Chapter 21

Acts 21:1–3. And when it came to pass that we set sail, having torn ourselves away from them, we ran a straight course and came to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. And finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. And having come in sight of Cyprus, and leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo. He shows the force of it by saying, “having torn ourselves away from them”—and rightly so; for once they had been torn away, it was no longer possible for them to put out to sea. What does “running a straight course” mean? It stands for: We passed by; we did not linger in other places. “And finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia.” Perhaps that ship was lying there at Patara; and not finding one departing for Caesarea, but one bound for Phoenicia, they went off on it; and they left Cyprus and Syria aside. For the phrase “leaving it on the left” is not added without purpose, but to show that they were not even eager to come near to Syria.

Acts 21:4–7. And having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These, through the Spirit, told Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. And when it came to pass that we had completed the days, we departed and went on our way, while they all, with their wives and children, escorted us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the shore, we prayed. And having embraced one another, we went aboard the ship, and they returned to their own homes. And we, having completed the voyage, came down from Tyre to Ptolemais, and having greeted the brothers, we stayed one day with them. “These told Paul through the Spirit.” If, then, the Spirit was commanding, why did he refuse? That is, they knew it through the Spirit; for they did not make the exhortation itself through the Spirit. For they did not simply foretell to him the terrible things, but said that he ought not to go up, sparing him. And “to complete” stands for “to fulfill”; for after fulfilling the appointed days—that is, the Feast of Unleavened Bread—they departed from Tyre. Consider for me all the days after the Unleavened Bread: they came to Tyre in five days; then there they spent seven days. In all, twelve.

Acts 21:8–9. And on the next day those around Paul departed and came to Caesarea; and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. Now he had four virgin daughters who prophesied. These were the daughters of Philip the deacon. Note that the daughters who prophesied were virgins, and that they practiced this rather out of piety, so that they were even deemed worthy of prophecy. And if it were not something worthy of zeal, the writer would not have added that they were virgins.

Acts 21:10–11. And while we remained many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, and taking Paul’s belt, and binding his own feet and hands, he said: Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose belt this is, so shall the Jews bind in Jerusalem and deliver into the hands of the Gentiles. This was that Agabus who long before had foretold the famine. The hard thing is that “they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.” Notice that as soon as he heard he was to suffer countless terrible things, then he presses on the more. And Agabus did not say that they would bind Paul, lest he seem to be speaking by prearrangement, but, “the man whose belt this is.”

Acts 21:12–14. And when we heard these things, both we and those of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered: What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, saying: The will of the Lord be done. “What are you doing, weeping?” The others were weeping; but he was comforting them, grieving over their tears, while not suffering over his own trials. “I weep for you,” he says, “not over the sufferings; for I am willing even to die for them.” And since they could not persuade him, they fell silent; for they understood that it was God’s will. It should be noted, then, that one must turn away those who hinder someone from doing something noble, even though they weep. For such a tear made Paul himself weep too and dissolved his firmness. Therefore he shakes them off.

Acts 21:15–19. And after these days, having made our preparations, we went up to Jerusalem. And some of the disciples from Caesarea came with us, bringing us to one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge. And when we came to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. And on the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. And having greeted them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. “Having made our preparations” means: having taken the things needed for the journey. “On the following day Paul went in with us to James.” This was the bishop of Jerusalem; this was the brother of the Lord, a great and admirable man. He relates to them the things concerning the Gentiles, not out of vainglory, but wishing to display God’s love for mankind. “Through his ministry,” that is, through the preaching of the gospel word.

Acts 21:20–22. And when they heard, they glorified God and said to him: You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. And they have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. What then is it? Surely a multitude must come together, for they will hear that you have come. Do this, therefore, which we tell you. “How many myriads of Jews there are.” These myriads are from among those who cried out, “His blood be upon us and upon our children”; yet nevertheless the Lover of mankind received both them and their children and deemed them worthy of countless good things. “And they have been informed about you.” He did not say “they heard,” but rather they so believed and were taught.

Acts 21:23–24. We have four men who have a vow upon themselves. Take them and purify yourself with them, and pay the expense for them, that they may shave their heads, and all may know that the things of which they were informed about you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the law. “Having a vow upon themselves.” There are many kinds of promise. For some promised sacrifices, others money, others themselves; others, for a stated number of days, not to drink wine nor to cut their hair. Of this last kind were these men too; for “vow” here means the promise. For the hairs are a symbol of mortification, since they are dead and do not receive the sensation of pain. “Take them and purify yourself with them.” That is, provide yourself the sacrifices that are offered for them according to the law, so that you may dissolve the suspicion. “Make your defense by deed,” he says, “not by word.” “That they may shave their heads, and all may know that the things of which they were informed about you are nothing.” It was the custom for those who had a vow to shave their heads after being purified, and so for seven days to make an offering for themselves. Aquila and Priscilla did something of this kind, so that it was clear they cut their hair as worshippers of God.

Acts 21:25. But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we have written, having decided that they should observe no such thing, except to keep themselves from what is sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication. “Just as we,” he says, “enjoined those, although we preach to Jews, so you also, preaching to the Gentiles, work together with us. For the matter is a condescension; do not be afraid.”

Acts 21:26. Then Paul, taking the men, on the next day, having purified himself with them, entered into the temple, announcing the completion of the days of purification, until the offering should be presented for each one of them. Paul shaved himself and performed all the Jewish rites—not because his judgment was overthrown (since the matter would have been wicked), but because love condescends. And “announcing the completion of the days of purification” means proclaiming it; he himself was the one making it known about himself.

Acts 21:27–29. And when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out: Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place; and moreover he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place. For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple. Notice God’s dispensation: after some had been persuaded, the others, fearing that the rest too might be persuaded, then set upon Paul. Their restless character is evident everywhere.

Acts 21:30–34. And the whole city was stirred, and there was a running together of the people; and seizing Paul, they dragged him outside the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. And while they were seeking to kill him, word came up to the commander of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down upon them; and they, seeing the commander and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul. Then the commander, drawing near, took hold of him and ordered him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he might be and what he had done. Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and some another; and being unable, because of the uproar, to learn anything certain, he ordered him to be brought to the barracks. “They dragged him outside the temple.” For they wanted to do away with him; and for this reason they dragged him out, so as to do it with greater impunity.

Acts 21:35–38. And when he came onto the steps, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd; for the multitude of the people followed, crying out: Away with him! And as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he says to the commander: May I say something to you? And he said: Do you know Greek? Are you not then that Egyptian who before these days raised a revolt and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Sicarii? What does “Away with him” mean? That is what they say according to the Roman custom: “Put him among the standards”; or, “Away with him,” meaning, “Take him from among the living.” For it was the custom of the Jews to utter this cry against the righteous, as they did also against the Lord: “Away with him,” meaning, “Take him from among the living.” “Are you not then the Egyptian?” There had appeared a certain Egyptian, an innovator and revolutionary, a deceiver and a sorcerer. And the devil hoped through this man to cast a shadow, and to make both Christ and the apostles partakers in the crimes committed by that man’s followers. “Men of the Sicarii.” Among the Jews there are three principal sects: Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. These practice a more reverent way of life, being loving toward one another and self-controlled; therefore they are also called Essenes, that is, holy ones; but others called them Sicarii, that is, zealots.

Acts 21:39. And Paul said: I am indeed a man, a Jew, a Tarsian of Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city; I beg you, allow me to speak to the people. “I am indeed a man, a Jew.” For by nature we Christians are Jews, as those who confess the true faith, which is what the name Judah signifies. Since the commander had said, “Are you the Egyptian?” he at once led him away from that suspicion. Then, lest the commander suppose that he was a Jew by descent, he afterward declares his faith. What then? Did he deny it? Far from it! For he was both a Jew and a Christian. And “allow me to speak to the people” is the greatest proof that he was guilty of nothing, in that he was so ready for a defense and wished to make his case before the people of the Jews.

Acts 21:40. And when he had given permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people; and when there was a great silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: