劝阻耶路撒冷之行

21 我们与他们惜别以后就开船直航,来到科斯岛。第二天到了罗得岛,又从那里到帕塔拉 找到了一条开往腓尼基的船,就上船起航。 我们望见塞浦路斯岛,驶过的时候它在左边。我们继续向叙利亚省航行,在提尔登陆,因为船要在那里卸货。 我们找到了一些门徒,就在那里住了七天。他们藉着圣灵,一直告诉保罗不要上耶路撒冷去。 那些日子过了以后,我们出发前行,大家与妻子和儿女一起送我们到城外。我们都跪在岸上祷告, 彼此告别。我们上了船,他们就回自己的家去了。

我们结束了从提尔开始的航程,到达托勒密,就去问候弟兄们,在他们那里住了一天。 第二天我们[a]离开那里,来到凯撒里亚,进了传福音者腓利的家,住在他那里,他是那七位执事[b]中的一位。 他有四个女儿,都是童贞女,是做先知传道[c]的。

10 我们住了好几天,有一个名叫阿伽布斯的先知从犹太下来了。 11 他来到我们这里,拿起保罗的腰带,把自己的手脚捆起来,说:“圣灵这样说,犹太人在耶路撒冷要如此捆绑这腰带的主人,把他交在外邦人的手中。” 12 我们一听这些话,就和当地的人恳求保罗不要上耶路撒冷去。

13 这时候保罗说:“你们为什么哭,使我心碎呢?我为了主耶稣的名,不仅被捆绑,即使死在耶路撒冷,也都预备好了。”

14 我们既然不能说服保罗,就都安静下来,只说:“愿主的旨意成就。”

有关外邦宣教的争议

15 过了几天,我们收拾行李,上耶路撒冷去。 16 凯撒里亚的一些门徒也陪我们一起去,带我们到一个塞浦路斯纳森家里去作客住宿。他做门徒已经很久了。

17 我们到了耶路撒冷,弟兄们很高兴地欢迎我们。 18 第二天,保罗与我们一起去探望雅各,所有的长老也都来了。 19 保罗问候他们后,一一述说神藉着他的服事,在外邦人中所做的事。

20 他们听了就不住地荣耀神[d],又对保罗说:“弟兄,你看犹太人中信主[e]的人有多少万,而且他们都是对律法热心的人。 21 他们听到有关你的事,说你教导所有在外邦人中的犹太人离道反教、背弃摩西,叫他们不要给孩子行割礼,也不要按规矩行事。 22 他们一定会听到你来这里了[f]。那么该怎么办呢? 23 你就照我们告诉你的去做吧。我们这里有四个人,他们都许过愿。 24 你带他们去,与他们一起行洁净礼,并且替他们付钱,好让他们剃掉头发。这样,大家就会知道有关你的传闻不是真的,而且你自己也是照着规矩行事、遵守律法的。 25 至于已经相信的外邦人,我们照着决定写了信,要他们远避祭过偶像的食物,远避血和勒死的动物,远避淫乱。[g]

圣殿里的骚乱

26 于是,第二天保罗带了那四个人,与他们一起行了洁净礼,进了圣殿,宣告洁净期满的日子,直到为他们每一个人的供物都被献上为止。 27 那七天快要结束的时候,从亚细亚省来的一些犹太人看到保罗在圣殿里,就煽动整个人群,下手捉拿他, 28 喊叫:“各位以色列人哪,请帮忙!这个人就是那到处教导大家反对我们的民族、律法,反对这地方的!他甚至把希腊人带进圣殿,玷污了这圣地。” 29 原来他们曾经看见以弗所特罗费摩保罗一起在城里,就以为保罗带他进了圣殿。

30 于是全城的人都被煽动了,民众一起跑来,抓住保罗,把他拖出圣殿,殿门立刻关上了。 31 在他们想杀保罗的时候,有消息上报到军团的千夫长,说全耶路撒冷都混乱了。 32 千夫长立即带着士兵和几个百夫长跑下去,到了他们那里。他们一看见千夫长和士兵们,就停止殴打保罗 33 于是千夫长上前抓住保罗,下令用两条铁链把他捆起来,然后查问他到底是什么人,做了什么事。 34 人群当中,有的喊这个,有的喊那个;千夫长因为骚乱,无法知道真相,就下令把保罗带到营楼里去。 35 保罗到了台阶上的时候,由于人群凶猛,士兵们只好把他抬起来走。 36 那一群人跟在后面,喊叫:“除掉他!”

保罗对群众的讲话

37 保罗快要被押进营楼的时候,就对千夫长说:“我是否可以对你说句话?”

千夫长说:“你懂希腊语吗? 38 你究竟是不是那个前些日子作乱、带领四千个凶徒进入旷野的埃及人呢?”

39 保罗回答说:“我是犹太人,是奇里乞亚省的塔尔苏人,并不是无名之城的公民,请求你准许我向民众说话。”

40 千夫长准许了,保罗就站在台阶上,向民众挥一下手,大家都寂静无声,保罗就用希伯来语呼吁,说:

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行传 21:8 我们——有古抄本作“跟随保罗的人”。
  2. 使徒行传 21:8 执事——辅助词语。
  3. 使徒行传 21:9 做先知传道——原文直译“说预言”。
  4. 使徒行传 21:20 神——有古抄本作“主”。
  5. 使徒行传 21:20 主——辅助词语。
  6. 使徒行传 21:22 他们一定会听到你来这里了——有古抄本作“他们听到你来了,民众必定会聚集”。
  7. 使徒行传 21:25 有古抄本附“除了这些以外,不要遵守任何这样的事”。

保罗去耶路撒冷

21 告别长老之后,我们便开船径直到了哥士。第二天,又到了罗底,从那里我们又去了帕大喇。 我们发现有一条开往腓尼基的船,就上船出发了。 当我们看得见塞浦路斯时,便从它的南边绕了过去向叙利亚开去。我们在推罗登陆,因为船得在那里卸货。 在推罗,我们找到了一些门徒,和他们在一起住了七天。他们借助圣灵告诉保罗不要去耶路撒冷。 当逗留的时间一过,我们便离开推罗,又上路了。那里所有的信徒与他们的妻子和孩子,陪着我们出了城来到海边,我们跪下来祈告。 我们大家相互告别后,我们便登上了船,他们则回家去了。

我们从推罗继续我们的航行,在多利买上岸。问候那里的弟兄们,并和他们在一起呆了一天。 第二天我们离开那里,来到了该撒利亚,进了传道人腓利家里,并和他同住。他是被选出的七名助手之一。 他有四个女儿,她们都是处女,她们凭上帝的启示都有预言的天赋。 10 在那里住了许多日子后,从犹太地区来了一位先知,名叫亚迦布。 11 他来到我们这里,拿起保罗的腰带把自己的手和脚都捆了起来,说∶“圣灵是这样说的∶‘耶路撒冷的犹太人会把系这条腰带的人,像这样绑起来交给外族人。’”

12 听到这些,我们和当地的人都请求保罗不要去耶路撒冷。 13 但保罗却说∶“你们为什么哭哭啼啼的,让我心碎吗?其实我已经做好了准备,不仅要在耶路撒冷被捆绑,还会情愿为主耶稣之名死在那里。”

14 既然我们无法说服他,就停止乞求他,只说∶“让主的意愿得以实现吧。”

15 这以后,我们便做好了准备,到耶路撒冷去了。 16 该撒利亚的一些门徒与我们同行,他们把我们带到了拿孙家里去住。拿孙是塞浦路斯人,他是早期的门徒。

保罗拜访雅各

17 我们到达耶路撒冷时,受到兄弟们的热情接待。 18 第二天,保罗与我们一起去看望雅各。所有的长老都在场, 19 保罗问候了他们,然后,把上帝通过他在外族人中所做的事情一一向他们做了汇报, 20 听完,他们都赞美上帝。他们对保罗说∶“兄弟,你看成为信徒的犹太人数以万计,他们都热衷于律法。 21 他们听说了关于你的事,说你教导住在外族人中间所有的犹太人,放弃摩西的律法,叫他们既不为他们的孩子行割礼 [a],也不遵守我们的风俗。 22 那么该如何是好呢?他们肯定将会听说,你已经到这来了。 23 那么,就照我们告诉你们的去做吧:我们这里有四个向上帝许过愿的人。 24 你带着这些人,和他们一同去行洁净仪式,并且付费让他们剃头。然后,大家就会知道,他们听到关于你的事情,都是不实之辞,并且知道你自己也是遵守律法的。 25 至于外族的信徒,我们已把决定写信给他们了,吩咐他们:

不可吃任何祭过偶像的食物,
不可吃血或勒死的牲畜,
也不可有不道德的性行为。”

保罗被捕

26 于是保罗带上了那四个人。第二天又与他们一起行了洁净礼。然后,他走进大殿院,通知祭司洁净礼将要在什么时刻结束和代表每个人献祭的日期。

27 这七天快要过去的时候,一些亚西亚的犹太人在大殿院里见到他,就煽动整个人群把保罗抓了起来。 28 他们喊道∶“噢,以色列人啊,请帮忙!就是这个人,他到处教唆人们,反对我们的人民、律法和这所大殿。并且现在他甚至把外族人带进了大殿。他亵渎了这个神圣的地方。” 29 他们这么说,是因为他们在城里时,看见以弗所人特罗非摩和保罗在一起,于是,便猜想,保罗把他带进过大殿院。

30 整个城市骚动起来。人们都跑过来拥在一起,他们抓住保罗,把他拽出了大殿院,大殿院的门立刻都关上了。 31 那些人正想要杀保罗时,罗马军队的指挥官得到报告,说耶路撒冷全境都陷入了混乱之中。 32 他便立即带着官兵,赶到攻击保罗的人群那里。当那些犹太人看到指挥官和士兵们,便停止殴打保罗。 33 指挥官走到保罗跟前,逮捕了他,还下令给他戴上了两条锁链。然后,他才问保罗是谁,并做了什么事情。 34 人群里人们叫喊不一,因为混乱,指挥官无法查出真相,便下令把保罗押到兵营里去。 35 保罗来到台阶时,因为人群的凶暴,不得不由士兵们把他抬起来走, 36 人群跟着他们,并叫喊着∶“杀了他!”

37 当保罗就要被带进城堡时,保罗对指挥官说∶“我可以对你说话吗?”

指挥官说∶“你懂希腊语吗? 38 那么你不是那个前些时候,挑动暴乱并带领四千个恐怖分子跑到旷野里去的那个埃及人了?”

39 保罗说道∶“我是犹太人,从基利家的大数来。我是一个重要城市的公民。请你让我对那些人说话。”

40 指挥官同意了,保罗便站在台阶上,向人们挥了挥手。一切安静下来之后,保罗用阿拉米语 [b]对人们讲话。

Footnotes

  1. 使 徒 行 傳 21:21 割礼: 割去包皮,每个犹太男孩都行割礼,它是上帝与亚伯拉罕所定的契约的标记。
  2. 使 徒 行 傳 21:40 阿拉米语: 似希伯来语,一世纪犹太人的语言。

On to Jerusalem

21 After we(A) had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,(B) went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.(C) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples(D) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit(E) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.(F) After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

We continued our voyage from Tyre(G) and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters(H) and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea(I) and stayed at the house of Philip(J) the evangelist,(K) one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.(L)

10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus(M) came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,(N) ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind(O) the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”(P)

12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die(Q) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”(R) 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up(S) and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”(T)

15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.(U) 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea(V) accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus(W) and one of the early disciples.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters(X) received us warmly.(Y) 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,(Z) and all the elders(AA) were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles(AB) through his ministry.(AC)

20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous(AD) for the law.(AE) 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,(AF) telling them not to circumcise their children(AG) or live according to our customs.(AH) 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.(AI) 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites(AJ) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.(AK) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”(AL)

26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.(AM)

Paul Arrested

27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,(AN) 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”(AO) 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus(AP) the Ephesian(AQ) in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul,(AR) they dragged him(AS) from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.(AT)

33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound(AU) with two(AV) chains.(AW) Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another,(AX) and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(AY) 35 When Paul reached the steps,(AZ) the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”(BA)

Paul Speaks to the Crowd(BB)

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks,(BC) he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness(BD) some time ago?”(BE)

39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus(BF) in Cilicia,(BG) a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

40 After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned(BH) to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic[a]:(BI)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 21:40 Or possibly Hebrew; also in 22:2

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:

And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

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.

And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

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.

And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.

And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

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.

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,