Online Bible

Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 21

Twitter · Facebook
Acts 21 NWT - New World TranslationActs 21 NWT - New World Translation

Chapter 21 of Acts—New World Translation (NWT)

  1. ¶ Now when we had torn ourselves away from them and put out to sea, we ran with a straight course and came to Cos, but on the next [day] to Rhodes, and from there to Patʹa·ra.
  2. And when we had found a boat that was crossing to Phoe·niʹcia, we went aboard and sailed away.
  3. After coming in sight of the island of Cyʹprus1 we left it behind on the left side and sailed on to Syria,2 and landed at Tyre, for there the boat was to unload [its] cargo.3
  4. By a search we found the disciples and remained here seven days. But through the spirit4 they repeatedly told Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem.
  5. So when we had completed the days, we went forth and started on our way; but they all, together with the women and children, conducted us as far as outside the city. And kneeling5 down on the beach we had prayer
  6. and said good-bye6 to one another, and we went up into the boat but they returned to their homes.
  7. ¶ We then completed the voyage from Tyre and arrived at Ptol·e·maʹis, and we greeted the brothers and stayed one day with them.
  8. The next day we set out and arrived in Caes·a·reʹa,7 and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelizer,[a] who was one of the seven men,8 and we stayed with him.
  9. This man had four daughters, virgins, that prophesied.9
  10. But while we were remaining quite a number of days, a certain prophet named Agʹa·bus10 came down from Ju·deʹa,
  11. and he came to us and took up the girdle of Paul, bound his own feet and hands and said: “Thus says the holy spirit, ‘The man to whom this girdle belongs the Jews will bind11 in this manner in Jerusalem and deliver12 into the hands of people of the nations.’”
  12. Now when we heard this, both we and those of that place began entreating him not to go13 up to Jerusalem.
  13. Then Paul answered: “What are YOU doing by weeping14 and making me weak at heart?15 Rest assured, I am ready not only to be bound but also to die16 at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
  14. When he would not be dissuaded, we acquiesced with the words: “Let the will17 of Jehovah[b] take place.”
  15. ¶ Now after these days we prepared for the journey and began going up to Jerusalem.18
  16. But some of the disciples from Caes·a·reʹa19 also went with us, to bring us to the man at whose home we were to be entertained, a certain Mnaʹson of Cyʹprus, an early disciple.
  17. When we got into Jerusalem,20 the brothers received us gladly.21
  18. But on the following [day] Paul went in with us to James;22 and all the older men[c] were present.[d]
  19. And he greeted them and began giving in detail an account23 of the things God did among the nations through his ministry.24
  20. ¶ After hearing this they began to glorify God, and they said to him: “You behold, brother, how many thousands[e] of believers there are among the Jews; and they are all zealous for the Law.25
  21. But they have heard it rumored about you that you have been teaching all the Jews among the nations an apostasy[f] from Moses,26 telling them neither to circumcise27 their children nor to walk in the [solemn] customs.
  22. What, then, is to be done about it? In any case they are going to hear you have arrived.
  23. Therefore do this which we tell you: We have four men with a vow upon themselves.
  24. Take these men along28 and cleanse yourself ceremonially with them and take care of their expenses,29 that they may have their heads shaved.30 And so everybody will know that there is nothing to the rumors they were told about you, but that you are walking orderly, you yourself also keeping the Law.31
  25. As for the believers from among the nations, we have sent out,[g] rendering our decision that they should keep themselves from what is sacrificed to idols32 as well as from blood33 and what is strangled[h]34 and from fornication.”35
  26. ¶ Then Paul took the men along the next day and cleansed himself ceremonially with them36 and went into the temple, to give notice of the days to be fulfilled37 for the ceremonial cleansing, until the offering38 should be presented for each one of them.39
  27. ¶ Now when the seven40 days were about to be concluded, the Jews from Asia on beholding him in the temple began to throw all the crowd into confusion,41 and they laid their hands upon him,
  28. crying out: “Men of Israel, help! This is the man that teaches everybody everywhere against the people42 and the Law and this place and, what is more, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”43
  29. For they had previously seen Trophʹi·mus44 the E·pheʹsian in the city with him, but they were imagining Paul had brought him into the temple.
  30. And the whole city was set in an uproar,45 and a running together of the people occurred; and they laid hold of Paul and dragged him outside the temple.46 And immediately the doors were closed.
  31. And while they were seeking to kill him, information came up to the commander[i] of the band that all Jerusalem was in confusion;47
  32. and he at once took soldiers and army officers[j] and ran down to them.48 When they caught sight of the military commander49 and the soldiers, they quit beating Paul.
  33. ¶ Then the military commander came near and took hold of him and gave command for him to be bound with two chains;50 and he proceeded to inquire who he might be and what he had done.
  34. But some in the crowd began shouting out one thing, and others another.51 So, being unable himself to learn anything certain because of the tumult, he commanded him to be brought to the soldiers’ quarters.52
  35. But when he got upon the stairs, the situation became such that he was being carried along by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;
  36. for the multitude of the people kept following, crying out: “Take him away!”[k]53
  37. ¶ And as he was about to be led into the soldiers’ quarters, Paul said to the military commander: “Am I allowed to say something to you?” He said: “Can you speak Greek?
  38. Are you not really the Egyptian who before these days stirred up a sedition54 and led the four thousand dagger[l] men out into the wilderness?”
  39. Then Paul said: “I am, in fact, a Jew,55 of Tarsus56 in Ci·liʹcia, a citizen of no obscure city. So I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.”
  40. After he gave permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned57 with his hand to the people. When a great silence fell, he addressed them in the Hebrew58 language, saying:

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Or, “missionary.” Gr., eu·ag·ge·li·stouʹ; Lat., e·van·ge·liʹstae.
  2. ^ See App 1D.
  3. ^ Or, “elders.”
  4. ^ Or, “came there.”
  5. ^ Lit., “myriads; tens of thousands.”
  6. ^ “An apostasy.” Gr., a·po·sta·siʹan (from the verb a·phiʹste·mi, “stand away from”). The noun has the sense of desertion, abandonment or rebellion. See Jos 22:22; 2Ch 29:19; 2Th 2:3.
  7. ^ “Sent out,” BD; P74אAVg, “written.”
  8. ^ Or, “what is killed without draining its blood.”
  9. ^ Lit., “chiliarch,” a commander of 1,000 soldiers.
  10. ^ Lit., “centurions,” officers each in command of 100 soldiers.
  11. ^ Or, “Kill him!”
  12. ^ Lit., “Sicarii; assassins.” Gr., si·ka·riʹon.

REFERENCES

  1. ^ Ac 15:39
  2. ^ Ac 20:3
  3. ^ Ac 27:10
  4. ^ Ac 21:11, 12
  5. ^ Ezr 9:5; Ac 9:40; 20:36
  6. ^ Ac 18:21
  7. ^ Ac 18:22
  8. ^ Ac 6:5
  9. ^ Jl 2:28; Ac 2:17; 1Co 11:5
  10. ^ Ac 11:28
  11. ^ Ac 20:23; 21:33
  12. ^ Ac 9:16
  13. ^ Mt 16:22
  14. ^ Ac 20:24
  15. ^ De 20:8
  16. ^ 2Co 4:10; 2Ti 4:6
  17. ^ 1Sa 3:18; Mt 26:42
  18. ^ Ro 15:25
  19. ^ Ac 18:22
  20. ^ Ac 24:11
  21. ^ Ac 15:4
  22. ^ Ac 12:17; 15:13; Ga 1:19; 2:9; Jm 1:1
  23. ^ Ac 11:4; 14:27
  24. ^ Ac 15:12; Ro 15:18
  25. ^ Ac 15:1; 22:3; Ro 10:2; Ga 1:14
  26. ^ Ac 6:14; Ga 5:1
  27. ^ Ro 2:28; 1Co 7:19
  28. ^ Nu 6:2
  29. ^ Nu 6:14, 15, 17
  30. ^ Nu 6:18; Ac 18:18
  31. ^ 1Co 9:20
  32. ^ Ge 35:2; Ex 34:15; Ac 15:29
  33. ^ Ge 9:4; Le 3:17; 17:10; De 12:23; 1Sa 14:32
  34. ^ Le 17:13
  35. ^ 1Co 6:9; Col 3:5; 1Th 4:3; 1Pe 4:3
  36. ^ Ac 24:18; 1Co 9:20
  37. ^ Nu 6:5
  38. ^ Nu 6:19
  39. ^ Nu 6:21
  40. ^ Nu 6:9
  41. ^ Ac 19:29
  42. ^ Ac 24:5
  43. ^ Ac 24:6
  44. ^ Ac 20:4; 2Ti 4:20
  45. ^ Ac 17:5
  46. ^ Ac 26:21
  47. ^ Ac 21:27
  48. ^ Ac 23:27
  49. ^ Ac 23:26
  50. ^ Ac 20:23; 21:11; Eph 6:20
  51. ^ Ac 19:32
  52. ^ Ac 22:24
  53. ^ Lu 23:18; Jn 19:15; Ac 22:22
  54. ^ Ac 5:36
  55. ^ Pp 3:5
  56. ^ Ac 9:11; 22:3
  57. ^ Ac 13:16; 19:33
  58. ^ Ac 26:14

Read Acts Chapter 21 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

    I live in Dover, Delaware. My boyfriend Juan Tover and I have been dating for the past 4 yrs we were to get married in September of this year but it never happened..he constantly messes around with his ex's and other females every time he got caught he apologized and tell me to forgive him and I keep taking him back because I'm truly in love with this man but after a while he started messing around again...what can I do to make this man to love me and stop the messing around so we could get married and start our family? I am very happy I contacted Priest Salami regarding my problem. My boyfriend is now my HUSBAND. We got married 2 weeks ago in the United Church in Dover. My problem was solved. I am extremely happy to put his email purenaturalhealer@gmail.com  to anyone out there looking to solve his/her relationship problem. You can also WhatsApp him with his mobile number +2348105150446
    Visit his Facebook page facebook.com/priestsalami

  • Showing 1 - 10 of 10
NOTE: You are replying to 's comment. [Cancel]