them that were with

me.

35 I have shewed 35. I have, as by words, so by actions also, demonyou all things, how strated to you, how that such as ye, that is, bishops that so labouring ye and governors of the church, are to take care of the ought to support the weak, and to remem- sick and poor, (see 1 Cor. xii.,) and rather endeaber the words of the vour by pains-taking to enable yourselves to relieve Lord Jesus, how he others, than to be chargeable or burdensome to said, It is more others, according to that saying of Christ, (not reblessed to give than corded in the Gospels,) That it is a blessed and a 36 ¶ And when he heroical thing to give to others out of a man's own had thus spoken, he earnings, and this infinitely more blessed, and better kneeled down, and becoming a Christian, than to be relieved by others. prayed with them

to receive.

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.

CHAP. XXI.

AND it came to 1. After this sad parting (ch. xx. 37.) from the pass, that after we bishops of Asia at Miletus (ch. xx. 17.) we took ship, were gotten from them, and had and sailed prosperously, without any incommodation, launched, we came unto Coos

1

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 2 was to unlade her burden.

4 And finding dis

we

4. And meeting there with some that had received

ciples, tarried the gospel, and were indued with gifts, particularly there seven days: that of prophecy, (see ch. xx. 23, 24,) we stayed with

8 It is a blessed thing to give rather than receive, Μακάριόν ἐστι διδίναι μᾶλλον ἢ λαμβ. 1 plucked, snatched, àñoσñaσbéνtas. 2 See note [c] ch. xv.

that he should not

who said to Paul them a while at Tyre, and they by revelation told through the Spirit, Paul, that he would incur much hazard by going up go up to Jerusalem. to Jerusalem, and therefore advised him not to go. 5 And when we had 5. But this moved not Paul, (see ch. xxiii. 24,) accomplished those but we left that place, all of them, men, women and days, we departed children, attending us out of the city; and there on and they all brought the seashore we kneeled down and prayed at parting. us on our way, with

and went our way;

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 [a] 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 a Paul and the rest of us that accompanied him Paul's company de- (whereof Luke, the writer of this book, was one) parted, and came un- went from Ptolemais to Cæsarea, a haven town in to Cæsarea: and we entered into the Syria, (see note [c] ch. xviii.,) called Strato's tower, house of Philip the but rebuilt by Herod, and called Cæsarea, (see note evangelist, which [c] Matt. xvi.,) and went into the house of Philip, was one of the seven; he that, being one of the seven deacons, was by the apostles sent out to Samaria and other places to preach man had four daugh- the gospel (see note on John xx. 21); and with him ters, virgins, which we made some stay.

and abode with him.

9

And the same

' did prophesy.

IO And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.

II And when he

was come unto us,

b had the gift of foretelling things to come.

See note [e] ch. xv.

dhe took Paul's gir- d after the manner of prophets of old, which often dle, and bound his prophesied by symbols, or significant expressions of own hands and feet, what they foretold, he took Paul's girdle, and bound the Holy Ghost, So his hands and feet with it, and said, It hath been reshall the Jews at Je- vealed to me by God, that after this manner that I

and said, Thus saith

3 spake to Paul not to go up, ἔλεγον τῷ Παύλῳ μὴ ἀναβαίνε ν.

having sailed.

rusalem bind theman have bound myself with Paul's girdle, so the Jews of that owneth this gir- Jerusalem shall bind Paul, and deliver him to the dle, and shall deliver him into the hands procurator of the Romans to be put to death.

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.

e

13 Then Paul an• Why do you, by your compassionate sad dissuaswered, "What mean ye to weep and to sions, trouble and grieve me, who have nothing else break mine heart? to afflict or disturb me but your importunity against for I am ready not my taking this journey? for of myself I am most to be bound only, heartily willing to suffer any thing, bonds, or death Jerusalem for the itself, for the propagating of the gospel of Christ, or name of the Lord for the professing my constancy in it, in despite of all persecutions.

but also to die at

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

fladed mules with the goods which we had with

our carriages, and us, and took our journey from Cæsarea to Jerusalem.

went up to Jerusa

lem.

16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cæsarea, 6 and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old dis

one who had formerly received the faith when ciple, with whom we Paul and Barnabas were at Cyprus, (ch. xiii. 4,) who would gladly entertain us at our journey's end.

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

James; and all the

hand we went to James, the bishop of Jerusalem, unto (see note [a] 1 Cor. xv.,) who, with all the bishops of Judæa, (see note [6] Phil. i.,) were assembled 19 And when he together, that they might in council consider of had saluted them, he St. Paul's business.

elders were present.

declared particularly

what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his min

istry.

20 And when they

5 were quiet, ovxáoaμev. bringing us to one Mnason, a Cypriote, &yorres Mvdowri Tiv:—

said unto him, Thou

seest, brother, how

heard it, they glo- i they blessed God for his wonderful works wrought rified the Lord, and upon the heathen idolaters by his preaching; and said unto him, Thou after that, began to tell him what at present would many 7 thousands of be prudent for him to do, not so much in respect of Jews there are which the unbelieving as the converted Jews, of whom there believe; and they are were many myriads, great multitudes in Judæa, who, all zealous of the law: though they had received the gospel, yet stuck close 21 And they are informed of thee, to the observances of the Mosaical law.

that thou teachest

tiles to forsake Mo

21. These, said they, have heard it affirmed of thee, all the Jews which that not only according to the decrees of our council are among the Gen-thou permittest the Gentile converts to remain uncirses, saying that they cumcised, but also that those Jews that are dispersed ought not to circum- in Asia and elsewhere, whom thou hast converted to cise their children, the faith, thou persuadest them that they may leave off neither to walk after circumcision, and the other ceremonies of Moses' law. 22 What is it there- 22. This, therefore, (say they,) will be the event, fore? the multitude in all probability; all these Jewish Christians will hear must needs come to- of thy being come hither, and so will come in multigether for they will hear that thou art tudes to see how thou behavest thyself in this matter.

the customs.

come.

on them;

23 Do therefore this 23. Therefore take our advice: There be four men that we say to thee: here at this time which have had a Nazarite's vow We have four men which have a vow upon them, which being accomplished, (see Acts xviii. 18,) they are now to perform the ceremonies pre24 Them take, and scribed, Numb. vi. 13; purify thyself with 24. These do thou perform with them, and make charges with them, provision of sacrifices for them such as the law prethat they may shave scribes, Num. vi. 14, that so they may shave their their heads: and all heads according to order, Num. vi. 18. (see note [b] may know that those ch. xviii.): and by this means they will be persuaded things, whereof they that they have had false reports of thee, and that thou were informed con- dost still observe the Mosaical rites.

them, and be at

cerning thee, are no

thing; but that thou thyself also walkest

9

orderly, and keepest the law.

25 As touching the 25. As for the Gentiles that have received the gosGentiles which be- pel, ch. xv., we have made a decree, thou knowest, lieve, we have writ (and sent it to Antioch by thee and Barnabas,) by ten and concluded that they observe no which they are not required to any such observances, such thing, save only or to any more than only to observe the precepts of that they keep them- the sons of Adam and Noah.

selves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from

7 myriads, or, ten thousands, pvpiádes. 8 there is nothing of those things, or, nothing is true of those things, οὐδέν ἐστιν. 9 walkest, keeping the law, στοιχεῖς τὸν νόμον φυλάσσων.

strangled, and from fornication.

26 Then Paul took

26. And Paul took their advice, thus far to comply the men, and 10 the with the Judaizing Christians, that he might not ex-next day purifying himself with them asperate them, and went into the temple, and did all entered into the tem- that belonged to the purifying of the Nazarites; and ple, to signify the ac- when that was done, gave solemn notice of it; upon complishment of the which they were, according to the law of Moses, to days of purification, until that an offer proceed to offer an offering for each person.

ing should be offer

ed for every one of them.

which were of Asia,

27 And when the 27. And when the seven days, wherein those sacriseven days were al- fices were to be performed, were almost at an end, most ended, the Jews divers unbelieving Jews, that dwelt in Asia, and had when they saw him opposed him there, and were now come to Jerusalem, in the temple, stirred as soon as they saw him in the temple, brought in the up all the people, multitude tumultuously upon him, and apprehended and laid hands on him,

him,

teacheth all men e

28 Crying out, Men 28. Crying out upon him as the man that had of Israel, help: This taught all men, wheresoever he preached, that the is the man, that Jews should be destroyed, the Mosaical law be very where against abolished, and the temple, where now he was purifythe people, and the ing himself, laid waste; and had brought heathen law, and this place: men into the temple, which was utterly unlawful to and further brought be done, and was the profaning of it.

Greeks also into the

temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 29 (For they had

29. (This last thing they spake confidently, but not seen before with him truly, only having seen Trophimus with him in the in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, city of Jerusalem; and knowing him to be a Gentile whom they suppos- of Ephesus, they believed that he had carried him into ed that Paul had the temple, and from thence made this conclusion.) brought into the

temple.)

30 And all the city

30. And all the people were exasperated upon this, was moved, and the and having apprehended, haled him out of the tempeople ran together: and they took Paul, ple; and the doors of the temple were presently shut and drew him out after them.

of the temple: and

forthwith the doors were shut.

31 And as they

31. And they fell a beating Paul, and had like to went about to kill have killed him, had not the commander or colonel him, tidings came that was appointed to guard the temple, and to quell unto the chief captain of the band, that all tumults there (see note [g] Luke xxii.), been told all Jerusalem was in that there was an uproar.

an uproar.

10 See note [] Mark i.