F L 1-3. Journey to Tyre.
M 4. Prophetic warning.
N 5,6. Departure.
L 7-9. Journey to Caesarea.
M 10-14. Prophetic warning.
N 15-. Departure.
Acts 21)
1 And it came to pass, that after we were withdrawn from them, and had launched, we (the writer Luke) came with a straight course to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes, and from there to Patara:
2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phenicia, we having embarked, launched.
3 Now when we had sighted Cyprus, (the Kittim of the O.T. See Num. 24:24) we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed into Tyre: (False rock, holding place and trading center for Kenites. See Matt. 11:21.) for there the ship was to unload her burden.
4 And having found the disciples, (probably few. He no longer seeks the synagogue) we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Holy Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. (I God testing Paul?)
5 But it came to pass that when we had completed those days, we departed and went our way; all with wives and children, bringing us on our way, till we were out of the city: and we knelt down on the shore, and we prayed.
6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we embarked on the ship; (i.e. the same ship as in v.2) and they returned home again.
7 And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. (Time closing out)
8 And the next day we that were about Paul and departed, and came to Caesarea: (about 60 miles from Tyre by the coast road) and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, (Philip was a friend of Stephen) which was one of the seven; (see 6:5) and abode with him.
9 And this one had four daughters (God is not a respecter of persons), virgins (virgins because some man might say they were told what to say by their husbands), which did prophesy. (To speak or teach under Divine intervention. They were evangelists like their father. This is in accord with Joel 2:28, as quoted in 2:17)
M b 10,11. Agabus. Prediction.
c 12. Disciples. Entreaty.
b 13. Paul. Devotion.
c 14. Disciples. Submission.
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down (Caesarea was 2,000 feet below the hill country of Judea) from Judaea a certain [false] prophet, by name Agabus. (= locust)
11 And when he was come to us, he took Paul's girdle (Eph 6 - Word of truth), and bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So will the Jews in Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and the residents (i.e. the believers there), besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. (God has already told Paul to go. Paul's not worried about controversy.)
13 Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping, and to crush mine heart? for I hold myself in readiness not to be bound only, but to die also 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. (It was because of their love that they wanted him to stay. Always allow your inner person to be the rule over the flesh. That which dwells in the flesh is not convenient to the spiritual body.)
E d -15-18. Paul and his companions enter the assembly (eseei).
e 19. God's work among the Gentiles.
f 20. Zealous of the law.
g 21,22. Suspicion of Paul.
g 23,24-. To remove suspicion.
f -24. Keeping the law.
e 25. Ordinances for the Gentiles.
d 26. Paul and the 7 men enter the Temple (eiseei).
15 And after those days we having packed up, went up to Jerusalem.
16 There went with us certain also from the disciples of Caesarea, bringing with them one Mnason a Cypriote, an old disciple (not referring to his age but to his standing in the Christian assembly. An early disciple), with whom we 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 to James; and all the elders came.
19 And when he had saluted them, he related one by one, each one of the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they were glorifying the Lord (not a single act, but continual praising), and said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which have believed (Cp. John 3:26; 12:19); and they are all zealous of the law:
21 And they were instructed concerning you, that you teach all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake (= apostasy) Moses (see 3:22. Matt. 8:4. Here meaning the law, as in 6:11, 15:21), saying that they ought (i.e. telling them. Cp. 2 John 10,11) not to circumcise their children, neither to walk by the customs.
22 What is it therefore? the multitude must necessarily come together: for the will hear that you are coming.
23 Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify yourself with them (Cp. John 11:55. This refers to the ceremonies connected with the Nazarite vow [Num. 6]. James, who was probably the speaker, would be glad to find Paul was already under the vow he had taken at Cenchrae [18:18], as facilitating the execution of his plan), and pay the expense of the sacrifices with them, that they may shave their heads: and all shall know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing;
but that you yourself also walk orderly (= to walk according to religious observances), and keep the law.
25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we wrote having decided that they observe no such thing, save only (the text omits) that they keep themselves from that which is offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication."
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, declaring the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that the offering should be offered for each one of them.
D h1 27. Riot.
i1 28,29. Charge.
k1 30. Paul seized.
h2 31,32. Chief captain interposes.
i2 33,34. Inquiry as to charge.
k2 35,36. Violence of people.
h3 37. Chief captain appealed to.
i3 38,39. Inquiry about Paul.
k3 40. Silence of people.
27 And when the seven days were about to be ended, the Jews (Kenites, not of the house of Judah) which were of Asia, having seen him in the temple, excited all the crown, and laid hands on him,
28 Crying out, "Men of Israel, help: This one, this fellow is the man, that teaches all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place (i.e. the Temple): and moreover brought Greeks also into the temple, and has polluted this holy place."
29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian (it was in the city Trophimus was seen in Paul's company, and they came to the conclusion that when they seen Paul in the Temple, Trohimus must be there too), whom they concluded that Paul had brought into the temple.) (see 14:19. The evidence was insufficient. Paul was too well informed not to be aware of the inscription which forbade the entry of any alien within the inner temple under penalty of death. It was on the pillars of the balustrade which separated the court of the women, where the Nazarite ceremonies were performed, from the inner sanctuary. The stone bearing this inscription was discovered by M. Clarmont Ganneau in 1871. It is as follows: "No alien is to enter within the railing and enclosure round the temple. Whosoever is caught will be responsible to himself for his death will ensue.")
30 The whole city was moved, and there was a running together of the people: and they took Paul, and were dragging him out of the temple: and immediately the doors were shut. (These were the gates leading into the court of the women. Shut by the Levitical door-keepers to prevent profanation by murder)
31 And as they were seeking (Cp. John 7:19,20) to kill him, a report came (lit. went up, i.e. to the Castle of Antonia, which overlooked the Temple) to the chief captain of the cohort (the commander of 1,00 men), that all Jerusalem was in commotion.
32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions (from the garrison at Antonia), and ran down upon them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they ceased beating Paul.
33 Then the chief captain having drawn near, took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains (i.e. either hand chained to a soldier); and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34 And some were crying out one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the sure thing on account of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
35 And when he came upon the stairs, it befell, that he was borne by the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, "Away with him."
37 And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he said to the chief captain, "May I speak to you?" (Lit. If it is permitted for me to say something) Who said, "Do you know Greek?
38 Are you not then the Egyptian, which before these days stirred up to sedition, and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?" (= of the Sicarii, or assassins. Gr. sikarios. The Sicarii [a Latin word from sica, a curved dagger] were bandits who infested Judea in the time of Felix, who sent troops against them, though Josephus says it was at the instigation of Felix that they murdered the high priest Jonathan. The Egyptian referred to was a false prophet who led a number of the Sicari to Jerusalem, declaring that the walls would fall down before them.)
39 But Paul said, "I am a man which am a Jew a Tarsean, a city of Cilicia, a citizen without mark of the city (used of disease without definite symptoms): and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people."
40 And when he had given him license, Paul standing on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand to the people. And when there was made a great silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew dialect, saying, (There should be no break before ch. 22)