World English Bible · Under Rome
Acts 21
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When we had departed from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course to , and the next day to , and from there to . Having found a ship crossing over to , we went aboard and set sail. When we had come in sight of , leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to and landed at , for the ship was there to unload her cargo. Having found , we stayed there seven days. These said to through that he should not go up to . When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we . After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again. When we had finished the voyage from , we arrived at . We greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day. On the next day, we who were companions departed and came to . We entered into the house of , who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. As we stayed there some days, a certain named came down from . Coming to us and taking belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, " says: 'So the at will bind the man who owns this belt, and will him into the hands of the .'" When we heard these things, both we and the people of that place begged him not to go up to . Then answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking ? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to at for the name of ." When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, " will be done." After these days we took up our baggage and went up to . Some of from also went with us, bringing one of , an early , with whom we would stay. When we had come to , the brothers received us gladly. The day following, went in with us to ; and all the were present. When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which had worked among the through his ministry. They, when they heard it, glorified . They said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the of those who have , and they are all for . They have been informed about you, that you teach all the who are among the to forsake , telling them not to circumcise their children and not to walk after the customs. What then? must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a . Take them and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping . But concerning the who , we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from , from strangled things, and from sexual immorality." Then took the men, and the next day purified himself and went with them into , declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the was offered for every one of them. When the seven days were almost completed, the from , when they saw him in , stirred up all and laid hands on him, crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and , and this place. Moreover, he also brought into and has defiled this place!" For they had seen the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that had brought him into . All the city was moved and the people ran together. They seized and dragged him out of . Immediately the doors were shut. As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all was in an uproar. Immediately he took soldiers and and ran down to them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating . Then the commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done. Some shouted one thing and some another, among the . When he couldn't find out the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be brought into the barracks. When he came to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the of the ; for of the people followed after, crying out, "Away with him!" As was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, "May I speak to you?" He said, "Do you know ? Aren't you then the who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the four thousand men of the Assassins?" But said, "I am a from in , a citizen of no insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people." When he had given him permission, , standing on the stairs, beckoned with his hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the language, saying,
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.