Acts 21:1–18

Paul in Tyre

¹When we finally left them, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we sailed to the island of Rhodes and from there to the city of Patara. ²In Patara, we found a ship that was going to Phoenicia, so we went aboard and sailed away. ³We could see the island of Cyprus as we passed it on our left and sailed to Syria. We landed at the city of Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo. 

⁴In Tyre we searched for the disciples. After we found them, we stayed there for seven days. The Spirit had the disciples tell Paul not to go to Jerusalem. ⁵When our time was up, we started on our way. All of them with their wives and children accompanied us out of the city. We knelt on the beach, prayed, ⁶and said goodbye to each other. Then we went aboard the ship, and the disciples went back home. 

Paul in Caesarea

⁷Our sea travel ended when we sailed from Tyre to the city of Ptolemais. We greeted the believers in Ptolemais and spent the day with them. ⁸The next day we went to Philip’s home in Caesarea and stayed with him. He was a missionary and one of the seven men who helped the apostles. ⁹Philip had four unmarried daughters who had the ability to speak what God had revealed. 

¹⁰After we had been there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea. ¹¹During his visit he took Paul’s belt and tied his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man who owns this belt. Then they will hand him over to people who are not Jewish.’ ” 

¹²When we heard this, we and the believers who lived there begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 

¹³Then Paul replied, “Why are you crying like this and breaking my heart? I’m ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but also to die there for the sake of the Lord, the one named Jesus.” 

¹⁴When Paul could not be persuaded, we dropped the issue and said, “May the Lord’s will be done.” 

Paul in Jerusalem

¹⁵After that, we got ready to go to Jerusalem. ¹⁶Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us. They took us to Mnason’s home, where we would be staying. Mnason was from the island of Cyprus and was one of the first disciples. ¹⁷When we arrived in Jerusalem, the believers welcomed us warmly. 

¹⁸The next day Paul went with us to visit James. All the spiritual leaders^awere present.