- 1And 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:
- 2And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
- 3Now 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.
- 4And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
- 5And 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.
- 6And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
- 7And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
- 8And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
- 9And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
- 10And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.
- 11And 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.
- 12And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
- 13Then 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.
- 14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
- 15And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
- 16There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cæsarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
- 17And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
- 18And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
- 19And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
- 20And 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:
- 21And 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.
- 22What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
- 23Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
- 24Them 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.
- 25As 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.
- 26Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
- 27And 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,
- 28Crying 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.)
- 30And 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.
- 31And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
- 32Who 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.
- 33Then 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.
- 34And 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.
- 35And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
- 36For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
- 37And 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?
- 38Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
- 39But 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.
- 40And 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,
KING JAMES VERSION
ACTS 21
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Acts 21 — Despite repeated warnings, Paul goes to Jerusalem, is seized amid false assumptions in the temple, and prepares to testify from the fortress stairs.
About this illustration
The arrest, Roman rescue, two chains, shut temple gates, and request to address the crowd converge at the chapter’s final moment. The violence is restrained, and Trophimus is not shown inside the temple because that charge arose from supposition.
Scripture basis: Acts 21:1–40King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEInscription
Herodian period, first century BC–first century AD
Jerusalem Temple Warning Inscription
Two surviving Greek inscriptions preserve the Temple boundary warning that foreigners must not pass the balustrade around the sanctuary. They make the accusation against Paul in Acts 21 concrete, while leaving Roman enforcement and any link to Ephesians 2 open to interpretation.
Acts 21:27–29 · Acts 24:6 · Ephesians 2:14
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchaeological site
Founded approximately 22–10 BC; expanded through Roman and Byzantine periods
Caesarea Maritima Harbor and Herodian City
Excavation on land and underwater reveals the harbor, promontory palace, theater, entertainment district, streets, and water systems that made Caesarea the Roman administrative and maritime center repeatedly used as a setting in Acts.
Acts 8:40 · Acts 10:1–48 · Acts 21:8–16
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchitecture
First century BC–first century AD
Ritual Baths beside the Temple Mount
Rock-cut, plastered, stepped pools cluster around Jerusalem’s Temple approaches, documenting widespread concern for immersion and purity while also warning that form alone does not prove every pool’s users or exclusive function.
Acts 21:26–27
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchaeological site
4th–6th centuries AD over a Roman-period tomb
Sanctuary and Tomb Complex of Saint Philip at Hierapolis
Hierapolis's eastern hill preserves an octagonal martyrium, processional route, basilical church focused on an earlier tomb, and a dense Christian cemetery, demonstrating Byzantine veneration of Philip while leaving the tomb occupant's apostolic identity unproved.
Colossians 4:12–13 · Acts 21:8–9 · Acts 1:13
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
eighth century AD (palaeographic estimate)
Papyrus P41: Greek–Coptic Acts 17–22
Gregory-Aland P41 is an eighth-century bilingual papyrus codex in Vienna whose eleven fragments preserve Greek and Sahidic Coptic portions of Acts 17–22.
Acts 17:28–31 · Acts 17:34 · Acts 18:1–2
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchaeological site
occupied from the Iron Age through Byzantine times; flourishing Roman harbor in the 1st century AD
Patara Harbor and Paul's Ship Transfer
Excavations and geoarchaeology identify Patara as Lycia's major harbor and federal capital, matching the port where Acts says Paul changed ships for the voyage to Phoenicia. The site anchors the route but does not preserve the apostle's vessel, ticket, or exact transfer point.
Acts 21:1–3 · Acts 20:16–17 · Acts 21:4–6
View all 9 archaeology resources
- The Harbor Agora of Roman Kos
- The Ancient City and Harbor of Rhodes
- Ptolemais-Akko and Its Hellenistic–Roman Harbor
Prophecy Events
Sermons
Leadership #9 - Women in Ministry -
Dean Odle argues that passages commonly used to silence all women in church must be interpreted grammatically, historically, and in harmony with the rest of Scripture. He points to women prophesying in Acts and 1 Corinthians, studies the Greek word gynē in its contexts, and contends that Paul’s restrictions address disorder and marital authority rather than a universal ban on women speaking or ministering.
Doctrine and DiscernmentChurch and MinistryHoly Spirit and Spiritual GiftsScripture Alone
View sermon Prophets & Prophecy (Part 1)
In “Prophets & Prophecy (Part 1),” Pastor Dean Odle presents a Scripture-centered message about Bible prophecy, the condition of the church, the authority of Scripture. Drawing especially from John 10, 1 Corinthians 4, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 14, the teaching emphasizes that prophecy should produce discernment, readiness, and faithfulness rather than speculation alone. Odle connects that foundation with the conviction that the church is called to recover biblical faithfulness instead of accommodating compromise.
Bible ProphecyScripture AloneChristian Living
View sermon