1.
And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came 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 was to unlade her burden.
4.
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
Verse 4
That he should not go up; that is, warned him of the danger of going.
5.
And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with 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 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 Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
Verse 8
We that were of Paul's company; that is, the whole company, including Paul himself.--Seven; seven deacons.
9.
And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Verse 9
Prophesy. This word, as very often used in such a connection, denotes, here, publicly preaching the gospel.
10.
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
Verse 10
Agabus; mentioned before, Acts 11:28.
11.
And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands 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.
13.
Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord 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 our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
Verse 15
Carriages; used here in the sense of things to be carried.
16.
There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
Verse 16
An old disciple; an early disciple.--With whom we should lodge; that is, at Jerusalem.
17.
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18.
And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
Verse 18
James. James seems to have occupied a prominent place among the Christians at Jerusalem at this time. There is a tradition that the church at that place was officially under his charge. (See Acts 12:17,Acts 15:13.)
19.
And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20.
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
21.
And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
Verse 21
That thou teachest, &c. This was not true. Paul had taught that the Gentiles themselves were not bound to obey the laws of Moses, as a condition of admission to the Christian church; but he had not interfered at all with the continued observance of these laws by the Jews themselves.--To walk after the customs; to observe the customs of the Jewish law.
22.
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23.
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24.
Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
Verse 24
Purify thyself with them, &c.; that is, they proposed that he should publicly engage in the performance of a Jewish rite, in order that the people might see that he still, himself, adhered to the Jewish law. It is very doubtful, however, whether it was wise for Paul to accede to this proposal. Assuming appearances for the sake of effect, is generally very unsafe policy. It places us in false positions, which are very apt to end in disastrous results, as, in fact, was the case in this instance. We must judge of such an act as this in the history of Paul, upon its own merits, and no, consider it sanctioned by his inspiration. Inspiration can be claimed only for the writings of the apostles. In their acts they were liable to err, as well as Moses, or David, or any other of the sacred penmen. (See Acts 23:3-5.) For the law relating to the ceremonies referred to in this transaction, see Numbers 6:13-21.
25.
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
Verse 25
We have written and concluded, &c.; on the occasion of the council, as recorded Acts 15:15-29:
26.
Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purifcation, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
27.
And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
28.
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
29.
(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30.
And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
Verse 30
The doors were shut; the gates of the temple,--closed by those who had charge of them, from fear of the tumult.
31.
And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
Verse 31
The chief captain. There was a tower near the temple, called the tower of Antonia, where a Roman military force was stationed, especially on all the public festal occasions of the Jews, to guard against public disturbances. The chief captain here mentioned was the commander of this guard. His name, as afterwards appears, was Claudius Lysias. The governor of Judea, whose name was Felix, resided at Cesarea.
32.
Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
33.
Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34.
And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
Verse 34
Into the castle; the castle or tower of Antonia.
35.
And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
Verse 35
Stairs; leading up the rock on which the castle was built.
36.
For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
37.
And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?
Verse 37
Canst thou speak Greek? Paul probably asked the question in the Greek tongue, at which the chief captain was surprised, as it was a mark of cultivation and refinement to understand that language.
38.
Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
39.
But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
40.
And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Verse 40
License; liberty.--In the Hebrew tongue. Though he had spoken to the officer in Greek, he addressed the populace in the Hebrew, that being the language of the great mass of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.