Acts 21:17

Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there;

For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.

But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.

which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

When they had arrived, and had gathered the assembly together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith to the nations.

Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.

All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.

A vision appeared to Paul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.”

but taking his leave of them, he said, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem, but I will return again to you if God wills.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.

The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”

but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you,

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another.

When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.

requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you.

Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.

I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

They will greet you, and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hand.

It came to pass that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.

Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it?

If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.

“Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”

The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”

All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.

He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn’t understand.

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,

Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.

The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.

But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat,

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the assembly, and went down to Antioch.

When he had determined to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him. When he had come, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;

Now after these things had ended, Paul determined in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships.”

When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly.

Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day.

As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.

Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you shall go.”

Now when some days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and greeted Festus.

When it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.

saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

Touching at Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

When we entered into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard, but Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established;

So as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.

through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.

and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles and sing to your name.”

For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,

whenever I travel to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.

But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

But I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia.

namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain,

so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.

to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ.

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”),

so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers;

Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. The Italians greet you.

Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed.

If anyone comes to you, and doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house, and don’t welcome him,

and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.”

Therefore “ ‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.