ACT 21:17-26

Paulʼs Arrival at Jerusalem

17When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. [21:18] The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. [21:19] After greeting them, he reported one by one the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. [21:20] When they heard it, they glorified God. They said to him: "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous ones for the Law. [21:21] They have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles apostasy from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to walk by the customs. [21:22] What is to be done, then? They will certainly hear that you have come. [21:23] So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow. [21:24] Take these men and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads. And all will know that there is nothing to the things they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. [21:25] As for the Gentile believers, we sent a letter with our judgment that they should observe no such thing, except to guard themselves from what is sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality." [21:26] Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself together with them, he entered the temple, giving notice of the completion of the days of purification — until the offering was offered for each one of them.

In the world it was spoken into

In Acts 21:17-26, Paul arrives in Jerusalem, a city deeply entrenched in Second-Temple Jewish identity and Torah observance. The mention of 'myriads' of Jewish believers underscores the vast number of Jews who had embraced Jesus as Messiah while remaining zealous for the Law. This zeal was not merely religious enthusiasm but a fervent commitment to maintaining Jewish identity and purity in the face of Roman occupation and Hellenistic influence. The elders’ concern about Paul teaching 'apostasy' reflects the tension between Jewish believers who saw Torah observance as essential and Paul’s mission to Gentiles, which appeared to disregard certain Jewish customs. The charge of apostasy carried serious weight, implying rebellion against the covenant and communal identity. Paul’s willingness to participate in a Nazirite vow demonstrates his commitment to 'walking orderly' within Jewish practices, showing deference to the Jerusalem community while navigating the complexities of his Gentile mission. This passage highlights the fragile balance between Jewish identity and the emerging Christian movement.

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How other translations render this

ACT 21:17

KJV: And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
BSB: When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully.
Koinōnos: When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

ACT 21:18

KJV: And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
BSB: The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present.
Koinōnos: The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

ACT 21:19

KJV: And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
BSB: Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Koinōnos: After greeting them, he reported one by one the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

ACT 21:20

KJV: And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
BSB: When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.
Koinōnos: When they heard it, they glorified God. They said to him: "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous ones for the Law.

ACT 21:21

KJV: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
BSB: But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs.
Koinōnos: They have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles apostasy from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to walk by the customs.

ACT 21:22

KJV: What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
BSB: What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.
Koinōnos: What is to be done, then? They will certainly hear that you have come.

ACT 21:23

KJV: Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
BSB: Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow.
Koinōnos: So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow.

ACT 21:24

KJV: Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
BSB: Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.
Koinōnos: Take these men and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads. And all will know that there is nothing to the things they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.

ACT 21:25

KJV: As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
BSB: As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”
Koinōnos: As for the Gentile believers, we sent a letter with our judgment that they should observe no such thing, except to guard themselves from what is sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.

ACT 21:26

KJV: Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
BSB: So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.
Koinōnos: Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself together with them, he entered the temple, giving notice of the completion of the days of purification — until the offering was offered for each one of them.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 21:20

myriads:The word translated 'myriads' here refers to an extremely large, almost countless number, often used to describe ten thousands. It emphasizes the vast quantity of Jewish believers.
zealous ones:The term translated 'zealous ones' describes someone intensely devoted to a cause, often with a strong, even fierce, commitment to upholding traditions or beliefs.

ACT 21:21

apostasy:The word translated 'apostasy' means a deliberate and complete defection or rebellion, particularly in a religious sense, indicating a turning away from established faith or principles.

ACT 21:24

you walk orderly:The phrase 'you walk orderly' uses a word that literally means to be in a line or row, or to march in step, implying a disciplined and consistent adherence to a set of rules or customs.