Acts 21:16-33

¹⁶Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, and brought Mnason with them, a Cypriot disciple of long standing, with whom we were to stay.

¹⁷On our arrival at Jerusalem, the followers of the Lord there gave us a hearty welcome;

¹⁸and the next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the church elders were present.

¹⁹After greeting them, Paul related in detail all that God had done amongst the Gentiles through his efforts;

²⁰and, when they had heard it, they began praising God, and said to Paul: “You see, brother, that those of our people who have become believers in Christ may be numbered by tens of thousands, and they are all naturally earnest in upholding the Jewish Law.

²¹Now they have heard it said about you, that you teach all of our people in foreign countries to forsake Moses, for you tell them not to circumcise their children or even to observe Jewish customs.

²²Well now, as they are certain to hear of your arrival, do what we are going to suggest.

²³We have four men here, who have of their own accord put themselves under a vow.

²⁴Join these men, share their purification, and bear their expenses, so that they may shave their heads; and then all will see that there is no truth in what they have been told about you, but that, on the contrary, you yourself rule your life in obedience to the Jewish Law.

²⁵As to the Gentiles who have become believers in Christ, we have sent our decision that they should avoid food offered to idols, and blood, and the flesh of strangled animals, and impurity.”

²⁶Paul joined the men, and the next day shared their purification, and went into the Temple, and gave notice of the expiration of the period of purification when the usual offering should have been made on behalf of each of them.

²⁷But, just as the seven days were drawing to a close, some of the Jewish people from Roman Asia caught sight of Paul in the Temple, and caused great excitement amongst all the people present, by seizing Paul and shouting,

²⁸“People of Israel! Help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our Law, and this place; and, what is more, he has actually brought Greeks into the Temple and defiled this sacred place.”

²⁹(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in Paul's company in the city, and were under the belief that Paul had taken him into the Temple.)

³⁰The whole city was stirred, and the people quickly collected, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, when the doors were immediately shut.

³¹They were bent on killing him, when it was reported to the officer commanding the garrison, that all Jerusalem was in commotion.

³²He instantly got together some officers and soldiers, and charged down on the crowd, who, when they saw the commanding officer and his soldiers, stopped beating Paul.

³³Then he went up to Paul, arrested him, ordered him to be doubly chained, and proceeded to enquire who he was, and what he had been doing.