Paul's Arrival in Jerusalem and the Temple Ritual
Acts 21:17-26
Acts.21.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Γενομενων: VERB,aor,mid,ptc,gen,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- εις: PREP
- Ιεροσολυμα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ασμενως: ADV
- απεδεξαντο: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 15:4 (verbal): Both describe arrival at Jerusalem and being welcomed by the church/apostles — a close narrative parallel in wording and situation.
- Acts 11:23 (verbal): On arriving at a community Barnabas 'was glad' and encouraged them — parallels the motif of arrival followed by glad reception and encouragement.
- Acts 28:15 (structural): Brothers from another place go out to meet the arriving travelers — a structural parallel of fellow believers greeting and accompanying visitors on the road to Jerusalem/Rome.
- Acts 9:27 (thematic): Barnabas receives and introduces Paul to the apostles upon his arrival in Jerusalem — another instance of a believer being received into the Jerusalem community.
- Luke 24:52-53 (thematic): The disciples return to Jerusalem with joy and praise after an appearance — thematically parallels arrival in Jerusalem marked by gladness and communal worship.
Alternative generated candidates
- When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly.
- When we reached Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.
Acts.21.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- επιουση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- εισηει: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Παυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- συν: PREP
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- προς: PREP
- Ιακωβον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- τε: CONJ
- παρεγενοντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- πρεσβυτεροι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 15:4-6 (structural): Another Jerusalem assembly where 'the apostles and elders' gather to consider a question; parallels the formal meeting-frame when Paul comes in to James and the elders are present.
- Galatians 2:1-10 (thematic): Paul's earlier visit to Jerusalem to meet the leading apostles including James; both passages describe consultation with Jerusalem leaders about the Gentile mission and recognition of Paul's ministry.
- Acts 9:26-28 (thematic): Paul's first arrival in Jerusalem where he sought to join the disciples and met the apostles—an earlier instance of Paul coming into the company of Jerusalem leaders, highlighting recurring meetings between Paul and Jerusalem authorities.
- Acts 21:17 (structural): Immediate narrative context: Paul arrives at Jerusalem and goes up to see the brothers; verse 21:18 continues this scene by specifying his meeting with James and the elders.
Alternative generated candidates
- On the following day Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.
- On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
Acts.21.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ασπασαμενος: PART,aor,mid,nom,sg,m
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- εξηγειτο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,sg
- καθ᾽εν: ADV
- εκαστον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- ων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- εποιησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- εθνεσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- δια: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- διακονιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 14:27 (verbal): Paul and Barnabas ‘reported what God had done’ and how he ‘opened a door of faith to the Gentiles’—very close wording and function (a report of Gentile ministry).
- Acts 15:4 (verbal): The apostles and elders in Jerusalem ‘reported’ or ‘recounted’ the things God had done among the Gentiles—parallels the act of informing Jerusalem about Gentile conversions.
- Galatians 2:2 (structural): Paul went to Jerusalem to ‘set forth’/‘present’ the gospel he preached among the Gentiles—similar purpose of reporting and vindicating his Gentile ministry to the Jerusalem leaders.
- Romans 15:18–19 (thematic): Paul summarizes his work among the Gentiles—God’s deeds through his ministry—providing a thematic parallel to declaring what God had done among the nations.
Alternative generated candidates
- After greeting them, he related, in order, what things God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.
- After he had greeted them, he recounted, one by one, what things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Acts.21.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- ακουσαντες: PTCP,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- εδοξαζον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ειπον: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- τε: CONJ
- αυτω·Θεωρεις: PRON,dat,sg,m
- αδελφε: NOUN,voc,sg,m
- ποσαι: ADJ,nom,pl,f
- μυριαδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- Ιουδαιοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- πεπιστευκοτων: PART,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- ζηλωται: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- νομου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- υπαρχουσιν·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Acts 2:41 (structural): Both verses report large numbers added to the community of believers in Jerusalem (Acts 2: about three thousand), paralleling Acts 21:20’s reference to ‘how many thousands’ of Jewish believers.
- Acts 4:4 (structural): Like Acts 21:20, Acts 4:4 emphasizes the substantial numerical growth of Jewish believers in Jerusalem (about five thousand men), reinforcing the picture of a large, law‑observant Jewish Christian population.
- Acts 15:5 (thematic): Shows the same concern with Jewish Christians insisting on observance of the Mosaic law (circumcision), paralleling Acts 21:20’s claim that the Jewish believers ‘are all zealous for the law.’
- Romans 10:2 (thematic): Paul’s remark that his compatriots ‘have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge’ echoes the theme of Jewish zeal for God and the law mentioned in Acts 21:20, contrasting zeal with correct understanding.
- Philippians 3:5-6 (thematic): Paul’s self‑description of former zeal as a Pharisee (circumcised, zealous for the law) parallels Acts 21:20’s characterization of Jewish believers as zealous for the law, highlighting the strong Jewish identity and legal commitment among early believers.
Alternative generated candidates
- When they heard it, they glorified God, and said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed; they are all zealous for the Law.
- When they heard it, they glorified God; and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.
Acts.21.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κατηχηθησαν: VERB,aor,pas,ind,3,pl
- δε: CONJ
- περι: PREP
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- οτι: CONJ
- αποστασιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- διδασκεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- απο: PREP
- Μωυσεως: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- κατα: PREP
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εθνη: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- παντας: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- Ιουδαιους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- λεγων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,m,sg
- μη: PART
- περιτεμνειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- τεκνα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- μηδε: CONJ
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- εθεσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- περιπατειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Acts 15:1-29 (structural): The Jerusalem Council addresses the same issue — whether Gentile converts must be circumcised or keep the Law — and issues a ruling to avoid imposing the full Mosaic yoke on Gentiles.
- Acts 10:28, 44-48 (allusion): Peter's acceptance of Gentiles (and the outpouring of the Spirit on them) exemplifies the claim that Gentile converts need not be circumcised or observe Jewish customs.
- Acts 21:20-25 (structural): Immediate context: Jerusalem leaders summarize reports about Gentile believers and propose actions to show Paul is not teaching abandonment of the Law, directly responding to the accusation in v.21.
- Galatians 2:3-5 (thematic): Paul recounts how Titus, a Gentile, was not compelled to be circumcised and how he resisted pressure to impose the Law on Gentile believers — the same controversy described in Acts 21:21.
- Galatians 5:2-6 (verbal): Paul argues that submitting to circumcision obliges one to keep the whole Law and undermines justification by faith, directly engaging the theological issue behind the accusation that Christians told Gentiles not to be circumcised.
Alternative generated candidates
- They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to live according to our customs.
- They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to our customs.
Acts.21.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- ουν: CONJ
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- παντως: ADV
- ακουσονται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- εληλυθας: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,sg
Parallels
- Acts 21:21 (verbal): Same scene and wording about others being told/reported about Paul (they have been told about you); both verses address fear that news about Paul’s actions/associations will spread among the Jews.
- Acts 21:28 (structural): Direct fulfillment of the warning in 21:22: Jews from Asia cry that Paul has brought Greeks into the temple, exactly the report the elders feared would be heard.
- Acts 21:30 (structural): Immediate consequence of the rumor described in 21:22 — the crowd seizes Paul and drags him out, showing how the mere report about his arrival provoked violent reaction.
- Acts 17:5 (thematic): Parallel pattern in Acts: reports/jealousy about Paul’s activity lead Jews to form a mob and stir up the city, illustrating the recurring consequence of hostile rumors when Paul arrives in a locality.
Alternative generated candidates
- What then? They will certainly hear that you have come.
- What, then? The assembly will certainly hear that you have come.
Acts.21.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ουν: CONJ
- ποιησον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- λεγομεν·εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl; VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- ανδρες: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- τεσσαρες: NUM,nom,pl,f
- ευχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- αφ᾽εαυτων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,reflexive
Parallels
- Acts 21:24-26 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation — these verses describe Paul joining the four men in purification and shaving his head to fulfill the vow mentioned in 21:23.
- Acts 18:18 (verbal): Paul earlier is said to have had his hair cut because of a vow (εὐχή), showing Paul’s prior practice of observing vows and providing a direct parallel to the vow‑context in 21:23.
- Numbers 6:1-21 (thematic): The Law’s regulations for the Nazirite (vow) — period of separation, uncut hair, and ritual termination in the temple — provide the background for the vow‑language and purification acts implied in Acts 21:23.
- Judges 13:5,7 (allusion): The account of Samson’s Nazirite status (no shaving of hair) parallels the social/religious expectations tied to vows and hair‑length that underlie the reference to men ‘having a vow’ in Acts 21:23.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have a vow upon them; take them and purify yourself with them and pay their expenses, so that they may have their heads shaved; and all will know there is nothing to the reports circulating about you, but that you yourself live in observance of the Law.
- Therefore do what we tell you: we have four men who are under a vow; take them and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads. Then all will know there is nothing to the things they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in orderly observance of the law.
Acts.21.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τουτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- παραλαβων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- αγνισθητι: VERB,aor,pass,imp,2,sg
- συν: PREP
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- και: CONJ
- δαπανησον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- επ᾽αυτοις: PREP,dat,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- ξυρησονται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- κεφαλην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- γνωσονται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,pl
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- κατηχηνται: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- περι: PREP
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- ουδεν: PRON,acc,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αλλα: CONJ
- στοιχεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- φυλασσων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- νομον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Numbers 6:1-21 (allusion): Law regulating the Nazarite vow, including the requirement to shave the head at the vow's completion—background for the shaving and purification in Acts 21:24.
- Acts 18:18 (verbal): Narrative statement that Paul had his head shaved at Cenchrea because of a vow—verbal and situational parallel to the shaving/vow language in Acts 21:24.
- Acts 21:23-26 (structural): Immediate context: James and the elders instruct Paul to join the men, be purified, and pay their expenses so the rumors about him will be dispelled—the same episode continued.
- Acts 21:21 (thematic): Reports that Paul is teaching Jews to forsake Moses; Acts 21:24's prescribed vow and public shaving are intended to rebut these accusations.
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 (thematic): Paul's stated practice of becoming 'as a Jew' to win Jews parallels his willingness in Acts 21 to observe Jewish rites to avoid scandal and advance the Gospel.
Alternative generated candidates
- As for the Gentiles who have believed, we sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.
- But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote and decided that they should not be troubled with anything as to food offered to idols, or with blood, or with things strangled, or with sexual immorality.
Acts.21.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- περι: PREP
- δε: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- πεπιστευκοτων: PART,gen,pl,m
- εθνων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- απεστειλαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- κριναντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- φυλασσεσθαι: INF,pres,mid/pass
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τε: CONJ
- ειδωλοθυτον: NOUN,acc,sg,neut
- και: CONJ
- αιμα: NOUN,nom,sg,neut
- και: CONJ
- πνικτον: ADJ,acc,sg,neut
- και: CONJ
- πορνειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,fem
Parallels
- Acts 15:20 (verbal): Part of the Jerusalem Council’s decision recommending that Gentile believers abstain from food sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and sexual immorality—the same four prohibitions echoed in Acts 21:25.
- Acts 15:29 (quotation): The wording of the council’s letter to Gentile believers: explicitly instructs abstention from 'things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood,' which Acts 21:25 repeats.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4-13 (thematic): Paul’s treatment of eating food offered to idols addresses the same issue (meat sacrificed to idols), but develops pastoral and theological principles (conscience, weaker brother) for Gentile believers.
- Leviticus 17:10-14 (thematic): Mosaic legislation forbidding the consumption of blood and prescribing how blood is to be handled; provides the Torah background for the apostolic prohibition against blood.
- Leviticus 18:6-23 (thematic): Collection of laws prohibiting various forms of sexual immorality (porneia); shows the Jewish legal/moral background informing the council’s prohibition of sexual immorality.
Alternative generated candidates
- For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to lay on them any greater burden than these necessary things.
- So it seemed good to us—and we have written it—to instruct them to abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourself from these, you will do well. Farewell.
Acts.21.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Παυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- παραλαβων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ανδρας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εχομενη: PART,pres,act,dat,sg,f
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- συν: PREP
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- αγνισθεις: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,sg,m
- εισηει: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ιερον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- διαγγελλων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εκπληρωσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ημερων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αγνισμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εως: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- προσηνεχθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- υπερ: PREP
- ενος: NUM,gen,sg,m
- εκαστου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- προσφορα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 21:23-24 (structural): Immediate context: James and the elders instruct Paul to join the men in purification and pay for their vows so Jews will know he keeps the law — directly explains the action described in v.26.
- Numbers 6:13-14 (structural): Law describing the completion of a Nazirite vow: when the days are fulfilled the man is to shave his head and offer specified sacrifices — the ritual background for the ‘days of purification’ and offerings mentioned in Acts 21:26.
- Acts 18:18 (thematic): Earlier incident where Paul has his hair cut at Cenchreae because of a vow; shows Paul’s previous observance of vow-related rites and parallels his participation in temple purification here.
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 (thematic): Paul’s practice of adapting to Jewish customs ‘to win Jews’ explains his willingness to undergo purification rites in the temple — motive and pastoral strategy behind the action in Acts 21:26.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Paul took the men the next day and purified himself with them; and entering the temple, he announced that the days of purification were completed, that offerings should be made for each of them.
- Then Paul took the men; and the next day, having purified himself with them, he entered the temple, announcing the completion of the days of purification until the offering had been made for each one.
When we came to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
After greeting them he related, in detail, all that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
When they heard it, they glorified God. Then they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed; and they are all zealous for the law.
They have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them neither to circumcise their children nor to walk according to our customs.
What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. So do what we tell you. There are four men who have a vow on them; take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads. Then all will know there is nothing in the things of which they were informed about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the law. But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have written and decided that they should abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.
Then Paul took the men, and the next day, being purified with them, he entered the temple to give notice of the completion of the days of purification and to offer the sacrifices for each of them.
When the days were ended and the offerings had been made, Paul returned from the temple; but some of the Asian Jews saw him and stirred up the crowd against him.