Acts 21:24
in Acts 21Take 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
these take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may shave their heads: and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning thee; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the law.
KJV
Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
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This verse in Acts 21
Commentary
13 notes on this verse"Taking them, purify yourself with them, and take upon yourself the expenses for the sacrifice for them." That is, he says, the sacrifices which, according to the law, must be offered for them, provide yourself, in order to destroy every suspicion. Defend yourself, it is …
This site's exposition
They will certainly hear
on Acts 21:22-24
Four men had taken a vow, likely a Nazirite vow. Paul is to purify himself 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.
This site's exposition
pay their expenses
The cost was heavy. Clarke counts it from Numbers 6, a male lamb, a ewe lamb and a ram for each man. For the four that meant eight lambs and four rams, with oil and flour.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee:" they say these things as advising, not as commanding. "We have four men which have a vow on them; them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them." Make thy defence in act, not in word - "that they may shave themselves," it says, "and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law:" they say not, "teachest," but, of superabundance, "that thou thyself also keepest the law." For of course not this was the matter of chief interest, whether he did not teach others, but, that he did himself observe the law.
"Take these and be purified with them." They counsel him to make his defense by deed, not by word. They therefore say this: Provide the offerings prescribed by the law on their behalf, so that you may remove suspicion, and show that not only do …
He shows that it was not necessary to do this upon principle - whence also they obtain his compliance - but that it was economy and condescension. This vow appears to have been the Nazarite vow described in Numbers 6:1-21, taken by the apostle as an accommodation to Jewish prejudices and to allay the suspicions of the legal party in Jerusalem. This was done upon the recommendation of James, the "Bishop" of the church, and his associates. The significance of Paul's paying the expenses is, perhaps, that the period during which the others' vow had run was on this condition reckoned to his account also.
The Medieval Church1 voice
And all will know that what they have heard about you is false; but would have said, All will think: especially since the apostles had already decreed in Jerusalem that no one should compel the Gentiles to Judaize. However, they had not decreed that no …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Them take, and purify, thyself with them,.... That is, join thyself to them, make one of their number, and attend to the rules prescribed to a Nazarite, who is to be holy to the Lord; and in case of any ceremonial uncleanness, is to be cleansed, or purified in the manner directed, Num 6:5. And be at charges with them; join with them in the expense, for the offerings to be made at the end of the vows, or when the days of separation are fulfilled, Num 6:
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And all will know - that thou thyself walkest orderly, keeping the law - Ought he not, without any reverence to man, where the truth of God was so deeply concerned, to have answered plainly, I do not keep the Mosaic law; neither need any of you.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
Be at charges with them - Or, rather, be at charges for them: help them to bear the expense of that vow. Eight lambs, four rams, besides oil, flour, etc., were the expenses on this occasion. See the notes on Numbers 6:1-21 (note). Thou - walkest orderly and keepest the law - Perhaps this advice meant no more than, Show them, by such means as are now in thy power, that thou art not an enemy to Moses; that thou dost still consider the law to be holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
be at charges with them--that is, defray the expense of the sacrifices legally required of them, along with his own, which was deemed a mark of Jewish generosity.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
they glorified the Lord, &c.--constrained to justify his course, notwithstanding the Jewish complexion of the Christianity of Jerusalem.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Them take - Take with you. Join yourself with them. And purify thyself with them - Join them in observing the forms of purification prescribed by the Law of Moses in the observance of the vow of the Nazarite. The purifying here refers to the vows of sanctity which the Nazarites were to observe. They were to abstain from wine and strong drink; they were to eat no grapes, moist or dried; they were to come near no dead body, nor to make themselves “unclean” for their father, mother, brother, or sister, when they died Num 6:3-7; and they were to present an offering when the days of the vow were completed, Num 6:8. And be at charges with them - Share with them the expense of the offerings required when the vow is completed. Those offerings were a ram of a year old for a burnt-offering, a sheep of the same age for a sin-offering, a ram for a thank-offering, a basket of unleavened cakes, and a libation of wine. See Num 6:13-20. That they may shave their heads - The shaving of the head, or the cutting off the hair which had been suffered to grow during the continuance of the vow Num 6:5, was an observance indicating that the vow had been performed. Paul was requested to join with them in the expense of the offerings, that thus, the whole of the ceremonies having been observed, their heads might be shaved as an indication that every part of the vow had been complied with. And all may know - By the fact of your observance of one of the rites of the Mosaic religion, all may have evidence that it is not your purpose or practice to speak contemptuously of those rites, or to undervalue the authority of Moses. Are nothing - Are untrue, or without any foundation. Walkest orderly - That you live in accordance with the real requirements of the Law of Moses. […]
The words behind it
30 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τούτους | toutous | These [men] | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| παραλαβὼν | paralabon | having taken | G3880 → | 49 times |
| ἁγνίσθητι | hagnistheti | do be purified | G48 → | 7 times |
| σὺν | sun | with | G4862 → | 128 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| δαπάνησον | dapaneson | do bear expense | G1159 → | |
| ἐπ᾽ | ep᾽ | for | G1909 → | 883 times |
| αὐτοῖς | autois | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ξυρήσονται | xuresontai | they will shave | G3587 → | |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κεφαλήν, | kephalen | head, | G2776 → | 75 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γνώσονται | gnosontai | will know | G1097 → | 221 times |
| πάντες | pantes | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ὧν | hon | of which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| κατήχηνται | katechentai | they have been informed | G2727 → | 8 times |
| περὶ | peri | about | G4012 → | 332 times |
| σοῦ | sou | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| οὐδέν | ouden | no [thing] | G3762 → | 232 times |
| ἐστιν, | estin | is, | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| στοιχεῖς | stoicheis | you walk orderly | G4748 → | |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| αὐτὸς | autos | yourself | G846 → | 5565 times |
| φυλάσσων | phulasson | keeping | G5442 → | 31 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| νόμον. | nomon | law. | G3551 → | 192 times |
τούτουςThese [men]
toutousG3778 →1381 times
παραλαβὼνhaving taken
paralabonG3880 →49 times
ἁγνίσθητιdo be purified
hagnisthetiG48 →7 times
σὺνwith
sunG4862 →128 times
αὐτοῖςthem
autoisG846 →5565 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
δαπάνησονdo bear expense
dapanesonG1159 →
ἐπ᾽for
ep᾽G1909 →883 times
αὐτοῖςthem
autoisG846 →5565 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
ξυρήσονταιthey will shave
xuresontaiG3587 →
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
κεφαλήν,head,
kephalenG2776 →75 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γνώσονταιwill know
gnosontaiG1097 →221 times
πάντεςall
pantesG3956 →1235 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ὧνof which
honG3739 →1405 times
κατήχηνταιthey have been informed
katechentaiG2727 →8 times
περὶabout
periG4012 →332 times
σοῦyou
souG4771 →2973 times
οὐδένno [thing]
oudenG3762 →232 times
ἐστιν,is,
estinG1510 →2333 times
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
στοιχεῖςyou walk orderly
stoicheisG4748 →
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
αὐτὸςyourself
autosG846 →5565 times
φυλάσσωνkeeping
phulassonG5442 →31 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
νόμον.law.
nomonG3551 →192 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 9:20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win…
it leads to
- Acts 16:3
Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
- Galatians 5:18
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- Acts 21:20–26
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.
- Acts 16:3
Through
Acts 18:18Paul remained in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his head shaved in Cenchrea to keep a vow he had made, and then he sailed for Syria,…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 9:20
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Numbers 6:18
Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite is to shave his consecrated head, take the hair, and put it on the fire under the peace offering.
- Acts 18:2
There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to…
- 1 Corinthians 9:20
Through
Acts 21:26So 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…
it leads to
- Acts 24:18
At the time they found me in the temple, I was ceremonially clean and was not inciting a crowd or an uproar. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia
- Numbers 6:13–20
Now this is the law of the Nazirite when his time of separation is complete: He must be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,
- Acts 24:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
About Acts

This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; J. A. Alexander, Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 46; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
