²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.^(A) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),^(B) so as to win those under the law.

³ Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.^(A)

¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit,^(A) you are not under the law.^(B)

²⁰ When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous^(A) for the law.^{(B) 21} They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,^(C) telling them not to circumcise their children^(D) or live according to our customs.^{(E) 22} What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, ²³ so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.^{(F) 24} Take these men, join in their purification rites^(G) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.^(H) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. ²⁵ As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”^(I)

²⁶ The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.^(J)

² As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue,^(A) and on three Sabbath^(B) days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,^{(C) 3} explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer^(D) and rise from the dead.^(E) “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,”^(F) he said.

Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law,^(A) are you not aware of what the law says?

⁵ to redeem^(A) those under the law, that we might receive adoption^(B) to sonship.^[a](C)

¹⁴ in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy^(A) and save^(B) some of them.

¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master,^(A) because you are not under the law,^(B) but under grace.^(C)

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(D) By no means!