Modern Literal Version
[Acts 21]

     {Early 59 AD. Journey to Jerusalem.}

     ^21:1 Now it happened for us to set-sail, as they pulled away from them, we made a straight route, and came to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ^21:2 And having found a ship, ferrying people over into Phoenicia, we stepped on and did set-sail. ^21:3 Now after Cyprus appeared, having left it on the left, we were sailing to Syria and brought^*the ship into Tyre; for^* the ship was unloading her cargo there. ^21:4 And we remained there^* seven days, having found disciples who were saying to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go-up to Jerusalem. ^21:5 Now when it happened for us to finish the days there, we came out and were traveling on, and they all, together with theirwives and children, sending us onward until we were outside the city, and having placed the kneesdown upon the beach, we prayed, ^21:6 and having hugged one another, we stepped onto the ship, but those others returned to their own.

     ^21:7 Now having terminated the voyage from Tyre, we arrived in Ptolemais, and we greeted the brethren and remained with them for one day. ^21:8 Now on the next-day, Paul and those around himhaving gone forth, they came to Caesarea. And having entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, being one of the seven, we remained with him. ^21:9 Now there were to this one four prophesying virgin daughters.

    ^21:10 Now in our remaining even more days there, a certain prophet from Judea, Agabus by name, came down. ^21:11 And he came to us and took Paul's belt, and having bound his own feet and hands, said, The Holy Spirit says these things, The Jews in Jerusalem will be binding the man thus whose belt this is, and will be giving him up into the hands of the Gentiles.^21:12 Now as we heard these things, both we and those locally were pleading with him not to go-up into Jerusalem.

     ^21:13 And Paul answered, What are you^* doing^*, weeping and crushing my heart? For^* I am not only ready to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem on behalf of the name of the Lord Jesus.

     ^21:14 But not being persuaded, we were quiet, having said, Let the will of the Lord happen.

     {End of Paul's Third Missionary Journey.}

     ^21:15 Now after these days, we packed up our baggage and were going-up to Jerusalem. ^21:16 But there also went together with us some of the disciples from Caesarea, leading us before someonenamed Mnason from Cyprus, an old disciple in the faith, with whom they said we should lodge.

     ^21:17 Now after we came^* to Jerusalem, the brethren gladly accepted us.

     {May 23, 59 AD. Paul's fifth visit to Jerusalem.}

     ^21:18 Now the next day, Paul was going-into it, together with us, to James, and all the elders came^*.^21:19 And having greeted them, he was describing one by one each of the things God did^* among the Gentiles through his service. ^21:20 Now having heard it, they were glorifying the Lord, and said to him, You are now viewing brother, how-many tens of thousands there are of the Jews who have believed, and they are^* all zealous ones of the law; ^21:21 and they were instructed concerning you, that you are teaching among the nations apostasy from Moses to all the Jews, saying not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

     ^21:22 Therefore what is this?

     It is essential for the multitude to certainly come together; for^* they will be hearing that you have come. ^21:23 Therefore you do^* this thing, what we say to you. There are four men in us who have a vow upon themselves. ^21:24Paul, after you have taken these and purified yourself together with them, and be spent for them, in order that they may shave the head and may know all the things of which they have been instructed concerning you are nothing, but you yourself also march accordingly, observing the law.

      ^21:25 But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we decided and informed them by letter to observe no such thing, except to keep themselves from idol-sacrifice, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication.

     ^21:26 Then Paul took the men and they were going-into the temple in the next day, having been purified together with them, thus thoroughly proclaiming the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered on behalf of each one of them.

     ^21:27 Now as the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, after they saw him in the temple, were inciting all the crowd and put hands upon him, ^21:28 crying out, Men, Israelites, help^*! This one is the man who is teaching all people everywhere, against the Jewish people and the law and this place, and even more, he led Greeks into the temple and he has desecrated this holy place. ^21:29 For^* they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian together with him among the city, whom they were supposing that Paul had led into the temple.

     ^21:30 Now the whole city was moved and there happened to be a running of the people together, andafter they grabbed Paul, they were dragging him outside the temple and immediately the doors were locked.

     ^21:31 But while seeking to kill him, information came-up to the commander of the cohort {600 soldiers}, that the whole Jerusalem has been incited to riot. ^21:32 Who promptly, having taken soldiers and centurions, ran down upon them. And those who saw the commander and the soldiers, ceased beating Paul. ^21:33 Now having drawn near, the commander grabbed him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired as to whoever he might be, and whatever he has done^*. ^21:34 But some in the crowd were crying one thing, some another thing, and not being able to know the certainty of who he was because of the uproar, he commanded him to be led into the encampment.^21:35 But when he came^* upon the steps, it befell him to be bore by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd; ^21:36 for^* the multitude of the people was following after, crying out, Take him away.

     ^21:37 But while Paul is about to be led into the encampment, he says to the commander, If it is not legal for me to speak to you, then?

     And he said, Do you know Greek? ^21:38 Are you not then the Egyptian who unsettled the citybefore these days, and led the four thousand men of the assassins out into the wilderness?

     ^21:39 But Paul said, I am a Jew, indeed a man from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city, and I beseech of you, permit me to speak to the people. ^21:40 Now having permitted him, Paul, standing upon the steps, beckoned with the hand to the people, and after there became much silence, he was shouting to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1987, 1999, 2013 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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