Acts Chapter 21
Showing all 40 verses for Acts Chapter 21.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"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: "
"After parting from the Ephesian elders, we set sail and travelled directly to Coos, then Rhodes the next day, and on to Patara."
When you've decided to do something hard and right, keep moving forward one practical step at a time rather than letting anxiety freeze you - courage often looks like ordinary, steady action.
"And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. "
"We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went aboard and set sail."
Big, world-changing purposes are usually carried out through small, unremarkable practical choices - don't wait for a grand gesture when the next right step is just getting on the boat in front of you.
"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. "
"We sighted Cyprus and left it on our left as we sailed to Syria, landing at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo."
Delays and logistics that seem like inconvenience can be the very space where meaningful connection and warning happen - stay open to what unfolds in the "waiting around" parts of life.
"And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. "
"We found believers there and stayed with them a week; guided by the Spirit, they urged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem."
People who love you may see real danger ahead and beg you to avoid it out of care - honour their concern even when you sense your path still leads through it, not around it.
"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. "
"When the week was over we left, and the whole community - including wives and children - walked with us out of the city; we knelt on the beach and prayed together."
When someone you care about is heading into something hard, show up physically and pray with them rather than just wishing them well from a distance - presence matters.
"And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. "
"After saying goodbye to each other, we boarded the ship, and they went back home."
Genuine relationships aren't measured by how long they last but by how fully present people are for each other in the time they have - make your goodbyes count.
"And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. "
"Continuing our voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, greeted the believers there, and stayed with them one day."
Don't let busyness or urgency erase basic warmth towards people - even a short stop is worth a real greeting and real connection.
"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. "
"The next day we left and went to Caesarea, where we stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, welcomed into his home."
You don't need constant dramatic breakthroughs to matter - opening your home and life to others in steady, ordinary ways is its own valuable calling.
"And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. "
"Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied."
Don't assume that meaningful spiritual insight or leadership belongs only to a certain type of person - gifts and calling show up across age, gender and background, and deserve to be recognised wherever they appear.
"And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. "
"While we stayed there for some time, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea."
When someone with a track record of honesty and insight comes to warn you, it's worth truly listening, even if you ultimately choose your own path forward.
"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. "
"He came to us, took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, "The Holy Spirit says: this is how the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.""
Real warnings sometimes come dressed in uncomfortable, vivid ways precisely so you can't brush past them lightly - but being warned of hardship isn't the same as being told to run from your purpose.
"And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. "
"When we heard this, both we and the local believers begged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem."
It's right and loving to voice your concern for someone facing risk, even forcefully - but love also means eventually respecting their right to choose their own costly path.
"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. "
"Paul answered, "Why are you crying and breaking my heart? I'm ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus.""
Real conviction sometimes means gently but firmly walking forward even while the people who love you weep - you can hold their grief with tenderness without letting it change your course.
"And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. "
"Since he wouldn't be talked out of it, we gave up and said, "Let the Lord's will be done.""
When you've said your piece out of love and the other person still chooses their path, the healthiest next step is to let go of trying to control the outcome and support them anyway.
"And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. "
"After those days, we packed our belongings and went up to Jerusalem."
Once you've made peace with a hard decision, you don't need to keep re-litigating it - you can move forward calmly, even into uncertainty.
"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. "
"Some disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought along a man named Mnason, from Cyprus, a disciple of long standing, with whom we were to stay."
Long-term faithfulness (Mnason quietly believing for decades) matters just as much as dramatic public ministry - both are needed to sustain a movement.
"And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. "
"When we arrived in Jerusalem, the believers welcomed us warmly."
Even on the way to hardship, take in the genuine welcome and support offered to you - don't let dread rob you of the good moments along the way.
"And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. "
"The next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the elders were there."
Even when you're doing important, independent work, staying connected and accountable to a wider community keeps you grounded and trustworthy.
"And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. "
"After greeting them, Paul described in detail everything God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry."
When you succeed at something meaningful, tell the story in a way that points beyond your own ego to the bigger picture and the people who helped make it possible.
"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: "
"When they heard it, they praised God and said to Paul, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and they're all deeply committed to the law.""
Celebrate the good news genuinely, but don't be naive about the real tensions that success and change can create - wisdom means holding both at once.
"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. "
""They've been told that you teach all the Jews living among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or follow the customs.""
Misrepresentation and rumour can travel faster and do more damage than the truth - be patient and willing to clarify honestly rather than assuming people will automatically understand your real position.
"What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. "
""So what should be done? The crowd is bound to gather, because they'll hear that you've arrived.""
Wisdom often means thinking a step ahead about how your actions will be perceived by others, and preparing a considerate response rather than being caught off guard.
"Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; "
""So do this: we have four men who are under a vow.""
Sometimes resolving conflict requires a concrete, visible gesture of goodwill rather than just verbal explanation - actions can speak louder than arguments.
"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. "
""Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can shave their heads. Then everyone will know the reports about you are false, and that you yourself live in observance of the law.""
You can hold firm convictions while still being flexible and generous about cultural practices that don't compromise what actually matters, if it helps keep peace and understanding with others.
"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. "
""As for the Gentile believers, we've already written to them that they only need to avoid food sacrificed to idols, blood, meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality.""
Fairness sometimes means applying different practical expectations to different groups depending on their situation and background, without treating either as more or less valued.
"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 that an offering should be offered for every one of them. "
"So the next day Paul took the men, purified himself along with them, and went into the temple to give notice of when the purification period would end and the offering would be made for each of them."
Doing the right, generous thing for the sake of peace doesn't guarantee a smooth outcome - sometimes goodwill is still met with hostility, but that doesn't make the goodwill wrong.
"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, "
"As the seven days were nearly complete, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him."
Doing your best to act peacefully doesn't shield you from other people's anger or misunderstanding - you're only responsible for your own integrity, not for controlling how others react.
"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. "
"They shouted, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place - and now he's even brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place!""
Assumption dressed up as certainty can spark real harm - before reacting strongly to someone, check what you actually know versus what you're assuming.
"(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) "
"(They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with Paul in the city, and wrongly assumed Paul had brought him into the temple.)"
Be careful about filling in gaps in what you see with the worst possible explanation - most situations have an innocent explanation you haven't considered yet.
"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. "
"The whole city was in an uproar, and people came running; they seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and the doors were immediately shut."
When crowds turn hostile, reason and fairness often disappear fast - this is a sober reminder of how quickly a group can turn violent against one person based on rumour alone.
"And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. "
"As they were trying to kill him, word reached the Roman commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in chaos."
Help and protection can come from unexpected places, even institutions or people you might not expect to be on your side - stay open to it rather than assuming who your allies are.
"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. "
"He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd; when the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul."
Sometimes stepping in decisively, with real presence and authority, is exactly what's needed to stop harm - don't underestimate the value of simply showing up when something wrong is happening.
"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. "
"The commander came up, arrested Paul, ordered him bound with two chains, and asked who he was and what he had done."
When you're in a position of responsibility, try to get the facts before acting decisively, even under pressure - order matters, but so does fairness.
"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. "
"People in the crowd were shouting different, contradictory things, and since he couldn't work out the truth amid the noise, he ordered Paul taken into the barracks."
When everyone around you is shouting different accusations with total confidence, that's usually a sign that no one actually knows the full story - be slow to join the shouting.
"And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. "
"When he reached the steps, the violence of the crowd was so great that the soldiers had to carry Paul."
Sometimes you need to accept help you didn't ask for and can't provide for yourself - there's no shame in being carried through the worst moments.
"For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. "
"The crowd kept following, shouting, "Get rid of him!""
Following someone faithfully may sometimes bring you the same hostility they faced - that's not a sign you're doing something wrong, but sometimes evidence you're walking the same costly path.
"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? "
"As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, "May I say something to you?" The commander replied, "Do you even speak Greek?""
Don't let people's assumptions about you define what you're capable of - sometimes calmly speaking up, in your own voice, is enough to change how you're seen.
"Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? "
""Aren't you that Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?""
People often react to you based on who they mistakenly think you are, shaped by past experiences with someone else entirely - be patient enough to correct the record rather than reacting to the insult.
"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, me to speak unto the people. "
💡 Highlighted words feature Jacobean 1611 tooltips to clarify shifted 17th-century English terms.
"Paul replied, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.""
When you're wrongly accused, staying calm and simply stating the truth about who you are can do more to defuse a tense situation than defensiveness or anger ever could.
"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, "
"Given permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When there was a deep silence, he spoke to them in Hebrew (Aramaic), saying..."
If you want to be truly heard by people who are angry or suspicious of you, meet them in their own language and context first - genuine respect for where someone is coming from opens doors that arguing never will.