Focused Passage

Acts 21:15-26

Paul Goes to Jerusalem and Is Seized in the Temple

Paul travels resolutely toward Jerusalem despite warnings, submits to the Lord’s will, reports Gentile mission fruit to the Jerusalem leaders, participates in a temple-related purification plan, is falsely accused and seized, and receives Roman protection before addressing the crowd.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

15 After these days, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem.

16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.

17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully.

18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present.

19 Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20 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.

21 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.

22 What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

23 Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow.

24 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.

25 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.”

26 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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction After Μετὰ G3326 Preposition these ταύτας G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Plural - τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural days ἡμέρας G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural we packed up ἐπισκευασάμενοι G643 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural [and] went on ἀνεβαίνομεν G305 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition Jerusalem Ἱεροσόλυμα G2414 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 16

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction [Some] of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural disciples μαθητῶν G3101 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition Caesarea Καισαρείας G2542 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction accompanied συνῆλθον G4905 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . σὺν G4862 Preposition us ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural [and] they took us ἄγοντες G71 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural vvv παρ’ G3844 Preposition vvv G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular to stay at the home ξενισθῶμεν G3579 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 1st Person Plural - τινι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular of Mnason Μνάσωνί G3416 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular [the] Cypriot Κυπρίῳ G2953 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular an early ἀρχαίῳ G744 Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular disciple μαθητῇ G3101 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Verse 17

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction When we ἡμῶν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural arrived Γενομένων G1096 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Masculine Plural in εἰς G1519 Preposition Jerusalem Ἱεροσόλυμα G2414 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural brothers ἀδελφοί G80 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural welcomed ἀπεδέξαντο G588 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural us ἡμᾶς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural joyfully ἀσμένως G780 Adverb
Verse 18

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction The τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular next [day] ἐπιούσῃ G1966 Verb - Present Participle Active - Dative Feminine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλος G3972 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular went in εἰσῄει G1524 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular with σὺν G4862 Preposition us ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural to [see] πρὸς G4314 Preposition James Ἰάκωβον G2385 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and τε G5037 Conjunction all πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural the οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural elders πρεσβύτεροι G4245 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural were present παρεγένοντο G3854 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Verse 19

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction [Paul] greeted ἀσπασάμενος G782 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural [and] recounted ἐξηγεῖτο G1834 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular one ἓν G1520 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular by καθ’ G2596 Preposition one ἕκαστον G1538 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular the things that ὧν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular had done ἐποίησεν G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular among ἐν G1722 Preposition the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural Gentiles ἔθνεσιν G1484 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural through διὰ G1223 Preposition his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular ministry διακονίας G1248 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 20

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction - Οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural When they heard [this] ἀκούσαντες G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural they glorified ἐδόξαζον G1392 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular God Θεόν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Then τε G5037 Conjunction they said εἶπόν* G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to [Paul] αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular You see Θεωρεῖς G2334 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular brother ἀδελφέ G80 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular how many πόσαι G4214 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Plural thousands μυριάδες G3461 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural - εἰσὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural of ἐν G1722 Preposition - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural Jews Ἰουδαίοις G2453 Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural have believed πεπιστευκότων G4100 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction all πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural of them are ὑπάρχουσιν G5225 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural zealous ζηλωταὶ G2207 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural for the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular law νόμου G3551 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 21

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction they are under the impression κατηχήθησαν G2727 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural . . . περὶ G4012 Preposition that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you σοῦ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular teach διδάσκεις G1321 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular all πάντας G3956 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural [the] Jews Ἰουδαίους G2453 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural who [live] τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural among κατὰ G2596 Preposition the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural Gentiles ἔθνη G1484 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural to forsake ἀποστασίαν G646 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular . . . ἀπὸ G575 Preposition Moses Μωϋσέως G3475 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular telling λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular them αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural not μὴ G3361 Adverb to circumcise περιτέμνειν G4059 Verb - Present Infinitive Active [their] τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural children τέκνα G5043 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural [or] μηδὲ G3366 Conjunction observe περιπατεῖν G4043 Verb - Present Infinitive Active . . . τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Plural [our] customs ἔθεσιν G1485 Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Verse 22

Original words

What τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular then οὖν G3767 Conjunction should [we do] ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular vvv πάντως G3843 Adverb They will certainly hear ἀκούσονται G191 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you have come ἐλήλυθας G2064 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Verse 23

Original words

Therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction do ποίησον G4160 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular vvv Τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular we advise λέγομεν G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular There are εἰσὶν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural four τέσσαρες G5064 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural men ἄνδρες G435 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural with us ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural vvv ἐφ’ G1909 Preposition vvv ἑαυτῶν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural who have taken ἔχοντες G2192 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural a vow εὐχὴν G2171 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 24

Original words

Take παραλαβὼν G3880 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular these [men] τούτους G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural purify yourself ἁγνίσθητι G48 Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Singular along with σὺν G4862 Preposition them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction pay their expenses δαπάνησον G1159 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular . . . ἐπ’ G1909 Preposition . . . αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural so ἵνα G2443 Conjunction {they can have} [their] τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular heads κεφαλήν G2776 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular shaved ξυρήσονται G3587 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural Then καὶ G2532 Conjunction everyone πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural will know γνώσονται G1097 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction there ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular is no truth οὐδέν G3762 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular [to these] ὧν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural rumors κατήχηνται G2727 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural about περὶ G4012 Preposition you σοῦ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular but [that] ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction you αὐτὸς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular also καὶ G2532 Conjunction live στοιχεῖς G4748 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular in obedience φυλάσσων G5442 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular law νόμον G3551 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 25

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction As for Περὶ G4012 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural Gentile ἐθνῶν G1484 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural believers πεπιστευκότων G4100 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Plural we ἡμεῖς G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural have written [to them] ἐπεστείλαμεν G1989 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural our decision κρίναντες G2919 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural [that] they αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural must abstain φυλάσσεσθαι G5442 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle from [food] τό G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular - τε G5037 Conjunction sacrificed to idols εἰδωλόθυτον G1494 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular [from] καὶ G2532 Conjunction blood αἷμα G129 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular [from] καὶ G2532 Conjunction the meat of strangled animals πνικτὸν G4156 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular and [from] καὶ G2532 Conjunction sexual immorality πορνείαν G4202 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 26

Original words

[So] Τότε G5119 Adverb the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular next ἐχομένῃ G2192 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Feminine Singular day ἡμέρᾳ G2250 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλος G3972 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular took παραλαβὼν G3880 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural men ἄνδρας G435 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [and] purified himself ἁγνισθεὶς G48 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular along with σὺν G4862 Preposition them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural [Then] he entered εἰσῄει G1524 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular temple ἱερόν G2411 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular to give notice διαγγέλλων G1229 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Plural date ἡμερῶν G2250 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural [when their] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular purification ἁγνισμοῦ G49 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular would be complete ἐκπλήρωσιν G1604 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [and] ἕως G2193 Preposition - οὗ G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular offering προσφορά G4376 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular would be made προσηνέχθη G4374 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular for ὑπὲρ G5228 Preposition each ἑκάστου G1538 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular . . . ἑνὸς G1520 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular of them αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.