Paul Goes to Jerusalem

21 ¹We all said good-bye to the elders.* Then we sailed away. We sailed straight to Cos island. The next day, we went to the island of Rhodes. From Rhodes we went to Patara. ²At Patara we found a ship that was going to the area of Phoenicia. We went on the ship and sailed away. ³We sailed near the island of Cyprus. We could see it on the north side, but we did not stop. We sailed to the country of Syria. We stopped at the city of Tyre because the ship needed to unload its cargo there. ⁴We found some followers [of Jesus] in Tyre, and we stayed with them for seven days. They warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem because of what the Holy Spirit* had told them. ⁵But when we finished our visit, we left. We continued our trip. All the followers [of Jesus], even the women and children, came outside the city with us to say good-bye. We all kneeled down on the beach and prayed. ⁶Then we said good-bye and got on the ship. The followers went home. ⁷We continued our trip from Tyre and went to the city of Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers (believers) there and stayed with them one day. ⁸The next day we left Ptolemais and went to the city of Caesarea. We went into the home of Philip and stayed with him. Philip had the work of telling the Good News.* He was one of the seven (helpers).* ⁹He had four daughters who were not married. These daughters had the gift of prophesying.* ¹⁰After we had been there for many days, a prophet* named Agabus came from Judea. ¹¹He came to us and borrowed Paul's belt. Then Agabus used the belt to tie his own hands and feet. Agabus said, "The Holy Spirit* tells me, 'This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie the man who wears this belt.* Then they will give him to the non-Jewish people.'" ¹²We all heard these words. So we and the other followers [of Jesus] there begged (asked) Paul not to go to Jerusalem. ¹³But Paul said, "Why are you crying? Why are you making me so sad? I am ready to be tied in Jerusalem. I am also ready to die for the name of the Lord Jesus!" ¹⁴We could not persuade him to stay away from Jerusalem. So we stopped begging him and said, "We pray that what the Lord wants will be done." ¹⁵After this, we got ready and left for Jerusalem. ¹⁶Some of the followers [of Jesus] from Caesarea went with us. These followers took us to the home of Mnason, a man from Cyprus. Mnason was one of the first people to be a follower [of Jesus]. They took us to his home so that we could stay with him.

elders A group of men chosen to lead a church. Also called "overseers" and "pastors" ("shepherds"), they have the work of caring for God's people (Acts 20:28; Eph. 4:11; Tit. 1:7,9). Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. Good News, message The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever. helpers Men chosen for a special work. Read Acts 6:1-6. prophesying Speaking or teaching things from God. prophet A person that spoke for God. belt Paul's belt; so Agabus means that the Jews in Jerusalem will tie (arrest) Paul.