Acts 21:22 kjv
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
Acts 21:22 nkjv
What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.
Acts 21:22 niv
What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come,
Acts 21:22 esv
What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.
Acts 21:22 nlt
What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.
Acts 21 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 15:5 | "...certain men from the party of the Pharisees who had believed rose up..." | Importance of Jewish believers |
| Acts 15:20 | "...write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood." | Jerusalem Council concessions |
| Acts 15:21 | "For from ancient generations Moses has in every city those who proclaim him, the seventh day is read in the synagogues." | Continuity of Mosaic Law teaching |
| Acts 21:20 | "And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, 'You see, brother, how many thousands there are of the Jews who have believed. All are zealous for the law.'" | Testimony of Paul's adherence |
| Romans 7:12 | "So then the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." | Sanctity of the Law |
| Romans 10:2 | "For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge." | Zealous but misguided belief |
| 1 Corinthians 7:18-20 | "Was anyone already circumcised when called? Let him not practice becoming uncircumcised. Was anyone called as an uncircumcised person? Let him remain so." | Maintaining status quo |
| Galatians 5:6 | "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but faith working through love." | Faith over ritual observance |
| Philippians 3:5 | "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee," | Paul's former zealous adherence |
| Deuteronomy 4:6 | "Keep them and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'" | Law as a sign of national wisdom |
| Exodus 19:5 | "'Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession from among all peoples...'" | Covenant and obedience |
| Matthew 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." | Jesus' affirmation of the Law |
| John 5:46 | "For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me." | Law pointing to Christ |
| Romans 2:25 | "For circumcision indeed is of value if you guard the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision." | Value of law within covenant |
| Romans 15:1-2 | "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." | Bearing with the weaker brother |
| 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 | "Though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law—that is, not being myself under the law—that I might win those under the law." | Becoming all things to all people |
| Acts 18:18 | "When Paul had remained there for a long time, he would say farewell to the brothers and set sail for Syria, with Priscilla and Aquila having recently shorn their hair at Cenchreae, for he had a vow." | Paul's participation in Jewish vow |
| Leviticus 27:30 | "‘All the tithe of the land, whether the grain of the land or the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s; it is holy to the LORD.'" | Example of Jewish law |
| Numbers 6:1-21 | Describes the Nazirite vow. | Example of Jewish religious practice |
| Acts 22:3 | "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated under the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are today." | Paul's own zealous Jewish background |
Acts 21 verses
Acts 21 22 Meaning
The verse states that "many thousands therefore of the Jews that believed are all zealous for the law." This highlights a significant group within early Christianity who maintained a strong adherence to Jewish law. It acknowledges their fervent commitment to their religious traditions, even after embracing faith in Jesus Christ. This indicates a fusion of their Jewish heritage with their new Christian belief, not an immediate or total abandonment of their ancestral customs.
Acts 21 22 Context
In Acts chapter 21, Paul is in Jerusalem, having been urged by the elders to undertake a specific purification rite as a sign of good faith to the many Jewish believers. These Jewish believers are described as "zealous for the law," meaning they were committed to upholding the Mosaic Law and its traditions. This occurred within the context of significant tension between the early Jewish followers of Jesus and the wider Jewish community, as well as within the burgeoning Christian movement itself, regarding the role of the Law for Gentile believers. The previous verses indicate that when the news of Paul’s ministry reached the elders, they were glad and acknowledged God, but they also informed Paul of the ongoing issue with Jewish believers who wrongly accused him of teaching against the Law. Their concern was that Paul's ministry to Gentiles might be perceived by these zealous Jewish believers as an outright rejection of Jewish heritage and law. Thus, they encouraged him to participate in a purification ritual to demonstrate his respect for the Law.
Acts 21 22 Word Analysis
- many: Indicating a large number, signifying a substantial segment of the Jewish Christian community.
- thousands: Reinforces the large quantity, not necessarily a precise numerical count, but a multitude.
- therefore: Suggests a consequence or logical conclusion drawn from the preceding statement, likely Paul's adherence and reported ministry to Jews.
- of the Jews: Specifically identifies the demographic being discussed – those who are ethnically Jewish.
- that believed: This is a crucial qualifier, specifying believers in Jesus Christ. It distinguishes them from the general Jewish population.
- are: Indicates their present state or characteristic.
- all: Denotes entirety within the defined group ("thousands of the Jews that believed"). It emphasizes the pervasive nature of this zeal among them.
- zealous: Characterizes them as fervently enthusiastic, passionate, and dedicated.
- for the law: Specifies the object of their zeal – the Mosaic Law, including its commandments, rituals, and traditions.
Word Groups Analysis:
- "many thousands therefore of the Jews that believed": This phrase establishes the specific community being described – a considerable number of Jewish people who had accepted Jesus as the Messiah, demonstrating the significant Jewish component within the early church.
- "are all zealous for the law": This group is characterized by an intense commitment to observing the Mosaic Law, a defining trait of their religious identity as Jews, which continued even after their conversion to Christianity.
Acts 21 22 Bonus Section
The concept of "zealous for the law" aligns with the deeply embedded reverence for the Torah in Jewish society. This zeal was often expressed through rigorous observance of commandments, as exemplified by the Pharisees. For these Jewish believers, continuing to uphold the Law was a natural extension of their identity and a way to honor their heritage and God's covenant. It presented a theological challenge to the emerging understanding of Gentile inclusion without the prerequisite of Jewish ceremonial law (like circumcision), a debate that occupied the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). The leaders in Jerusalem were not refuting the Law but addressing the question of its application to non-Jews, seeking to avoid division while remaining faithful to both the Old Testament revelation and the new work of Christ. Paul's eventual willingness to participate in the purification rite at the temple was a diplomatic effort to build bridges and confirm to these Jewish believers that he was not against the Law, thereby aiding his mission to unite the church.
Acts 21 22 Commentary
The verse underscores the diversity within the early Church. The majority of early adherents were Jewish, and for them, faith in Jesus did not necessitate the renunciation of their heritage or the Law. Their zeal for the Law demonstrates a perceived compatibility between Old Testament promises and the New Covenant established in Christ. This commitment is presented not as a negative but as a characteristic that required careful handling by apostles like Paul, who sought to unite Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul's strategy often involved accommodating the customs of Jewish believers, as seen here and in other instances like his participation in the vow in Acts 18:18. This shows a pastoral wisdom in navigating the sensitive interface between deeply ingrained religious identity and the expansive inclusivity of the Gospel.