The Holy Ghost's girdle message
(on Paul's way to Jerusalem)

21:1-16
1
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.
After leaving Ephesus, we traveled to various places,
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.
eventually arriving in Tyre, where we stayed for seven days. [1]
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.
Some disciples in Tyre warned Paul, through the Spirit,
not to go to Jerusalem.
7
And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and
saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
After leaving Tyre, we went to Ptolemais,
and stayed with some believers for 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.
Then we visited Philip the evangelist's home in Caesarea.
9
And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Philip had seven virgin daughters who prophesied.
10
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain
prophet, named Agabus.
During our seven-day visit, a prophet named Agabus came by.
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.
He took off Paul's girdle, tied his hands and feet with it,
and said to him,
This is what the Holy Ghost says,
The Jews will tie up the man that owns this girdle,
and hand him over to the Gentiles.
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.
Paul said,
I'm ready not just to be bound,
but to die in Jerusalem for the name of Jesus.
Four heads are shaved (to cover up Paul's teaching)

21:17-26
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.
The day after we arrived in Jerusalem,
Paul went to visit James and the elders.
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:
After Paul reported what he and God had done among the Gentiles, the elders said to him,
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.
The Jewish believers have heard that you tell Gentile believers to disobey the law of Moses, not circumcise their
sons, or observe Jewish customs.
22
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they
will hear that thou art come.
So this is what we'd like to do to take care of the problem.
23
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow
on them;
Four men will take a vow.
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.
And you will purify yourself with them,
while they shave their heads.
Then everyone will know that you keep the law of Moses.
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.
We've told the Gentile believers that they don't have to obey the law of Moses, but only abstain from
things offered to idols, blood, strangled things, and 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.
So the next day, Paul purified himself, and an offering was made for each of the men who shaved their heads.
Paul is arrested (by the Jews who try to kill him)

21:27-40
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.)
When the seven-day ceremony was almost over,
the Jews incited all the people to arrest Paul.
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.
So the people went to the temple and grabbed Paul.
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.
Just as they were about to kill him,
he was saved by Roman officers.
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.
The captain bound Paul in chains,
and asked him 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?
The people cried out various accusations, which the captain couldn't understand.
So he took him to the castle.
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.
As Paul was being led to the castle, he said to the captain,
May I speak to 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,
He stood on the stairs and addressed the people in Hebrew, saying:
Notes
- We left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre,
and ... tarried there seven days. (vv.3-4)
Ezekiel (26:14,
21, 27:36)
prophesied that Tyre would be completely destroyed by Nebuchadrezzar, never to
be built again. Yet it wasn't destroyed, as is evident from these verses.
- Don't eat meats offered to idols.
- 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. 21:25a
- Don't eat blood.
- As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves ... from blood. 21:25b
- Don't eat strangled things.
- As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves ... from strangled. 21:25c
- Don't fornicate.
- As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from ... fornication. 21:25d