s submission to the Lord’s will even in the face of suffering (WCF 17.1), illustrating the believer’s readiness to endure affliction for Christ’s sake. It also highlights the church’s pastoral concern for unity, as the Jerusalem elders seek to preserve peace among Jewish believers zealous for the law (WCF 25.4; ). The false accusations against Paul reflect the ongoing opposition to the gospel’s expansion beyond Jews to Gentiles (HC LD 30), while his Roman citizenship and appeal to a broader mission foreshadow the gospel’s reach to the ends of the earth (WCF 8.5; HC LD 12).

Apply. The faithful may be called to walk into suffering for the sake of gospel unity and witness, trusting that the Spirit directs even persecution toward His sovereign purposes.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.