Acts 21:26

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul takes Jewish men and undergoes ritual purification with them at the temple. This occurs the day after the Jerusalem council's instructions and immediately precedes the completion of the seven-day separation period.

The words — παραλαβὼν (paralabōn) translates as "having taken," indicating Paul's deliberate assumption of responsibility for the men. Τότε (Tote) means "then," marking the immediate chronological sequence of the event.

The thread — This temple purification mirrors the Nazirite law in Numbers 6:13 and is later defended by Paul in Acts 24:18 to show he remained ceremonially clean. The action directly follows the council's decree in Acts 21:25 and the instructions to pay the men's expenses in Acts 21:24.

Why it lands — The text records Paul publicly declaring the completion date for the men's purification and the offering for each. It requires readers to separate historical compliance from theological necessity, noting that the action addresses community relations rather than personal salvation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

Cross-references

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 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 21:24 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.
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 those under the law.

People named

Paul