od Biblica1Keď sme sa s ťažkým srdcom rozlúčili s bratmi z Efezu, nastúpili sme na loď a plavili sme sa priamo na ostrov Kós, na druhý deň na Rodos a odtiaľ do prístavu Patara.2Tam sme prestúpili na loď, ktorá sa plavila do Fenície.3Priblížili sme sa na dohľad k Cypru, ale nechali sme ho vľavo, a mierili sme k Sýrii. Pristáli sme v prístave Týrus, kde mala loď vyložiť náklad.4Vyhľadali sme tam miestnych kresťanov a strávili sme s nimi celý týždeň. Tí na pokyn Svätého Ducha varovali Pavla, aby necestoval do Jeruzalema.5Ale keď uplynulo sedem dní, znova sme sa vydali na cestu. Všetci, ženy aj deti, nás vyprevadili až za mesto. Na brehu sme si spoločne kľakli a modlili sa.6Potom sme sa rozlúčili, nastúpili sme na loď a oni sa vrátili domov.7Naša posledná zastávka bola v Ptolemaide, kde sme tiež pozdravili bratov, no zostali sme tam iba jeden deň.8Z Ptolemaidy sme šli ďalej do Cézarey. Tam sme bývali v dome evanjelistu Filipa, ktorý bol jedným zo siedmich diakonov.9Jeho štyri slobodné dcéry mali prorocký dar.10Za nášho pobytu zavítal tam jeden kresťan z Judska, Agabus, ktorý mal tiež prorocký dar.11Vzal Pavlov opasok, spútal si ním ruky aj nohy a povedal: „Duch Svätý mi ukázal, že majiteľa tohto opasku Židia v Jeruzaleme takto spútajú a vydajú pohanom.“12Keď sme to počuli, začali sme všetci, my aj tamojší bratia, prehovárať Pavla, aby nešiel do Jeruzalema.13Ale on nás napomenul: „Prečo plačete, tým mi iba väčšmi zraňujete srdce! Veď ja som odhodlaný dať sa v Jeruzaleme nielen spútať, ale aj zomrieť pre Pána Ježiša!“14Videli sme, že je márne ho prehovárať, a tak sme len povedali: „Nech sa stane Božia vôľa.“
Pavlov príchod do Jeruzalema
15Potom sme sa pripravili na cestu a vydali sme sa do Jeruzalema.16Na tomto poslednom pešom úseku cesty nás sprevádzali niektorí bratia z Cézarey a doviedli nás k Mnázonovi, ktorý pochádzal z Cypru a bol jedným z prvých kresťanov. Ochotne nám poskytol pohostinstvo.17Aj bratia z jeruzalemského zboru nás prijali veľmi srdečne.18Hneď na druhý deň sme boli všetci pozvaní k Jakubovi, a tu sa zišli aj všetci starší.19Pavol sa s nimi zvítal a potom podrobne vyrozprával, aké zázračné veci konal Boh jeho prostredníctvom medzi pohanmi. S radosťou ho vypočuli a oslavovali za to Boha.20Ale potom povedali Pavlovi: „Vieš, milý brat, aj tu tisícky Židov uverili v Krista, ale pritom naďalej horlivo dodržiavajú židovské zvyky a predpisy.21No o tebe sa povráva, že presviedčaš Židov, čo žijú medzi pohanmi, aby sa vzdali Mojžišovho zákona, nedávali obrezávať svojich synov a celkom zavrhli staré židovské obyčaje.22Čo teraz? Lebo určite sa dozvedia, že si prišiel.23Počuj, dáme ti jednu dobrú radu: Medzi nami sú štyria muži, ktorí sa zaviazali plniť nazarejský sľub.24Pridaj sa k nim, podrob sa očistnému obradu a zaplať za nich, čo je predpísané. Potom si budú môcť dať ostrihať hlavu. Takto by všetci videli, že si Zákon vážiš a žiješ podľa neho, a ohováračom by si tým zavrel ústa.25Pre obrátených pohanov však platí naše pôvodné rozhodnutie, ktoré sme vám kedysi dali písomne. Žiadame od nich, len aby zachovávali základné predpisy, a to: aby nejedli mäso obetované modlám, krv, ani mäso zo zadusených zvierat, a najmä aby sa vystríhali pohlavnej neviazanosti.“
Pavla zatknú v Jeruzaleme
26Pavol poslúchol ich radu a na druhý deň sa spolu s tými mužmi podrobil očistnému obradu. Potom šiel do chrámu a oznámil, kedy sa skončia očistné dni a že za každého z nich bude prinesená obeť.27Keď sa tých sedem dní končilo a Pavol zase s nimi prišiel do chrámu, aby ich obradne vyhlásili za čistých, spoznali ho židovskí pútnici z Malej Ázie. Poštvali proti nemu okolostojacich, chytili ho28a kričali: „Verní Izraeliti! Poďte sem! Tu máte toho odpadlíka! Všade hlása bludy a nič mu nie je sväté: ani naše vyvolenie, ani Zákon, ani chrám. Teraz sem dokonca priviedol pohanov, aby zneuctil toto sväté miesto.“29Predtým totiž zazreli v meste Pavla s Trofimom z Efezu a nazdávali sa, že ho Pavol priviedol do chrámu.30Vznikol obrovský rozruch a ľudia sa zbiehali zo všetkých strán. Medzitým vyviedli Pavla z vnútorného chrámového nádvoria a brány za ním hneď zavreli.31Už–už by ho boli zmlátili na smrť, no veliteľ rímskej posádky dostal hlásenie, že sa celý Jeruzalem búri,32a ihneď vyslal na nádvorie vojakov a dôstojníkov. Keď dav zazrel vojakov, zľakol sa a prestal Pavla biť.33Veliteľ sa nazdával, že on je pôvodcom rozruchu, dal ho zatknúť a spútať dvoma reťazami. Až potom začal vyšetrovať, kto je to a čo urobil.34Z davu každý vykrikoval čosi iné. Veliteľ videl, že sa nič rozumné nedozvie, preto dal Pavla odviesť do pevnosti.35Keď sa Pavol dostal ku schodom, dav doňho tak dorážal, že ho vojaci museli vziať na plecia a niesť.36Celý ten rozzúrený dav sa totiž hrnul za nimi a kričal: „Zabite ho!“37Kým ho odviedli do pevnosti, spýtal sa Pavol veliteľa: „Mohol by som ťa o niečo poprosiť?“ Veliteľ sa začudoval: „Ty vieš po grécky?38Ja som si myslel, že si ten Egypťan, čo sa nedávno pokúsil vyvolať povstanie a schováva sa niekde v púšti so štyrmi tisícmi rebelantov.“ –39„Nie,“ odpovedal Pavol, „som Žid z Tarzu v Cilícii, rímsky občan. Dovoľ mi, prosím, prehovoriť k tým ľuďom.“40Veliteľ súhlasil. Pavol si zastal hore na schodoch a zakýval rukou na znamenie, že chce hovoriť. Dav stíchol a Pavol začal po hebrejsky:
1And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.[1] (Sk 16,10; Sk 16,11)2And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.3When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.4And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. (Sk 20,23; Sk 21,11)5When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed (Sk 20,36; Sk 20,38)6and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.7When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers[2] and stayed with them for one day. (Jn 21,23)8On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. (Sk 6,5; Sk 8,5; Ef 4,11; 2 Tim 4,5)9He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. (Lk 2,36; Sk 2,17; Sk 13,1; 1 Kor 11,5)10While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. (Sk 11,28)11And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews[3] at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” (1 Sam 15,27; 1 Kr 11,30; Iz 20,3; Jer 13,1; Jer 27,2; Mt 20,19; Sk 9,16; Sk 20,23; Sk 21,31; Sk 21,33)12When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. (Mt 16,21)13Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Sk 5,41; Sk 15,26; Sk 20,24; Sk 21,12; Rim 8,36; 2 Kor 4,16; 2 Kor 12,10; Flp 2,17)14And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (Rút 1,18; Mt 6,10)15After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.16And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.
Paul Visits James
17When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. (Sk 15,4; Sk 21,7)18On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. (Sk 11,30; Sk 12,17)19After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. (Sk 1,17; Sk 14,27; Rim 15,18)20And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, (Sk 11,18; Sk 22,3; Rim 10,2; Gal 1,14)21and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. (Mk 7,5; Sk 6,14; Sk 15,1; Sk 21,28; Rim 2,28; 1 Kor 7,19; Gal 2,14; Jak 1,1)22What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.23Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; (Sk 18,18)24take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. (Jn 11,55; Sk 21,23; Sk 21,26; Sk 24,18)25But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled,[4] and from sexual immorality.” (Sk 15,19; Sk 15,29)26Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. (Nm 6,9; Nm 6,13; Sk 21,24)
Paul Arrested in the Temple
27When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, (Sk 13,50; Sk 21,26; Sk 24,18; Sk 26,21)28crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (Sk 6,13; Sk 21,21; Sk 24,6)29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. (Sk 20,4)30Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. (2 Kr 11,15; Sk 26,21)31And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. (Sk 10,1; Sk 21,30)32He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. (Sk 23,27)33Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. (Sk 12,6; Sk 20,23; Sk 21,11; Sk 22,29; Sk 26,29; Sk 28,20; Ef 6,20; 2 Tim 1,16)34Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. (Sk 19,32; Sk 22,24; Sk 23,10)35And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,36for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!” (Lk 23,18; Jn 19,15; Sk 22,22)
Paul Speaks to the People
37As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?38Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” (Mt 24,26; Sk 5,36)39Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” (Sk 9,11; Sk 22,3)40And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language,[5] saying: (Sk 12,17; Sk 22,2; Sk 26,14)