1Depois de nos termos separado dos pastores de Éfeso, velejámos diretamente para Cós. No dia seguinte, chegámos a Rodes, prosseguindo para Pátara.2Ali, tomámos um navio que ia partir para a província da Fenícia.3Avistámos a ilha de Chipre, que deixámos à nossa esquerda, e desembarcámos no porto de Tiro, na Síria, onde o barco foi descarregado.4Entrámos então em contacto com os discípulos da terra, ficando com eles durante uma semana. Estes discípulos aconselharam Paulo, da parte do Espírito, a não se dirigir para Jerusalém.5No fim da semana, quando voltámos para bordo, todos os crentes, incluindo mulheres e crianças, acompanharam-nos para fora da cidade; fomos até à praia, onde orámos ajoelhados6e nos despedimos. Depois embarcámos e eles voltaram para casa.7A paragem seguinte, depois de sairmos de Tiro, foi Ptolemaida, onde saudámos os crentes, demorando-nos junto deles, porém, só um dia.8Seguimos então para Cesareia e ficámos em casa de Filipe, o evangelista, um dos primeiros sete diáconos.9Ele tinha quatro filhas solteiras que possuíam o dom da profecia.10Durante a nossa estada de vários dias, fomos visitados por um profeta chamado Ágabo, vindo da Judeia.11Dirigindo-se a nós, pegou no cinto de Paulo, amarrou os seus próprios pés e mãos com ele e disse: “Assim diz o Espírito Santo: ‘O homem a quem este cinto pertence será semelhantemente amarrado pelos judeus em Jerusalém e entregue aos gentios.’ ”12Ao ouvirmos isto, todos nós, os crentes locais e os companheiros de Paulo, pedimos ao apóstolo que não continuasse viagem para Jerusalém.13Mas ele respondeu: “Para que é todo este pranto? Magoam-me o coração, pois estou pronto não só a ser amarrado como também a morrer em Jerusalém pelo nome do Senhor Jesus.”14Quando não havia dúvidas de que era impossível desviar Paulo da sua decisão, desistimos e dissemos: “Faça-se a vontade do Senhor!”
Chegada de Paulo a Jerusalém
15Assim, passado pouco tempo, juntámos a bagagem e partimos para Jerusalém.16Alguns discípulos de Cesareia acompanharam-nos e levaram-nos à casa de Mnasom, natural de Chipre e um dos primeiros discípulos.17E todos os irmãos em Jerusalém nos acolheram cordialmente.18No segundo dia, Paulo levou-nos consigo para nos encontrarmos com Tiago e com os anciãos da igreja de Jerusalém.19Trocadas saudações, Paulo contou as muitas coisas que Deus fizera entre os gentios através do seu trabalho.20Eles glorificaram Deus, mas disseram: “Sabes, irmão, quantos milhares de judeus creram também, e todos eles observam zelosamente a Lei.21Eles foram informados de que ensinas todos os judeus que vivem no meio dos gentios a afastarem-se da Lei de Moisés, instruindo-os a não circuncidarem os filhos e a não seguirem os costumes judaicos.22O que vamos fazer? Sem dúvida que lhes constará que estás de volta.23Faz então o que te estamos a dizer: temos aqui quatro homens que se preparam para rapar a cabeça e fazer um voto.24Vai com eles ao templo, rapa também a cabeça e paga para que a deles também seja rapada. Assim, todos ficarão a saber que não é verdade o que andam a dizer de ti e que respeitas a Lei.25Quanto aos convertidos oriundos dos gentios, comunicamos-lhe a nossa decisão: que se abstenham das carnes sacrificadas aos ídolos, do sangue, da carne não sangrada de animais estrangulados e da imoralidade sexual.”26No dia seguinte, Paulo foi com os tais homens ao templo para a referida cerimónia, anunciando assim publicamente o cumprimento dos dias de purificação até que fosse levantada a oferta a favor de cada um deles.
Paulo é preso
27Os sete dias tinham quase acabado, quando alguns judeus da província da Ásia o viram no templo e, incitando a multidão contra ele, agarraram-no,28gritando: “Gente de Israel, venham cá todos! É este o homem que ensina toda a gente em toda a parte contra o nosso povo, contra a Lei e este lugar. Chegou a introduzir gentios no templo e contaminou este lugar santo!”29(É que, naquele mesmo dia, tinham-no visto na cidade com Trófimo, gentio de Éfeso, julgando que Paulo o tivesse levado ao templo.)30Toda a população da cidade ficou alvoroçada com estas acusações e juntou-se uma multidão. Paulo foi arrastado para fora do templo, cujos portões logo se fecharam.31Enquanto procuravam matá-lo, o comandante da guarnição romana foi informado de que toda a Jerusalém estava agitada.32Imediatamente mandou aos seus soldados e oficiais que saíssem e ele próprio veio verificar o que se passava. Ao ver que as tropas se aproximavam, a multidão parou de espancar Paulo.33O comandante prendeu-o, mandou que o acorrentassem com cadeias dobradas e perguntou à multidão quem era e o que fizera.34No meio da multidão, uns gritavam uma coisa, outros outra. Vendo que, naquele tumulto e confusão, não conseguia entender nada, ordenou que o levassem para a fortaleza.35Ao chegarem às escadas, a multidão mostrou-se tão violenta que os soldados colocaram Paulo aos ombros para o proteger,36enquanto o povo seguia atrás, gritando: “Matem-no!”
Paulo fala à multidão
37Ao ser levado para dentro, Paulo perguntou ao comandante: “Posso dizer-te uma coisa?” “Sabes grego?”, perguntou, por sua vez, o comandante.38“Não és aquele egípcio que chefiou a revolta há uns tempos e levou consigo 4000 terroristas para o deserto?”39“Não!”, respondeu Paulo. “Sou judeu de Tarso, na Cilícia, uma cidade bastante importante, e peço autorização para falar a esta gente.”40O comandante concordou. Paulo de pé, nos degraus, fez um gesto ao povo para que se acalmasse. Em breve houve silêncio e Paulo disse, em hebraico, o seguinte:
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] (At 16:10; At 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. (At 20:23; At 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 (At 20:36; At 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. (Jo 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. (At 6:5; At 8:5; Ef 4:11; 2 Tm 4:5)9He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. (Lc 2:36; At 2:17; At 13:1; 1 Co 11:5)10While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. (At 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 Sm 15:27; 1 Rs 11:30; Is 20:3; Jr 13:1; Jr 27:2; Mt 20:19; At 9:16; At 20:23; At 21:31; At 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.” (At 5:41; At 15:26; At 20:24; At 21:12; Rm 8:36; 2 Co 4:16; 2 Co 12:10; Fp 2:17)14And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (Rt 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. (At 15:4; At 21:7)18On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. (At 11:30; At 12:17)19After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. (At 1:17; At 14:27; Rm 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, (At 11:18; At 22:3; Rm 10:2; Gl 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. (Mc 7:5; At 6:14; At 15:1; At 21:28; Rm 2:28; 1 Co 7:19; Gl 2:14; Tg 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; (At 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. (Jo 11:55; At 21:23; At 21:26; At 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.” (At 15:19; At 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; At 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, (At 13:50; At 21:26; At 24:18; At 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.” (At 6:13; At 21:21; At 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. (At 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 Rs 11:15; At 26:21)31And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. (At 10:1; At 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. (At 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. (At 12:6; At 20:23; At 21:11; At 22:29; At 26:29; At 28:20; Ef 6:20; 2 Tm 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. (At 19:32; At 22:24; At 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!” (Lc 23:18; Jo 19:15; At 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; At 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.” (At 9:11; At 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: (At 12:17; At 22:2; At 26:14)