Paul

18Paul stayed in Corinth a good while longer. Then he said goodbye to the believers there. In the town of Cenchrea he had his head shaved, because he had made a promise to God. Then he sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila went with him.

And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

NoteSometimes a person made a special promise to God. Until it was finished, he would not cut his hair. Then he shaved his head to show the promise was kept. Cenchrea was the harbor town near Corinth, where ships waited.

19They came to the city of Ephesus, and Paul left them there. He himself went into the synagogue and talked with the Jews.

And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

NoteEphesus was a large city across the sea from Greece. It had a busy port and a famous temple.

20They asked him to stay with them longer. But he said no.

When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;

21He said goodbye to them. He told them, "I must go to Jerusalem for this feast. But I will come back to you if God wants me to." Then he sailed away from Ephesus.

But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.

NoteA feast was a holiday that lasted several days. Jews traveled to Jerusalem to keep it and worship God.

22His ship landed at Caesarea. He went up and greeted the church there. Then he went down to the city of Antioch.

And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.

NoteCaesarea was a port city with a big stone harbor. Jerusalem sits high in the hills. So people always said they went "up" to Jerusalem and "down" when they left. Antioch was the city where Paul's journeys began.

23He spent some time in Antioch. Then he left and traveled through the lands of Galatia and Phrygia. He went from place to place, helping all the followers of Jesus grow strong.

And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.

NoteGalatia and Phrygia were lands where Paul had taught before. He went back to visit the friends he had made.

1Apollos was in the city of Corinth at this time. Paul traveled through the hill country. He came to the city of Ephesus. There he found some followers of Jesus.

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

NoteEphesus was a big, busy city by the sea. Corinth was another large city, far away across the water. Apollos was a man who taught people about Jesus.

2Paul asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They said, "We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

NoteThe King James Bible says "Holy Ghost." Ghost was an old word for spirit. It means the Holy Spirit, God's own Spirit.

3Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" They said, "The baptism John taught."

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

NoteJohn was a preacher who taught before Jesus began teaching. People called him John the Baptist. He dipped people in water when they were sorry for doing wrong. Baptism means being dipped in water to show a fresh start.

4Paul said, "John baptized people who were turning away from wrong. He told them to believe in the one coming after him. That one is Jesus."

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Note"Christ" is a title, not a last name. It means the special king God promised to send.

5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6Paul put his hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them. They spoke in other languages. They also spoke messages from God.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

NotePutting your hands on someone was a way of praying for them. Speaking in tongues means talking in a language you never learned. Speaking messages from God is called prophesying.

7There were about twelve men in all.

And all the men were about twelve.

8Paul went into the synagogue, the Jewish meeting place. For three months he spoke there bravely. He gave reasons about God's kingdom to win people over.

And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

NoteA synagogue is a building where Jewish people meet to pray and learn. God's kingdom means God ruling as king over people.

9But some men grew stubborn and would not believe. In front of the crowd they said bad things about the Way, which is what the followers of Jesus were called. So Paul left them and took the followers with him. Every day he talked and gave reasons in the lecture hall of a man named Tyrannus.

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

NoteA lecture hall was a room where a teacher taught students. Paul probably used it at hours when no one else needed it.

10This went on for two years. So everyone living in the province of Asia heard the message about the Lord Jesus. Both Jews and Greeks heard it.

And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

NoteAsia here does not mean the whole continent. It was one area ruled by Rome, in the land we now call Turkey. "Greeks" meant people who were not Jewish.

11God did amazing miracles through Paul's hands.

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

NoteA miracle is a wonderful thing that only God can do.

12People took cloths and aprons that had touched Paul to sick people. Their sicknesses went away. Evil spirits came out of them too.

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

NotePaul made tents and worked with leather. The cloths and aprons were things he used while he worked.

13Some Jewish men traveled around trying to drive evil spirits out of people. They tried using the name of the Lord Jesus. They said, "I command you to come out, by Jesus, the one Paul preaches about."

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

NoteThese men walked from town to town. They said special words to try to make evil spirits leave people.

14Seven sons of a Jewish chief priest named Sceva were doing this.

And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

NoteA chief priest was an important leader at the Jewish temple.

15One evil spirit answered them, "I know Jesus. I know about Paul. But who are you?"

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them. He was too strong for them and beat them. They ran out of that house with no clothes on and hurt.

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

NoteTheir clothes were torn off them in the fight.

17All the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus heard about this. Fear came over all of them. And they gave great honor to the name of the Lord Jesus.

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18Many people who had believed came and told out loud the wrong things they had done.

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

19Many who had done magic brought their magic books together. They burned them in front of everyone. They added up what the books were worth. It came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

NoteOne piece of silver was about one day's pay. Fifty thousand was far more money than most people ever saw.

20In this way the word of God kept spreading and growing strong.

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

21After all this, Paul made up his mind what to do next. He would travel through Macedonia and Achaia and then go to Jerusalem. He said, "After I have been there, I must see Rome too."

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

NoteMacedonia and Achaia are two parts of Greece. Rome was a huge city far to the west. Rulers in Rome were in charge of all these lands.

22He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia. Paul himself stayed in Asia a while longer.

So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

23About that same time, big trouble started over the Way.

And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

24A man named Demetrius worked with silver. He made little silver models of the temple of the goddess Diana. His work brought in a lot of money for the other silver workers.

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

NoteDiana was a goddess the people of Ephesus worshiped. Her temple there was huge and famous. Visitors bought small silver models of it to take home. A temple is a big building where people worship a god.

25He called those workers together, along with others in the same kind of trade. He said, "Men, you know this work is how we make our money."

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

26"You can see and hear what is happening. This man Paul has talked many people into changing. He says gods made by human hands are not gods at all. He has done this here in Ephesus and almost all over Asia."

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

NoteGods made by human hands means statues that people prayed to.

27"So our trade may lose its good name. Worse, people may stop caring about the temple of the great goddess Diana. She may lose her greatness, even though all Asia and the whole world worship her."

So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

28When the men heard this, they became very angry. They shouted, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"

And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

29Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people grabbed Gaius and Aristarchus, two men from Macedonia who traveled with Paul. Then they all rushed into the theater together.

And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

NoteA theater was a big open place with stone seats. Thousands of people could sit there. The town used it for meetings too.

30Paul wanted to go in and speak to the crowd. But the followers would not let him.

And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31Some important leaders of Asia were Paul's friends. They sent him a message. They begged him not to risk going into the theater.

And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

NoteThese were rich, important men who ran the big city festivals.

32Some people shouted one thing and some another. The whole crowd was mixed up. Most of them did not even know why they had come.

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

33The Jews pushed a man named Alexander to the front of the crowd. He waved his hand for quiet. He wanted to explain things to the people.

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

34But then they saw that he was a Jew. So they all shouted together for about two hours. They kept saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!"

But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

NoteEphesians means the people who lived in Ephesus.

35At last the city clerk, the town's chief officer, quieted the crowd. He said, "Men of Ephesus, everyone knows our city guards the temple of the great goddess Diana. Everyone knows we guard her image that fell from the sky."

And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

NoteThe King James says the image "fell down from Jupiter." Jupiter was the name of the chief Roman god in the sky. People believed the statue of Diana had dropped down from there.

36"No one can say these things are untrue. So you should stay calm. Do not do anything foolish."

Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37"You brought these men here. But they have not robbed our temple. They have not said bad things about our goddess."

For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

NoteThe King James says "robbers of churches." That means people who steal from a temple. "Blasphemers" means people who say insulting things about a god.

38"If Demetrius and his workers have a complaint, the courts are open. There are judges to hear it. Let them take each other to court."

Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

NoteThe courts opened only on certain days. The judges were Roman rulers sent to that area.

39"If you want to ask about anything else, it must be settled in a proper meeting."

But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

NoteA proper meeting was a town meeting held on set days, with rules.

40"We could be blamed for the riot today. We have no good reason to give for this noisy crowd."

For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

NoteRome ruled this city. Rome punished towns that let riots happen.

41After he said this, he sent the crowd home.

And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

1The noisy trouble in the city stopped. Then Paul sent for the followers of Jesus. He hugged them, said goodbye, and left for Macedonia.

And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.

NoteMacedonia was a land north of Greece. Paul had visited friends there before.

2He traveled through that area. He said many things to help the people stay strong. Then he came to Greece.

And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,

3He stayed in Greece for three months. He was about to sail to Syria. But the Jews made a secret plan against him. So he chose to go back through Macedonia instead.

And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.

NoteSyria was a land far to the east. People traveled that far by ship.

4Some men traveled with Paul toward Asia. Sopater from Berea went with him. So did Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica. Gaius from Derbe and Timothy went too. Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia went as well.

And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

NoteAsia here does not mean the whole continent. It was one small area, in the country we now call Turkey.

5These men went on ahead of us. They waited for us in the city of Troas.

These going before tarried for us at Troas.

NoteThe man writing this book was traveling with Paul now. That is why he says we and us.

6We sailed from Philippi after a Jewish holiday called the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Five days later we met the others in Troas. We stayed there seven days.

And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.

NoteUnleavened bread is bread with no yeast, so it stays flat. Jewish families ate it for a week every spring. It helped them remember leaving Egypt long ago.

7On Sunday, the first day of the week, we met to share a meal. Paul was leaving the next day, so he talked to the people. He kept talking until midnight.

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

NoteThe first day of the week is Sunday. Jesus' friends met on that day because Jesus came back to life on a Sunday. Breaking bread meant sharing a meal and remembering him.

8Many lamps were burning in the upstairs room where we were meeting.

And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

NoteThere were no electric lights then. A lamp was a little bowl of oil with a burning string.

9A young man named Eutychus sat in an open window. Paul talked on and on. Eutychus fell into a deep sleep. He fell from the third floor to the ground. When they picked him up, he was dead.

And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

NoteWindows then had no glass in them. They were open holes in the wall.

10Paul went downstairs. He lay down on the young man and held him. Paul said, do not be upset. He is alive.

And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

11Paul went back upstairs. He broke the bread and ate. He talked with them until the sun came up. Then he left.

When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

12They brought the young man in alive. That made them feel much better.

And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

17From Miletus, Paul sent a message to Ephesus. He asked the elders, the leaders of the church there, to come to him.

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

NoteElders were older, trusted people who led a group of believers. Church means the people themselves, not a building. Miletus was about thirty miles from Ephesus.

18When they came, he said to them: You know how I lived with you. You saw it from the first day I came to Asia.

And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

19I served the Lord in a humble way, and I cried many tears. I went through hard times because the Jews made secret plans against me.

Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

NoteHumble means he did not brag or act important.

20I did not hold back anything that would help you. I taught you in public and in your homes.

And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

21I told the same thing to Jews and to Greeks. Turn away from wrong and turn back to God. Trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

NoteGreeks meant people who were not Jewish. Paul told the same good news to everyone.

22Now the Holy Spirit is leading me to Jerusalem, and I must go. I do not know what will happen to me there.

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

NoteThe Holy Spirit is God himself, with people to help and guide them.

23I know only this. In every city the Holy Spirit warns me. Chains and hard troubles are waiting for me.

Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

NoteChains were used to hold prisoners so they could not get away. Paul knew he might be locked up.

24But none of that stops me. My own life is not too precious to me. I only want to finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me, and finish it with joy. My work is to tell people the good news about God's kindness.

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

NoteThe old word here is grace. It means being kind to someone who has not earned it.

25I have gone among all of you telling about God's kingdom. Now I know that none of you will see my face again.

And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

NoteA kingdom is a land with a king. God's kingdom means the people who let God be their king.

26So today I tell you plainly. I am not guilty of anyone's blood.

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

NoteThis was a way of saying, no one was hurt because I kept quiet. Paul had told everybody what he knew.

27I did not hold back. I told you everything God wants people to know.

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

28Watch over yourselves, and watch over all the people. The Holy Spirit made you the leaders who care for them. Take care of God's church, the way a shepherd takes care of sheep. God bought this church with his own blood.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

NoteA flock is a group of sheep. A shepherd feeds them and keeps them safe. Paul says leaders should care for people that way.

29I know what will happen after I go. Men like hungry wolves will come in among you. They will hurt God's people and show no kindness.

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

NoteWolves are wild animals that hunt sheep. Paul means people who would hurt the church.

30Some men from your own group will do this too. They will twist the truth. They want followers of their own.

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31So stay awake and watch. Remember that for three years I never stopped warning you. I warned each one of you, night and day, with tears.

Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

32Now, my friends, I leave you in God's care. I leave you with his kind message. That message can make you strong. It can give you a share of what God gives to all his holy people.

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

NoteAn inheritance is something your family passes on to you. Holy people means people who belong to God.

33I never wanted anyone's silver or gold or clothing.

I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

NoteSilver and gold were the money people used then. Coins were made out of them.

34You know that I worked with these hands of mine. I paid for what I needed, and for my friends too.

Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

NotePaul made tents to earn his money. He did not ask the churches to pay him.

35I showed you how to live. Work hard like this, and help people who are weak. Remember what the Lord Jesus said: you are happier when you give than when you get.

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

NoteThese words of Jesus are not written down anywhere else. His friends remembered him saying them.

36When Paul finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.

And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

NoteKneeling down was a way of showing you meant your prayer.

37They all cried hard. They put their arms around Paul and kissed him.

And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,

NoteA kiss on the cheek was a normal goodbye then. It was like a hug today.

38One thing made them saddest of all. Paul had said they would never see his face again. Then they walked with him to the ship.

Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

1We said goodbye to our friends and sailed away. We sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we came to Rhodes, and then to Patara.

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:

NoteCos and Rhodes are islands in the sea. Patara was a town on the shore. Ships stopped at these places to rest and trade.

2There we found a ship going across to Phoenicia. We got on board and sailed away.

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

NotePhoenicia was a land by the sea, north of Israel. It had busy harbors where ships came and went.

3We saw the island of Cyprus and passed by it on our left. We sailed on to Syria and landed at the city of Tyre. The ship had to unload its cargo there.

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.

NoteCyprus is a big island in that sea. Tyre was a busy harbor city in the land of Syria. Cargo means the goods a ship carries to sell.

4We looked for the followers of Jesus in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through God's Spirit, they kept telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

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

NoteGod's Spirit means God himself, close to people and speaking to them.

5When our week there was over, we started out again. All the followers walked with us out of the city. Their wives and children came too. We knelt down on the beach and prayed together.

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.

6We said goodbye to each other. Then we got on the ship, and they went back home.

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

7We finished our boat trip from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais. We said hello to the believers there and stayed with them one day.

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

NotePtolemais was another harbor city on the coast.

8The next day we left and came to Caesarea. We stayed at the house of Philip, who told people the good news about Jesus. He was one of the seven men the church had chosen to help.

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.

NoteCaesarea was a large city by the sea. The Roman rulers lived there.

9Philip had four daughters who were not married. They were prophets, which means they told people messages from God.

And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

10We stayed there several days. Then a prophet named Agabus came down from the land of Judea.

And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

NoteJudea was the land around Jerusalem.

11Agabus came to us and took Paul's belt. He tied up his own hands and feet with it. He said, "The Holy Spirit says this. The Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man who owns this belt like this. They will hand him over to people who are not Jewish."

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.

NoteBack then a belt was a long strip of cloth. People wrapped it around the waist. It was long enough to tie someone's hands. Prophets sometimes acted out a message so people could see it, not just hear it.

12When we heard this, we begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. The people who lived there begged him too.

And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13Paul answered, "Why are you crying? You are breaking my heart. I am ready to be tied up. I am even ready to die in Jerusalem for the Lord Jesus."

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.

14Paul would not change his mind. So we stopped asking. We said, "Let the Lord do what he wants."

And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

15After that we packed our bags and started for Jerusalem.

And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.

16Some of the followers from Caesarea came with us. They brought us to the house of a man named Mnason, from the island of Cyprus. He had followed Jesus since the early days, and we stayed at his home.

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.

17When we got to Jerusalem, the believers were happy to see us and welcomed us.

And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18The next day Paul went with us to see James. All the leaders of the church were there.

And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

NoteJames was the main leader of the church in Jerusalem.

19Paul said hello to them. Then he told them, one thing at a time, what God had done through his work among people who were not Jewish.

And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul, "Brother, you can see that many thousands of Jews now believe in Jesus. And they all care deeply about God's law.

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:

NoteGod's law means the rules God gave through Moses long ago. They told Jewish people how to live and how to worship.

21"People have told them that you teach Jews living in other countries to turn away from Moses. They say you tell them not to circumcise their children or keep our old customs.

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.

NoteMoses was the leader who brought God's laws to the Jewish people long ago. To circumcise a baby boy was to cut off a small bit of skin. It was a sign that he belonged to God's people.

22"So what should we do? They will surely hear that you have come.

What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

23"Do what we tell you. Four men here have made a special promise to God.

Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;

NoteThis promise lasted for a set time. During it, a person did not cut his hair. At the end he brought gifts to God at the temple.

24"Take these men with you. Go through the washing ceremony with them, and pay what it costs. Then they can shave their heads. Everyone will see that the stories about you are not true. They will see that you keep God's law too.

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.

NoteThe washing ceremony made a person ready to enter the temple. Shaving the head showed the promise was finished. The gifts cost money, so paying for the men was a kind thing to do.

25"As for people who are not Jewish and believe in Jesus, we already sent them a letter. We told them to stay away from food that was offered to idols. They should also stay away from blood, from meat of animals that were choked, and from wrong kinds of sex."

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.

NoteIdols are statues that people prayed to as gods. Jewish rules said not to eat meat with the blood still in it. An animal that is choked still has its blood inside.

26The next day Paul took the men and went through the washing ceremony with them. Then he went into the temple. He let people know what day the ceremony would be finished. On that day a gift would be offered for each man.

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.

NoteThe temple was the great building in Jerusalem where Jews worshiped God. Priests were the men who helped people worship there. An offering was a gift, often an animal, given to God at the temple.