17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, (A)the brothers and sisters received us gladly. 18 And the following day Paul went in with us to [a](B)James, and all (C)the elders were present. 19 After he had greeted them, he (D)began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his (E)ministry. 20 And when they heard about them, they began (F)glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many [b]thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all (G)zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are (H)teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them (I)not to circumcise their children nor to [c]walk according to (J)the customs. 22 So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Therefore, do [d]as we tell you: we have four men who (K)have a [e]vow upon themselves; 24 take them along and (L)purify yourself together with them, and [f]pay their expenses so that they may (M)shave their [g]heads; and then everyone will know that there is nothing to what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also conform, keeping the Law. 25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we sent a letter, (N)having decided that they should abstain from [h]meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and what is [i]strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul [j]took along the men, and the next day, after (O)purifying himself together with them, he (P)went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 21:18 Or Jacob
  2. Acts 21:20 Lit ten thousands
  3. Acts 21:21 I.e., observe or live by
  4. Acts 21:23 Lit this which we
  5. Acts 21:23 I.e., a sacred duty to fulfill
  6. Acts 21:24 Lit spend on them
  7. Acts 21:24 Lit head (a requirement of the vow)
  8. Acts 21:25 Lit the thing
  9. Acts 21:25 I.e., to retain the blood
  10. Acts 21:26 Or took along the men the next day, and after purifying himself

17 (A)And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to (B)James, and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, (C)he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles (D)through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all (E)zealous for the law; 21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 [a]What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may (F)shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, (G)we have written and decided [b]that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from [c]sexual immorality.”

Arrested in the Temple

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, (H)entered the temple (I)to announce the [d]expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 21:22 NU What then is to be done? They will certainly hear
  2. Acts 21:25 NU omits that they should observe no such thing, except
  3. Acts 21:25 fornication
  4. Acts 21:26 completion