and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, which he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.*

36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled 37 down, and prayed with them all. And they

all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and 38 kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

CHAP. XXI.

1

And it came to pass, that when we were gone from them, we set sail and came with a direct course unto Coos, and the day following unto 2 Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara. And

finding a ship going over to Phoenicia, we 3 went aboard, and set sail. 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 4 cargo. And finding disciples, we remained

there seven days: who said to Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusa5 lem. And when we had accomplished those days, we departed, and went our way; and

* We have not in the gospels any express declaration of Christ in these words. The same sentiment is often suggested. But it is probable that Paul had this related to him verbally by some of the apostles.

† Coos, Rhodes and Cyprus are islands in the Mediter

ranean sea.

they all brought us on our journey, with wives and children, till we were out of the city and we kneeled down on the shore, and 6 prayed. And when we had saluted one

another, we took ship; and they returned 7 home. And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8 And the next day we (who were of Paul's company) departed, and came to Cæsarea ; and we entered into the house of Philip the Evangelist (who was one of the seven deacons) 9 and abode with him. And the same man had 10 four virgin daughters, who prophesied. And as we continued there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet named 11 Agabus; 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 Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him 12 into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and the disciples of that place, besought him not to go up to 13 Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep, and to break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord 14 Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be 15 done. And after those days we commenced 16 our journey, and went up to Jerusalem. And

there went with us also some of the disciples. from Cæsarea, and brought with them one

Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom 17 we should lodge. 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. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared

particularly what things God had wrought 20 among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe; 21 and they are all zealous for the law.* And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses; saying, that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk 22 after the customs.† What then is to be done? The multitude must needs come together: 23 for they will hear that thou art come. Now do this which we say to thee: we have four 24 men who have a vow on them: Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with then, that they may shave their heads; and all will know, that those things whereof they were informed concerning thee are nothing, but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, 25 and keepest the law. But as to the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded, that they observe no such thing, save only

It was very difficult for the Jews to divest themselves of their attachment to the ceremonies of the law of Moses, in which they had been educated.

†The other customs and ceremonies of the Mosaic ritual. As circumcision, or any other Jewish ceremony.

that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things 26 strangled, and from fornication. 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 purification, until an offering should be made 27 for every one of them.* And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews who 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 who teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place; and hath also brought Greeks into the temple: and 29 hath polluted this holy place. (For they had before seen with him in the city, Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed Paul had 30 brought into the temple.) And all the city was in a tumult, and the people ran together; and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple and immediately the doors were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, it was reported to the chief captain of the band, that 32 all Jerusalem was in an uproar; who immediately took soldiers, and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain, and the soldiers, they ceased 33 from beating Paul. Then the chief captain

:

men.

It was in this way that Paul became all things to all He was ready to comply with the rites of the Mosaic law at the request of his countrymen, the Jews: Yet he would not require the Gentile converts to observe them.

came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired 34 who he was, and what he had done. And some of the multitude cried one thing, and some another; and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded 35 him to be carried into the castle. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was that he was borne of the soldiers, for the violence of the 36 people. 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 38 Greek? Art thou not that Egyptian, who

before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand 39 men who were murderers? But Paul said, I am a Jew of the city of Tarsus, of Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city and I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the peo40 ple. And when he had given him leave, 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,

CHAP. XXII

1

MEN, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my 2 defence which I make now unto you. (And when they heard him speaking to them in the