Acts 21 22

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 verses

Acts 21 22 Meaning

Acts 21:22 presents an urgent question from James and the elders of the Jerusalem church to Paul. It encapsulates the immediate and pressing dilemma facing Paul upon his arrival in Jerusalem. The phrase "What then is to be done?" conveys the gravity of the situation, indicating a need for a prompt and strategic solution. This is immediately followed by the rationale: "They will certainly hear that you have come." This highlights the inevitability of Paul's presence becoming widely known among the zealous Jewish believers, setting the stage for potential unrest due to existing misunderstandings and accusations against him. The verse thus articulates both the problem (imminent public knowledge of Paul's arrival) and the need for a practical response, without yet suggesting the solution.

Acts 21 22 Context

Acts chapter 21 chronicles Paul's final journey to Jerusalem, a trip undertaken with a profound sense of spiritual burden and a foreboding awareness of suffering to come. Having been repeatedly warned by the Holy Spirit and various prophets (e.g., Agabus in Acts 21:10-14) about the dangers awaiting him, Paul nonetheless remained resolute in his commitment to bear witness for Christ in the city. Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Paul and his companions were warmly received by the believers, and the very next day, they met with James (the brother of Jesus, a prominent leader of the Jerusalem church) and all the elders.

It is during this meeting that the immediate context of verse 22 becomes clear. James and the elders glorify God for Paul's successful ministry among the Gentiles (Acts 21:19). However, they then promptly address a grave and urgent concern: the "many thousands" of Jewish believers in Jerusalem, all "zealous for the Law" (Acts 21:20). These believers had heard widespread and false reports that Paul was actively teaching other Jews (especially those in the diaspora) to "forsake Moses," telling them not to circumcise their children or adhere to Jewish customs (Acts 21:21). This presented a volatile situation. Paul, renowned for his Gentile mission and teachings on justification by faith apart from the Law, was now physically present in the epicenter of Jewish Christianity, where adherence to the Law remained deeply cherished. Verse 22, therefore, directly expresses the leaders' strategic concern about managing this potentially explosive religious and social dynamic, highlighting the inescapable public awareness of Paul's presence among those already misinformed about his teachings.

Historically and culturally, Jerusalem in the mid-first century AD was a cauldron of religious intensity. Jewish identity was inextricably linked to the Torah, Temple, and traditions. For many Jewish believers, faith in Jesus was the Messiah, but this did not mean abandoning their heritage. Rumors that Paul was systematically undermining Moses were seen as a direct attack on their fundamental identity and piety, capable of stirring up immense indignation and unrest.

Acts 21 22 Word analysis

• What then: (Τί οὖν, Ti oun)

  • Τί (Ti): "What?" — An interrogative pronoun, expressing a direct question about a specific course of action. It reflects the urgency and gravity of the situation, indicating a need for an immediate practical solution.
  • οὖν (oun): "Then," "Therefore," "So" — A connective particle, establishing a logical consequence. It links this question directly to the preceding explanation of the rumors about Paul and the zealousness of the Jewish believers. It signals, "Given this situation [about the many thousands who are zealous for the law and have heard rumors], what is our response?"

• is to be done?: (ἐστιν;, estin?)

  • ἐστιν (estin): "is," "it is" — The third person singular present indicative of "to be" (εἰμί, eimi). In context with Ti oun, it functions as "What is [to be done]?" The implied action makes it "what is to be done", highlighting the active need for a solution or plan.

• They will certainly hear: (Πάντως γὰρ ἀκούσονται, Pantōs gar akousontai)

  • Πάντως (Pantōs): "Certainly," "By all means," "Absolutely" — An adverb emphasizing inevitability and certainty. It underscores that Paul's arrival will not remain unnoticed; it is a guaranteed outcome. This certainty drives the urgency of the "what is to be done" question.
  • γὰρ (gar): "For," "Because" — A postpositive conjunction providing the reason or explanation for the preceding statement (the urgent question). The certainty of his presence becoming known is the reason they must act.
  • ἀκούσονται (akousontai): "They will hear" — Future active indicative of ἀκούω (akouō, to hear, to learn). It denotes an future, definite event. The implied "they" refers to the "many thousands of Jews who are believers and are zealous for the law" mentioned in verse 20. The emphasis is on their reaction upon learning of Paul's arrival.

• that you have come: (ὅτι ἐλήλυθας, hoti elēluthas)

  • ὅτι (hoti): "That," "Because" — A conjunction introducing the content of what "they will hear."
  • ἐλήλυθας (elēluthas): "You have come," "You have arrived" — Second person singular perfect active indicative of ἔρχομαι (erchomai, to come, to go). The perfect tense is crucial here; it describes a completed action (Paul's arrival) with continuing results and significance (he is present and his presence is known). His physical presence is not merely a past event, but a present reality that directly creates the dilemma. It emphasizes the accomplished fact of his being there.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• What then is to be done? (Τί οὖν ἐστιν;): This phrase captures the immediate strategic concern. It is not an accusation towards Paul, but a collective plea from James and the elders for practical guidance and a plan. It highlights the proactive approach needed to navigate a delicate community tension, rooted in deep religious convictions. It signals that a decision needs to be made by consensus for the sake of unity and managing expectations among a significant portion of the church in Jerusalem.

• They will certainly hear that you have come: (Πάντως γὰρ ἀκούσονται ὅτι ἐλήλυθας): This clause functions as the undeniable premise and motivation behind the urgent question. It communicates the absolute inevitability of Paul's public profile colliding with existing, false narratives. The elders are acutely aware that silence or inaction is not an option, as Paul's very presence (ἐλήλυθας, a completed act with present implications) will trigger a powerful and perhaps hostile reaction due to the "many thousands... zealous for the law" (Acts 21:20) and the severe accusations laid against him (Acts 21:21). This phrase sets the stage for the proposed solution involving ceremonial purification.

Acts 21 22 Bonus section

This verse highlights the deep divide that still existed within the early Christian movement concerning the relationship between Jewish Law and faith in Jesus. While the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) had decided that Gentile converts did not need to observe the Mosaic Law, it did not stipulate that Jewish believers should abandon the Law. This left a complex and often misunderstood landscape, particularly regarding Paul, who preached freedom from the Law for salvation (Rom 3:28, Gal 2:16) but also exemplified cultural adaptability (1 Cor 9:19-23). The accusations against him in Jerusalem (Acts 21:21) distort his actual teachings; Paul never explicitly commanded Jews to forsake Moses, but rather presented Christ as the fulfillment of the Law and its goal for righteousness.

The leaders' concern that "they will certainly hear that you have come" underscores the highly connected and rumor-driven social networks of first-century Jerusalem. News, especially concerning controversial figures or teachings, would travel swiftly throughout the city, particularly within religious communities gathered around the Temple. The decision proposed to Paul in response to this verse was a pragmatic, strategic move intended to diffuse tension, clarify misunderstandings, and preserve peace within the nascent church, reflecting a commitment to contextual ministry. Ultimately, this attempt to bridge the divide did not prevent Paul's arrest, but it illustrates the complexity of inter-church relations and identity within early Christianity.

Acts 21 22 Commentary

Acts 21:22 is a pivotal turning point, revealing the pragmatic wisdom and pressing dilemma faced by the Jerusalem church leadership regarding Paul's mission. James and the elders are not condemning Paul, but realistically assessing a volatile situation. The problem isn't Paul's actual teaching to Jewish believers, but the widespread misunderstanding and false reports that he teaches Jews to apostatize from the Law (Acts 21:21).

The core of the verse – "What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come" – captures the strategic challenge of ministerial leadership in a diverse faith community. It underscores the tension between principle and perception. Paul's arrival, though a blessing in God's wider plan, poses an immediate risk in the context of Jerusalem's conservative Jewish-Christian demographic. The certainty (Pantōs) that his presence will be known demands a pre-emptive action to mitigate potential conflict and demonstrate unity. This demonstrates a deep concern for church harmony and a desire to avoid an unnecessary schism or further persecution instigated by fellow Jewish believers. The proposed solution (v. 23-24) allows Paul to publicly identify with the Law-observant practices of Jewish believers, not to compromise his gospel of grace for salvation, but to demonstrate that his freedom in Christ does not entail contempt for Jewish heritage. It is a moment reflecting the careful navigation required to hold together a nascent faith that honored both its Jewish roots and its Gentile expansion.

Examples:

• A leader choosing to dress conservatively when meeting a traditional congregation to avoid distracting from the message.
• A pastor addressing an inaccurate rumor about church finances before it escalates, despite the truth being well-known internally.
• A missionary observing local customs not out of necessity for salvation, but to remove unnecessary stumbling blocks and demonstrate respect.