Acts 21:15 kjv
And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:15 nkjv
And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:15 niv
After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:15 esv
After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:15 nlt
After this we packed our things and left for Jerusalem.
Acts 21 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 21:26 | Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them, entered into the temple, giving notice of the days of purification until the offering should be offered for every one of them. | Fulfillment of Mosaic Law obligations. |
| Romans 14:13 | Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. | Gentile practices concerning Jewish believers. |
| 1 Corinthians 9:20 | And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; | Paul's adaptive strategy for evangelism. |
| 1 Corinthians 9:21 | To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. | Flexibility in mission methods. |
| Galatians 5:13 | For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. | Love and service in Christian liberty. |
| Acts 18:18 | And when he had taken ship, he departed thence into Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila with him; having his hair cut off at Cenchrea: for he had a vow. | Paul observing vows previously. |
| Numbers 6:2-5 | Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall commit any very grievous sin offering himself willingly to dedicate himself unto the LORD; He shall separate himself unto the LORD, and abstain from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any raisin wine, nor eat grapes or dried grapes. All the days of his separation shall he eat no');//vine, from the kernel even to the husk, shall he not eat. During all the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is made of the product of the vine. (all the days of his separation he shall be holy unto the LORD.) | Definition and regulations of the Nazirite vow. |
| Numbers 6:13-17 | And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb without blemish of the year old for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb without blemish of the year old for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for a peace offering, And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings. And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering; And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: moreover the priest shall offer also their meat offering, and their drink offerings. | Ritual concluding the Nazirite vow. |
| Leviticus 27:2 | Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If a soul shall specially vow a vow of persons unto the LORD by thy valuations. | The nature of vows in the Old Testament. |
| 1 Corinthians 7:14 | For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. | Consideration for mixed faith households. |
| 2 Corinthians 11:30 | If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities. | Humility and boasting in weaknesses. |
| Romans 11:1-4 | I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have slain thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. | God's faithfulness to Israel. |
| Exodus 20:5 | Thou shalt not bow thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; | Prohibition of idolatry and its consequences. |
| Zechariah 8:20-23 | Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many peoples and the inhabitants of many nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. | Prophecy of nations coming to Israel's God. |
| John 10:16 | And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. | Unity of believers under Christ. |
| Ephesians 4:3 | Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Maintaining unity in the church. |
| Philippians 2:3 | Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. | Humility and esteeming others. |
| James 4:6 | But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. | The promise of grace to the humble. |
| Matthew 5:17 | Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. | Christ's fulfillment of the Law. |
Acts 21 verses
Acts 21 15 Meaning
The verse signifies a personal act of compliance and devotion to God's law as expressed through a specific ritual. It highlights Paul's willingness to adhere to the Nazirite vow, a practice deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, even amidst potential challenges and a growing Gentile mission. This act demonstrates his respect for Jewish customs and his desire to bridge the divide between Jewish and Gentile believers.
Acts 21 15 Context
In Acts chapter 21, Paul is on his final journey to Jerusalem, despite strong warnings from prophets and friends that he would face imprisonment and suffering. He arrives in Jerusalem, and James, the leader of the Jerusalem church, along with the elders, acknowledges the great work God has done among the Gentiles. However, they express concern about the accusations circulating against Paul – that he is teaching Jewish believers to forsake Moses and not to circumcise their children, or to walk in customs.
To counter these false reports and demonstrate his adherence to Jewish tradition, James proposes that Paul join four men who are under a Nazirite vow. By participating in the purification rites with them, Paul would show all Israel that the rumors about him abandoning the Law of Moses were untrue. This is the immediate context for verse 15, where Paul agrees to their plan.
Acts 21 15 Word Analysis
- And (καὶ - kai): A conjunction connecting clauses, showing progression.
- taking (ἀναλαβὼν - analabōn): Aorist participle from ἀναλαμβάνω (analambanō), meaning "to take up," "to receive," or "to take upon oneself." Here, it implies Paul took these men with him as a matter of responsibility or inclusion.
- them (ἐκείνους - ekeinous): Demonstrative pronoun referring to the four men previously mentioned.
- entered (εἰσῆλθεν - eiselthen): Aorist indicative verb from εἰσέρχομαι (eiserchomai), meaning "to go into" or "to enter." This marks the commencement of the action in the temple.
- into (εἰς - eis): Preposition indicating motion into a place.
- the (τὸ - to): Definite article.
- temple (ἱερὸν - hieron): Noun, the sacred place or sanctuary itself, often referring to the inner courts of the Jerusalem Temple.
- giving (ἀπαγγέλλων - apangellōn): Present participle from ἀπαγγέλλω (apangellō), meaning "to announce," "to report," or "to declare." It signifies the ongoing action of making known.
- notice (δηλῶν - dēlōn): Present participle from δηλόω (dēloō), meaning "to make clear," "to show," or "to indicate." This emphasizes clarity in their declaration.
- of (τῶν - tōn): Genitive article, indicating possession or relationship.
- the (ἡμερῶν - hēmerōn): Genitive plural of ἡμέρα (hēmera), meaning "days."
- days (καθαρărilor - katharismou): Genitive singular from καθαρισμός (katharismos), meaning "purification" or "cleansing." This refers to the specific days of ritual purification.
- of (τῶν - tōn): Genitive article.
- purification (εὐχῆς - euchēs): Genitive singular from εὐχή (euchē), meaning "vow" or "prayer." In this context, it refers to the period associated with fulfilling a vow, which often included purification rites. This is a key word indicating the Nazirite vow itself.
- until (ἕως - heōs): Conjunction meaning "until" or "up to the time that."
- the (προσενεχθῇ - prosenekthē): Aorist subjunctive passive verb from προσφέρω (prospherō), meaning "to offer." This denotes the offering that would be made for each of them.
- offering (ὑπὲρ ἑνὸς ἑκάστου - huper henos hekastou): "For each one." Indicates that specific sacrifices were to be offered on behalf of each individual who had taken the vow.
Word Group Analysis:
- "taking them...entered into the temple": This signifies a conscious and deliberate action by Paul to align himself with a recognized Jewish religious practice. His joining them is not passive; he actively takes them, implying he assumes responsibility or association with their act of piety.
- "giving notice of the days of purification until the offering should be offered": This phrase highlights the communicative and formal aspect of fulfilling a vow. It wasn't a private act but a public declaration of intent and adherence to the established procedure for completing a Nazirite vow. The purpose of the "giving notice" was to ensure that others in the temple recognized their observance and that the subsequent sacrifices would be properly presented for each individual.
Acts 21 15 Bonus Section
The Nazirite vow, as detailed in Numbers 6, was a special consecration to God involving abstention from wine, not cutting hair, and avoiding contact with the dead. The fulfillment of such a vow typically involved significant sacrifices and a public presentation in the temple. Paul's participation indicates he either had previously taken such a vow or was willing to join those who had to show his commitment to the Law’s requirements for believers. Scholars note that voluntary vows were a significant aspect of Jewish piety and were respected within the community. This action also foreshadows the ongoing tension and theological discussions regarding the extent to which Gentile believers should adhere to Mosaic Law, a theme extensively explored in the book of Acts and Paul’s letters.
Acts 21 15 Commentary
Paul's decision to undergo purification with the four men is a powerful demonstration of his commitment to both the Gospel and to cultural sensitivity. He recognized the deep reverence for the Law among many Jewish believers and sought to avoid unnecessarily offending their consciences. This act isn't about Paul seeking to earn salvation through works, as salvation by grace through faith in Christ is the bedrock of his ministry. Instead, it's about demonstrating respect for the heritage and practices of his people and reassuring them that he did not devalue their traditions. His willingness to engage in this rigorous purification ritual underscores his desire to build bridges and to make the Gospel accessible to all, Jew and Gentile alike. It reflects the principle of "becoming all things to all people" (1 Cor. 9:22) for the sake of the Gospel's spread, without compromising its essential truths. This was a strategic move to pacify potential unrest and to maintain his integrity in the eyes of the Jerusalem leadership.