¶ And it chanced that as soon as we had launched forth, and were departed from them, we came with a straight course unto Choon, and the day following unto the Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara. And we found a ship ready to sail unto Phenices, and went aboard and set forth. Then appeared unto us Cyprus, and we left it on the left hand, and sailed unto Syria, and came unto Tyre. For there the ship unladed her burden. And when we had found brethren, we tarried there. vij. days. And they told Paul thorow the spirit, that he should not go up to Ierusalem. And when the days were ended we departed, and went our ways, and they all brought us on our way, with their wives and children, till we were come out of the city. And we kneeled down in the shore and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship, and they returned home again.
¶ When we had full ended the course, from Tyre, we arrived at Ptholomaida, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. The next day, we that were of Paulus company, came unto Cesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven, and abode with him. The same man had four daughters virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there a good many days, there came a certain prophet from jewry, named Agabus. When he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his hands and feet and said: Thus saith the holy ghost: So shall the jewes at Ierusalem, bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the gentiles.
¶ When we heard this, both we and other of the same place, besought him, that he would not go up to Ierusalem. Then Paul answered, and said: What do ye weeping, and breaking mine heart? I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesu. When we could not turn his mind, we ceased saying: The will of the Lord be fulfilled. After those days we made ourselves ready, and went up to Ierusalem. There went with us also certain of his disciples of Cesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an olde disciple, with whom we should lodge. And when we were come to Ierusalem, the brethren received us gladly. On the morrow Paul went in with us unto Iames. And all the seniors came together. And when he had saluted them, he told by order, what things God had wrought among the gentiles by his ministration. When they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him: Thou seest brother, how many thousand jewes there are which believe, and they are all zealous over the law. And they are informed of thee that thou teachest all the jewes which are among the gentiles to forsake Moses, and sayest that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to live after the customs. What is it therefore? The multitude must needs come together. For they shall hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee.
¶ We have iiij. men, which have a vow on them. Them take and purify thyself with them, and do cost on them, that they may shave their heads and all shall know that those things which they have heard of thee are nothing: but that thou thyself also walkest and keepest the law. As touching the gentiles which believe we have written and concluded, that they observe no such things: but that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from strangled, and from fornication. Then the next day Paul took the men and purified himself with them, and entered into the temple, declaring the fulfilling of the days of purification, until that an oblation should be offered for every one of them.
¶ And as the seven days should have been ended, the jewes which were of Asia when they saw him in the temple, they moved all the people and laid hands on him crying: Men of Israhell help. This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover also he hath brought greeks into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. For they saw one Trophimus an Ephesian with him in the city. Him they supposed Paul had brought into the temple. And all the city was moved, and the people swarmed together. And they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple, and forthwith the doors were shut to.
¶ As they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the high captain of the soldiers, that all Ierusalem was moved. Which immediately took soldiers and undercaptains, and ran down unto them. When they saw the uppercaptain and the soldiers, They left smiting of Paul. Then the captain came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and demanded what he was, and what he had done. One cried this, another that, among the people. And when he could not know the certainty, for the rage: He commanded him to be carried into the castle. When he came unto a grece, it fortuned that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. The multitude of the people followed after crying: away with him.
¶ And as Paul should have been carried into the castle, He said unto the high captain: May I speak unto thee? Which said: Canst thou speak greek? Art not thou that Egyptian which before these days, made an uproar, and led out into the wilderness iiij. thousand men that were murderers? Paul said: I am a man which am a iewe of Tharsus a city in Cicill, a citizen of no vile city, I beseech thee suffer me to licence, Paul stood on the steps, and beckoned with the hand unto the people, and there was made a great silence. And he spake unto them in Hebrew saying:
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526