Acts 21:17-26

Evangelical Heritage Version

¹⁷ When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers gave us a warm welcome. ¹⁸ The next day, Paul went with us to see James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ After greeting them, he reported in detail each of the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. ²⁰ When they heard this, they praised God.^[a]

Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and all of them are zealous observers of the law. ²¹ They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, since you are telling them not to circumcise their children or follow our customs. ²² So what is to be done?^[b] They will certainly hear that you have come. ²³ So do what we are going to tell you.

“We have four men who have taken a vow. ²⁴ Take them with you, go through the ceremony of purification with them, and pay their expenses so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is nothing to the reports that have been made about you, but that you yourself are carefully following the law. ²⁵ As for the Gentiles who believe, we have sent them a letter about the resolution^[c] that they should avoid food sacrificed to idols, blood, the meat of strangled animals, and sexual immorality.”

²⁶ The next day, Paul took the men and went through the ceremony of purification with them. He entered the temple to announce the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.