---
title: "Acts 21 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/acts/21/
description: "Paul goes up to Jerusalem. He is apprehended by the Jews in the temple. Acts 21 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Acts 21

Acts 21 is chapter 21 of 28 in the Acts of the Apostles. Here are all 40 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> Paul goes up to Jerusalem. He is apprehended by the Jews in the temple.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Acts 21 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. And after these things had happened, having reluctantly parted from them, we sailed a direct course, arriving at Cos, and on following the day at Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
2. And when we had found a ship sailing across to Phoenicia, climbing aboard, we set sail.
3. Then, after we had caught sight of Cyprus, keeping it to the left, we sailed on to Syria, and we arrived at Tyre. For the ship was going to unload its cargo there.
4. Then, having found the disciples, we lodged there for seven days. And they were saying to Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5. And when the days were completed, setting out, we went on; and they all accompanied us with their wives and children, until we were outside of the city. And we kneeled down at the shore and prayed.
6. And when we had said farewell to one another, we climbed aboard the ship. And they returned to their own.
7. Yet truly, having completed our journey by boat from Tyre, we descended to Ptolemais. And greeting the brothers, we lodged with them for one day.
8. Then, after setting out the next day, we arrived at Caesarea. And upon entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.
9. Now this man had four daughters, virgins, who were prophesying.
10. And while we were delayed for some days, a certain prophet from Judea, named Agabus, arrived.
11. And he, when he had come to us, took Paul’s belt, and binding his own feet and hands, he said: “Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose belt this is, the Jews will bind in this way at Jerusalem. And they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”
12. And when we had heard this, both we and those who were from that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13. Then Paul responded by saying: “What do you accomplish by weeping and afflicting my heart? For I am prepared, not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14. And since we were not able to persuade him, we quieted, saying: “May the will of the Lord be done.”
15. Then, after those days, having made preparations, we ascended to Jerusalem.
16. Now some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing with them a certain Cypriot named Mnason, a very old disciple, whose guests we would be.
17. And when we had arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us willingly.
18. Then, on the following day, Paul entered with us to James. And all the elders were assembled.
19. And when he had greeted them, he explained each thing that God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20. And they, upon hearing it, magnified God and said to him: “You understand, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.
21. Now they have heard about you, that you are teaching those Jews who are among the Gentiles to withdraw from Moses, telling them that they should not circumcise their sons, nor act according to custom.
22. What is next? The multitude ought to be convened. For they will hear that you have arrived.
23. Therefore, do this thing that we ask of you: We have four men, who are under a vow.
24. Take these and sanctify yourself with them, and require them to shave their heads. And then everyone will know that the things that they have heard about you are false, but that you yourself walk in keeping with the law.
25. But, about those Gentiles who have believed, we have written a judgment that they should keep themselves from what has been immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication.”
26. Then Paul, taking the men on the next day, was purified with them, and he entered the temple, announcing the process of the days of purification, until an oblation would be offered on behalf of each one of them.
27. But when the seven days were reaching completion, those Jews who were from Asia, when they had seen him in the temple, incited all the people, and they laid hands on him, crying out:
28. “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching, everyone, everywhere, against the people and the law and this place. Furthermore, he has even brought Gentiles into the temple, and he has violated this holy place.”
29. (For they had seen Trophimus, an Ephesian, in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)
30. And the entire city was stirred up. And it happened that the people ran together. And apprehending Paul, they dragged him outside of the temple. And immediately the doors were closed.
31. Then, as they were seeking to kill him, it was reported to the tribune of the cohort: “All Jerusalem is in confusion.”
32. And so, immediately taking soldiers and centurions, he rushed down to them. And when they had seen the tribune and the soldiers, they ceased to strike Paul.
33. Then the tribune, drawing near, apprehended him and ordered that he be bound with two chains. And he was asking who he was and what he had done.
34. Then they were crying out various things within the crowd. And since he could not understand anything clearly because of the noise, he ordered him to be brought into the fortress.
35. And when he had arrived at the stairs, it happened that he was carried up by the soldiers, because of the threat of violence from the people.
36. For the multitude of the people were following and crying out, “Take him away!”
37. And as Paul was beginning to be brought into the fortress, he said to the tribune, “Is it permissible for me to say something to you?” And he said, “You know Greek?
38. So then, are you not that Egyptian who before these days incited a rebellion and led out into the desert four thousand murderous men?”
39. But Paul said to him: “I am a man, indeed a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a well-known city. So I petition you, permit me to speak to the people.”
40. And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned with his hand to the people. And when a great silence occurred, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:

## Acts 21 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Cum autem factum esset ut navigaremus abstracti ab eis, recto cursu venimus Coum, et sequenti die Rhodum, et inde Pataram.
2. Et cum invenissemus navem transfretantem in Phœnicen, ascendentes navigavimus.
3. Cum apparuissemus autem Cypro, relinquentes eam ad sinistram, navigavimus in Syriam, et venimus Tyrum: ibi enim navis expositura erat onus.
4. Inventis autem discipulis, mansimus ibi diebus septem: qui Paulo dicebant per Spiritum ne ascenderet Jerosolymam.
5. Et expletis diebus, profecti ibamus, deducentibus nos omnibus cum uxoribus et filiis usque foras civitatem: et positis genibus in littore, oravimus.
6. Et cum valefecissemus invicem, ascendimus navem: illi autem redierunt in sua.
7. Nos vero navigatione expleta a Tyro descendimus Ptolemaidam: et salutatis fratribus, mansimus die una apud illos.
8. Alia autem die profecti, venimus Cæsaream. Et intrantes domum Philippi evangelistæ, qui erat unus de septem, mansimus apud eum.
9. Huic autem erant quatuor filiæ virgines prophetantes.
10. Et cum moraremur per dies aliquot, supervenit quidam a Judæa propheta, nomine Agabus.
11. Is cum venisset ad nos, tulit zonam Pauli: et alligans sibi pedes et manus, dixit: Hæc dicit Spiritus Sanctus: Virum, cujus est zona hæc, sic alligabunt in Jerusalem Judæi, et tradent in manus gentium.
12. Quod cum audissemus, rogabamus nos, et qui loci illius erant, ne ascenderet Jerosolymam.
13. Tunc respondit Paulus, et dixit: Quid facitis flentes, et affligentes cor meum? Ego enim non solum alligari, sed et mori in Jerusalem paratus sum propter nomen Domini Jesu.
14. Et cum ei suadere non possemus, quievimus, dicentes: Domini voluntas fiat.
15. Post dies autem istos, præparati ascendebamus in Jerusalem.
16. Venerunt autem et ex discipulis a Cæsarea nobiscum, adducentes secum apud quem hospitaremur Mnasonem quemdam Cyprium, antiquum discipulum.
17. Et cum venissemus Jerosolymam, libenter exceperunt nos fratres.
18. Sequenti autem die introibat Paulus nobiscum ad Jacobum, omnesque collecti sunt seniores.
19. Quos cum salutasset, narrabat per singula quæ Deus fecisset in gentibus per ministerium ipsius.
20. At illi cum audissent, magnificabant Deum, dixeruntque ei: Vides, frater, quot millia sunt in Judæis qui crediderunt, et omnes æmulatores sunt legis.
21. Audierunt autem de te quia discessionem doceas a Moyse eorum qui per gentes sunt Judæorum, dicens non debere eos circumcidere filios suos, neque secundum consuetudinem ingredi.
22. Quid ergo est? utique oportet convenire multitudinem: audient enim te supervenisse.
23. Hoc ergo fac quod tibi dicimus. Sunt nobis viri quatuor, votum habentes super se.
24. His assumptis, sanctifica te cum illis, et impende in illis ut radant capita: et scient omnes quia quæ de te audierunt, falsa sunt, sed ambulas et ipse custodiens legem.
25. De his autem qui crediderunt ex gentibus, nos scripsimus judicantes ut abstineant se ab idolis immolato, et sanguine, et suffocato, et fornicatione.
26. Tunc Paulus, assumptis viris, postera die purificatus cum illis intravit in templum, annuntians expletionem dierum purificationis, donec offerretur pro unoquoque eorum oblatio.
27. Dum autem septem dies consummarentur, hi qui de Asia erant Judæi, cum vidissent eum in templo, concitaverunt omnem populum, et injecerunt ei manus, clamantes:
28. Viri Israëlitæ, adjuvate: hic est homo qui adversus populum, et legem, et locum hunc, omnes ubique docens, insuper et gentiles induxit in templum, et violavit sanctum locum istum.
29. Viderant enim Trophimum Ephesium in civitate cum ipso, quem æstimaverunt quoniam in templum introduxisset Paulus.
30. Commotaque est civitas tota, et facta est concursio populi. Et apprehendentes Paulum, trahebant eum extra templum: et statim clausæ sunt januæ.
31. Quærentibus autem eum occidere, nuntiatum est tribuno cohortis quia tota confunditur Jerusalem.
32. Qui statim, assumptis militibus et centurionibus, decurrit ad illos. Qui cum vidissent tribunum et milites, cessaverunt percutere Paulum.
33. Tunc accedens tribunus apprehendit eum, et jussit eum alligari catenis duabus: et interrogabat quis esset, et quid fecisset.
34. Alii autem aliud clamabant in turba. Et cum non posset certum cognoscere præ tumultu, jussit duci eum in castra.
35. Et cum venisset ad gradus, contigit ut portaretur a militibus propter vim populi.
36. Sequebatur enim multitudo populi, clamans: Tolle eum.
37. Et cum cœpisset induci in castra Paulus, dicit tribuno: Si licet mihi loqui aliquid ad te? Qui dixit: Græce nosti?
38. nonne tu es Ægyptius, qui ante hos dies tumultum concitasti, et eduxisti in desertum quatuor millia virorum sicariorum?
39. Et dixit ad eum Paulus: Ego homo sum quidem Judæus a Tarso Ciliciæ, non ignotæ civitatis municeps. Rogo autem te, permitte mihi loqui ad populum.
40. Et cum ille permisisset, Paulus stans in gradibus annuit manu ad plebem, et magno silentio facto, allocutus est lingua hebræa, dicens:

## Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph numbers and the Catechism's own section headings (never quoted); text at vatican.va.
- CCC ¶ 2636: Prayer of Intercession ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 595: Jesus Died Crucified ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2102: "Him Only Shall You Serve" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 8: “The evangelist” … That is, the preacher of the gospel; the same that before converted the Samaritans, and baptized the eunuch, chap. 8., being one of the first seven deacons.
- Verse 24: The law, though now no longer obligatory, was for a time observed by the Christian Jews: to bury, as it were, the synagogue with honour.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).