Acts 21 – NIRV & GKY

New International Reader’s Version

Acts 21:1-40

Paul Continues His Journey to Jerusalem

1After we had torn ourselves away from the Ephesian elders, we headed out to sea. We sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes. From there we continued on to Patara. 2We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia. So we went on board and headed out to sea. 3We came near Cyprus and passed to the south of it. Then we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre. There our ship was supposed to unload. 4We looked for the believers there and stayed with them for seven days. The believers tried to keep Paul from going on to Jerusalem. They were led by the Holy Spirit to do this. 5When it was time to leave, we continued on our way. All the believers, including their whole families, went with us out of the city. There on the beach we got down on our knees to pray. 6We said goodbye to each other. Then we went on board the ship. And they returned home.

7Continuing on from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais. There we greeted the brothers and sisters. We stayed with them for a day. 8The next day we left and arrived at Caesarea. We stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist. He was one of the seven deacons. 9He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

10We stayed there several days. Then a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11He came over to us. Then he took Paul’s belt and tied his own hands and feet with it. He said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘This is how the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will tie up the owner of this belt. They will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”

12When we heard this, we all begged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13He asked, “Why are you crying? Why are you breaking my heart? I’m ready to be put in prison. In fact, I’m ready to die in Jerusalem for the Lord Jesus.” 14We couldn’t change his mind. So we gave up. We said, “May what the Lord wants to happen be done.”

15After this, we started on our way to Jerusalem. 16Some of the believers from Caesarea went with us. They brought us to Mnason’s home. We were supposed to stay there. Mnason was from Cyprus. He was one of the first believers.

Paul Arrives in Jerusalem

17When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters gave us a warm welcome. 18The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James. All the elders were there. 19Paul greeted them. Then he reported everything God had done among the Gentiles through his work.

20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they spoke to Paul. “Brother,” they said, “you see that thousands of Jews have become believers. All of them try very hard to obey the law. 21They have been told that you teach Jews to turn away from the Law of Moses. You teach this to the Jews who live among the Gentiles. They think that you teach those Jews not to circumcise their children. They think that you teach them to give up our Jewish ways. 22What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23So do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a promise to God. 24Take them with you. Join them in the Jewish practice that makes people pure and ‘clean.’ Pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that these reports about you are not true in any way. They will know that you yourself obey the law. 25We have already given written directions to the believers who are not Jews. They must not eat food that has been offered to statues of gods. They must not drink blood. They must not eat the meat of animals that have been choked to death. And they must not commit sexual sins.”

26The next day Paul took the men with him. They all made themselves pure and “clean” in the usual way. Then Paul went to the temple. There he reported the date when the days of cleansing would end. At that time the proper offering would be made for each of them.

Paul Is Arrested

27The seven days of cleansing were almost over. Some Jews from Asia Minor saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and grabbed Paul. 28“Fellow Israelites, help us!” they shouted. “This is the man who teaches everyone in all places against our people. He speaks against our law and against this holy place. Besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple. He has made this holy place ‘unclean.’ ” 29They said this because they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul. They thought Paul had brought him into the temple.

30The whole city was stirred up. People came running from all directions. They grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple. Right away the temple gates were shut. 31The people were trying to kill Paul. But news reached the commander of the Roman troops. He heard that people were making trouble in the whole city of Jerusalem. 32Right away he took some officers and soldiers with him. They ran down to the crowd. The people causing the trouble saw the commander and his soldiers. So they stopped beating Paul.

33The commander came up and arrested Paul. He ordered him to be held with two chains. Then he asked who Paul was and what he had done. 34Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another. But the commander couldn’t get the facts because of all the noise. So he ordered that Paul be taken into the fort. 35Paul reached the steps. But then the mob became so wild that he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”

Paul Speaks to the Crowd

37The soldiers were about to take Paul into the fort. Then he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38“Aren’t you the Egyptian who turned some of our people against their leaders? Didn’t you lead 4,000 terrorists out into the desert some time ago?”

39Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia. I am a citizen of an important city. Please let me speak to the people.”

40The commander told him he could. So Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When all of them were quiet, he spoke to them in the Aramaic language.

Holy Bible in Gĩkũyũ

Atũmwo 21:1-40

Paũlũ Gũthiĩ Jerusalemu

1Na rĩrĩ, thuutha wa gwĩtigithũkania nao, tũkĩhaica marikabu tũgĩthiĩ tũrũngĩrĩirie tũgĩkinya Kosi. Mũthenya ũcio ũngĩ warũmĩrĩire tũgĩkinya Rodo, na twoima kũu tũgĩthiĩ nginya Patara. 221:2 Atũm 11:19Tũgĩkora marikabu yaringaga ĩthiĩ Foinike, na ithuĩ tũkĩmĩhaica tũgĩthiĩ. 3Na rĩrĩa tuonire Kuporo, tũkĩhĩtũkĩra mwena wa gũthini wakuo, tũgĩthiĩ nginya Suriata. Tũgĩkinya Turo, kũrĩa marikabu iitũ yarutagĩrwo mĩrigo ĩrĩa yarĩ nayo. 421:4 Atũm 20:23Tũgĩkora arutwo kuo, na tũgĩikara nao mĩthenya mũgwanja. Nao arutwo acio na ũndũ wa kũmenyithio nĩ Roho Mũtheru magĩthaitha Paũlũ ndagathiĩ Jerusalemu. 521:5 Luk 22:41No ihinda riitũ rĩathira, tũkiuma kũu, tũgĩthiĩ na mbere na rũgendo rwitũ. Arutwo othe, hamwe na atumia ao na ciana ciao, magĩtuumagaria, magĩtũkinyia nja ya itũũra, na tũrĩ hau hũgũrũrũ-inĩ cia iria, tũgĩturia ndu, tũkĩhooya Ngai. 6Twaarĩkia kuganĩra ũhoro, tũkĩhaica marikabu, nao makĩinũka.

7Twoima Turo, tũgĩthiĩ na mbere na rũgendo rwitũ, tũgĩkinya Putolemai, tũkĩgeithia ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ kuo na tũgĩikarania nao mũthenya ũmwe. 821:8 Atũm 6:5; Aef 4:11Mũthenya ũyũ ũngĩ tũkiuma kuo, tũgĩthiĩ, tũgĩkinya Kaisarea, na tũgĩikara mũciĩ kwa Filipu ũrĩa warĩ mũhunjia ũmwe wa arĩa Mũgwanja. 9Nake nĩarĩ na airĩtu aake ana matarĩ ahiku, nao nĩmarathaga mohoro.

1021:10 Atũm 11:28Na thuutha wa gũkorwo kuo matukũ maingĩ-rĩ, gũgĩũka mũnabii wetagwo Agabo oimĩte Judea. 11Rĩrĩa aakinyire harĩ ithuĩ, akĩoya mũcibi wa Paũlũ, akĩwĩĩoha moko na magũrũ, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Roho Mũtheru aroiga atĩrĩ, ‘Ũũ nĩguo Ayahudi a Jerusalemu marĩoha mwene mũcibi ũyũ, na macooke mamũneane kũrĩ andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ.’ ”

12Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa twaiguire ũguo, ithuĩ na andũ arĩa angĩ maarĩ ho tũgĩthaitha Paũlũ ndakae kwambata Jerusalemu. 1321:13 Atũm 20:24Hĩndĩ ĩyo Paũlũ agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Nĩ kĩĩ kĩratũma mũrĩre, na mũkanjũraga ngoro? To kuohwo gwiki ndĩĩhaarĩirie, no nĩndĩhaarĩirie o na gũkua ndĩ kũu Jerusalemu nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩa Mwathani Jesũ.” 14Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa aaregire kũigua ũrĩa twamwĩraga-rĩ, tũgĩtigana nake tũkiuga atĩrĩ, “Wendo wa Mwathani ũrohinga.”

15Thuutha wa ũguo, tũkĩĩhaarĩria tũkĩambata Jerusalemu. 16Arutwo amwe a kuuma Kaisarea magĩthiĩ hamwe na ithuĩ, na magĩtũtwara kwa mũndũ wetagwo Mũnasoni, tũgaikare kuo. Aarĩ mũndũ woimĩte Kuporo, na aarĩ ũmwe wa arutwo arĩa a mbere.

Paũlũ Gũkinya Jerusalemu

1721:17 Atũm 15:4Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa twakinyire Jerusalemu, ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ magĩtwamũkĩra na gĩkeno. 18Mũthenya ũyũ ũngĩ Paũlũ, na andũ arĩa twarĩ nao tũgĩthiĩ kuona Jakubu, nao athuuri othe maarĩ ho. 1921:19 Atũm 14:27; Atũm 1:17Nake Paũlũ akĩmageithia na akĩmeera ũrĩa wothe Ngai eekĩire andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ agereire ũtungata-inĩ wake.

2021:20 Atũm 22:3Rĩrĩa maaiguire ũguo, makĩgooca Ngai. Magĩcooka makĩĩra Paũlũ atĩrĩ, “Mũrũ wa ithe witũ, nĩwonete ũrĩa Ayahudi ngiri nyingĩ metĩkĩtie, na othe marĩ na kĩyo gĩa kũhingia watho. 2121:21 1Akor 7:18, 19Nao nĩmamenyithĩtio atĩ nĩ ũrutaga Ayahudi othe arĩa matũũranagia na andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ atĩ magarũrũke matigane na watho wa Musa, ũkĩmeeraga matikaruithie ciana ciao na matigaikare kũringana na mĩtugo iitũ. 22Tũgwĩka atĩa? Hatirĩ ngaanja nĩmekũigua atĩ nĩũũkĩte. 2321:23 Atũm 18:18Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ĩka ũrĩa tũgũkwĩra. Tũrĩ na andũ ana mehĩtĩte mwĩhĩtwa. 24Thiĩ na andũ aya, ũgwatanĩre nao igongona-inĩ rĩao rĩa gwĩtheria, na ũmarĩhĩre mahũthĩro mao, nĩgeetha menjwo mĩtwe.21:24 Meetheragia na makenjwo mĩtwe kuonania kwĩhinga nĩ ũndũ wa mĩĩhĩtwa yao. Hĩndĩ ĩyo andũ othe nĩmekũmenya atĩ ũhoro ũrĩa maiguĩte ũgũkoniĩ ti wa ma, no atĩ wee mwene nĩwathĩkĩire watho. 2521:25 Atũm 15:20, 29Ha ũhoro wa andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ arĩa metĩkĩtie-rĩ, nĩtwamandĩkĩire, tũkĩmamenyithia itua riitũ, atĩ o metheeme kũrĩa irio iria irutĩirwo mĩhianano, na thakame, na nyama cia nyamũ cia gũitwo, o na ũmaraya.”

2621:26 Ndar 6:13-20Mũthenya ũyũ ũngĩ Paũlũ agĩthiĩ na andũ acio, na agĩĩtheria hamwe nao. Agĩcooka agĩthiĩ hekarũ-inĩ akamenyithanie rĩrĩa mĩthenya ya gwĩtheria ĩkaarĩka, na o ũmwe wao arutĩrwo igongona.

Paũlũ Kũnyiitwo

2721:27 Atũm 24:18Rĩrĩa matukũ macio mũgwanja maakuhĩrĩirie gũthira-rĩ, Ayahudi amwe moimĩte bũrũri wa Asia makĩona Paũlũ hekarũ-inĩ. Magĩthogotha kĩrĩndĩ gĩothe na makĩmũnyiita, 28makĩanagĩrĩra atĩrĩ, “Andũ a Isiraeli, tũteithiei! Mũndũ ũyũ nĩ we ũrutaga andũ kũndũ guothe ũhoro wa gũũkĩrĩra andũ aitũ, na watho witũ, na handũ haha. Na hamwe na ũguo-rĩ, nĩarehete Ayunani hekarũ-inĩ, agathaahia handũ haha hatheru.” 2921:29 Atũm 20:4(Nĩmonete Tirofimo ũrĩa Mũefeso marĩ na Paũlũ kũu itũũra-inĩ, no magĩĩciiria atĩ Paũlũ nĩamũtoonyetie hekarũ-inĩ.)

3021:30 Atũm 26:21Narĩo itũũra rĩothe rĩkĩambũrũrũka nao andũ magĩũka mahanyũkĩte moimĩte mĩena yothe. Makĩnyiita Paũlũ, makĩmũguucũrũria makĩmũruta hekarũ, na o hĩndĩ ĩyo ihingo ikĩhingwo. 31Na rĩrĩ, rĩrĩa maageragia kũmũũraga ũhoro ũgĩkinya harĩ mũnene wa mbũtũ ya thigari cia Roma atĩ itũũra rĩothe rĩa Jerusalemu rĩarĩ na ngũĩ. 3221:32 Atũm 23:27Nake o rĩmwe akĩoya anene na thigari magĩikũrũka harĩ kĩrĩndĩ matengʼerete. Rĩrĩa andũ acio maarutaga ngũĩ moonire mũnene ũcio na thigari ciake magĩtiga kũhũũra Paũlũ.

3321:33 Atũm 20:23; Atũm 21:11Mũnene ũcio wa thigari agĩũka akĩmũnyiita na agĩathana ohwo na mĩnyororo ĩĩrĩ. Agĩcooka akĩũria aarĩ ũ na nĩ atĩa ekĩte. 34Andũ amwe thĩinĩ wa kĩrĩndĩ maanagĩrĩra makoiga ũũ na arĩa angĩ makoiga ũũ; na tondũ mũnene ũcio wa thigari ndangĩamenyire ma ya ũhoro nĩ ũndũ wa mbugĩrĩrio, agĩathana Paũlũ ahingĩrwo nyũmba ya thigari. 35Hĩndĩ ĩrĩa Paũlũ aakinyire ngathĩ-inĩ kĩrĩndĩ kĩu gĩgĩthũka mũno o nginya Paũlũ agĩkuuo nĩ thigari. 3621:36 Luk 23:18; Atũm 22:22Kĩrĩndĩ kĩrĩa kĩamuumĩte thuutha kĩanagĩrĩra gĩkoiga atĩrĩ, “Mweheriei!”

Paũlũ Kwarĩria Kĩrĩndĩ

37Rĩrĩa thigari ciarĩ o hakuhĩ gũtoonyia Paũlũ nyũmba ya thigari-rĩ, akĩũria mũnene wacio atĩrĩ, “Nĩũkũnjĩtĩkĩria ngwĩre ũndũ?”

Nake mũnene ũcio akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Wee anga nĩwaragia Kĩyunani? 38Githĩ we tiwe Mũmisiri ũrĩa wambĩrĩirie ngũĩ hĩndĩ ĩmwe, na ũgĩtongoria itoi ngiri inya, mũkiumagara nacio mũgĩthiĩ werũ-inĩ?”

3921:39 Atũm 9:11Paũlũ akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Niĩ ndĩ Mũyahudi wa kuuma Tariso, bũrũri wa Kilikia, na itũũra rĩrĩa ndaciarĩirwo rĩrĩ igweta. Ndagũthaitha, reke njarĩrie andũ aya.”

4021:40 Atũm 12:17; Joh 5:2Paũlũ aarĩkia kũheo rũũtha nĩ mũnene ũcio wa thigari, akĩrũgama ngathĩ-inĩ agĩkiria kĩrĩndĩ kĩu na moko. Rĩrĩa kĩrĩndĩ gĩakirire, agĩkĩarĩria na rũthiomi rwa Kĩhibirania. Agĩkĩĩra atĩrĩ: