Atti 21
La Nuova Diodati
21 Dopo esserci separati da loro, salpammo e, puntando diritto, arrivammo a Cos, il giorno seguente a Rodi, e di là a Patara.
2 Trovata qui una nave diretta in Fenicia, ci imbarcammo e salpammo.
3 Avvistata Cipro e lasciatala a sinistra, proseguimmo per la Siria e approdammo a Tiro, perché qui si doveva scaricare la nave.
4 Trovati i discepoli, ci trattenemmo sette giorni; mossi dallo Spirito, essi dicevano a Paolo di non salire a Gerusalemme.
5 Ma al termine del nostro soggiorno, partimmo e ci mettemmo in cammino, accompagnati da tutti, con le mogli e figli, fin fuori della città; e, postici in ginocchio sul lido, pregammo.
6 Poi, dopo esserci scambiati i saluti, montammo sulla nave, mentre quelli se ne tornarono alle loro case.
7 Terminata la navigazione, da Tiro arrivammo a Tolemaide e, salutati i fratelli, ci trattenemmo un giorno con loro.
8 Ripartiti il giorno seguente, noi che eravamo compagni di Paolo, arrivammo a Cesarea e, entrati in casa di Filippo l'evangelista che era uno dei sette, restammo presso di lui.
9 Or egli aveva quattro figlie vergini, che profetizzavano.
10 E, restando noi lí molti giorni, un certo profeta di nome Agabo, scese dalla Giudea.
11 Venuto da noi, egli prese la cintura di Paolo, si legò mani e piedi, e disse: «Questo dice lo Spirito Santo: Cosí legheranno i Giudei a Gerusalemme l'uomo a cui appartiene questa cintura e lo consegneranno nelle mani dei gentili».
12 All'udire queste cose, noi e quelli del luogo lo pregavamo di non salire a Gerusalemme.
13 Ma Paolo rispose: «Che fate voi, piangendo e spezzandomi il cuore? Poiché io sono pronto non solo ad essere legato, ma anche a morire a Gerusalemme per il nome del Signore Gesú».
14 E siccome non c'era modo di persuaderlo, ci rassegnammo dicendo: «Sia fatta la volontà del Signore».
15 Dopo quei giorni, preparate le nostre cose, salimmo a Gerusalemme.
16 Con noi vennero anche alcuni discepoli di Cesarea e condussero con loro un certo Mnasone, nativo di Cipro, un vecchio discepolo, presso il quale dovevamo alloggiare.
17 Al nostro arrivo a Gerusalemme, i fratelli ci accolsero lietamente.
18 Il giorno seguente Paolo si recò con noi da Giacomo, e tutti gli anziani erano presenti.
19 Dopo averli salutati, Paolo raccontò loro, ad una ad una, le cose che il Signore aveva operato fra i gentili per mezzo del suo ministero.
20 Ed essi, udito ciò, glorificavano Dio, poi dissero a Paolo: «Fratello, tu vedi quante migliaia di Giudei vi sono che hanno creduto; e tutti sono zelanti della legge.
21 Or sono stati informati a tuo riguardo che tu insegni a tutti i Giudei che vivono fra i gentili di distaccarsi da Mosé, dicendo di non circoncidere i figli e di non seguire piú le usanze giudaiche.
22 Or dunque, che si deve fare? E' inevitabile che la folla si raduni, perché sapranno che tu sei venuto.
23 Fa' dunque quanto ti diciamo: noi abbiamo quattro uomini, che hanno fatto un voto;
24 prendili con te, purificati con loro, e paga per loro, perché si possano radere il capo; cosí tutti sapranno che non c'è nulla di vero in quelle cose di cui sono stati informati intorno a te, ma che anche tu sei disciplinato e osservi la legge.
25 Ma per quanto riguarda i gentili che hanno creduto, noi abbiamo loro scritto, avendo stabilito che non osservino alcuna cosa del genere, ma che si guardino unicamente dalle cose sacrificate agli idoli dal sangue, dalle cose soffocate e dalla fornicazione».
26 Allora Paolo, il giorno seguente, prese con sé quegli uomini e, dopo essersi purificato con loro, entrò nel tempio dichiarando di voler portare a compimento i giorni della purificazione, quando sarebbe stata presentata l'offerta per ciascun di loro.
27 Ma, come i sette giorni stavano per compiersi i Giudei dell'Asia, vedendolo nel tempio, sollevarono tutta la folla e gli misero le mani addosso,
28 gridando: «Uomini d'Israele, venite in aiuto! Costui è l'uomo che insegna a tutti e dappertutto una dottrina che è contro il popolo, contro la legge e contro questo luogo; oltre a ciò, ha pure condotto dei Greci nel tempio e ha contaminato questo santo luogo».
29 Infatti avevano in precedenza visto Trofimo di Efeso in città con Paolo, e pensavano che egli lo avesse condotto nel tempio.
30 E tutta la città fu in subbuglio, e ci fu un accorrere di gente; e, preso Paolo, lo trascinarono fuori del tempio e subito furono serrate le porte.
31 Ora, mentre essi cercavano di ucciderlo, al tribuno della coorte giunse la notizia che tutta Gerusalemme era sottosopra.
32 Immediatamente egli, presi dei soldati e dei centurioni, corse verso di loro. E questi, visto il tribuno e i soldati, smisero di battere Paolo.
33 Allora il tribuno, avvicinatosi, lo prese e comandò che fosse legato con due catene, poi domandò chi fosse e che cosa avesse fatto.
34 Tra la folla gli uni gridavano una cosa e gli altri un'altra; non potendo perciò sapere nulla di certo per il tumulto, comandò che fosse condotto nella fortezza.
35 Quando arrivò alla gradinata, egli dovette essere portato dai soldati per la violenza della folla,
36 perché la massa del popolo lo seguiva, gridando: «A morte».
37 Mentre Paolo stava per essere introdotto nella fortezza, disse al tribuno: «Mi è lecito dirti qualcosa?». Quegli rispose: «Sai il greco?
38 Non sei tu quell'Egiziano che tempo fa insorse e condusse nel deserto quei quattromila briganti?».
39 Ma Paolo disse: «Io sono un Giudeo di Tarso, cittadino di quella non oscura città di Cilicia; or ti prego di lasciarmi parlare al popolo».
40 Avendoglielo permesso, Paolo, stando in piedi sopra la gradinata, fece cenno con la mano al popolo. E, fattosi un gran silenzio, parlò in lingua ebraica dicendo:
Acts 21
New King James Version
Warnings on the Journey to Jerusalem
21 Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 4 And finding [a]disciples, we stayed there seven days. (A)They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. 5 When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And (B)we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6 When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned (C)home.
7 And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8 On the next day we [b]who were Paul’s companions departed and came to (D)Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip (E)the evangelist, (F)who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters (G)who prophesied. 10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named (H)Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, (I)‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”
12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, (J)“What do you mean by 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.”
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, (K)“The will of the Lord be done.”
Paul Urged to Make Peace
15 And after those days we [c]packed and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.
17 (L)And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to (M)James, and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, (N)he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles (O)through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all (P)zealous for the law; 21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 [d]What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may (Q)shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, (R)we have written and decided [e]that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from [f]sexual immorality.”
Arrested in the Temple
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, (S)entered the temple (T)to announce the [g]expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.
27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, (U)the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and (V)laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man (W)who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 (For they had [h]previously seen (X)Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 And (Y)all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. 31 Now as they were (Z)seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the [i]garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 (AA)He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the (AB)commander came near and took him, and (AC)commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another.
So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. 35 When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. 36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, (AD)“Away with him!”
Addressing the Jerusalem Mob(AE)
37 Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”
He replied, “Can you speak Greek? 38 (AF)Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”
39 But Paul said, (AG)“I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no [j]mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”
40 So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and (AH)motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the (AI)Hebrew language, saying,
Footnotes
- Acts 21:4 NU the disciples
- Acts 21:8 NU omits who were Paul’s companions
- Acts 21:15 made preparations
- Acts 21:22 NU What then is to be done? They will certainly hear
- Acts 21:25 NU omits that they should observe no such thing, except
- Acts 21:25 fornication
- Acts 21:26 completion
- Acts 21:29 M omits previously
- Acts 21:31 cohort
- Acts 21:39 insignificant
Acts 21
King James Version
21 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:
2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3 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.
4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 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.
6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8 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.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 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.
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 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.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
16 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.
17 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 among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 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:
21 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.
22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 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.
25 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.
26 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.
27 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,
28 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.
29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 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.
31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 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.
33 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.
34 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.
35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36 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 Greek?
38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
39 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, suffer me to speak unto the people.
40 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,
Copyright © 1991 by La Buona Novella s.c.r.l.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
