Acts 21:23
◄  Acts 21:23  ►
New International Version (©2011)
so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.

New Living Translation (©2007)
"Here's what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have obligated themselves with a vow.

International Standard Version (©2012)
So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow.

NET Bible (©2006)
So do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
“Do what we tell you; we have four men who have vowed to purify themselves.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
So follow our advice. We have four men who have made a vow to God.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men who have a vow on themselves;

American King James Version
Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men which have a vow on them;

American Standard Version
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men that have a vow on them;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Do therefore this that we say to thee. We have four men, who have a vow on them.

Darby Bible Translation
This do therefore that we say to thee: We have four men who have a vow on them;

English Revised Version
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;

Webster's Bible Translation
Do therefore this that we say to thee: we have four men who have a vow on them;

Weymouth New Testament
so do this which we now tell you. We have four men here who have a vow resting on them.

World English Bible
Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow.

Young's Literal Translation
'This, therefore, do that we say to thee: We have four men having a vow on themselves,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:19-26 Paul ascribed all his success to God, and to God they gave the praise. God had honoured him more than any of the apostles, yet they did not envy him; but on the contrary, glorified the Lord. They could not do more to encourage Paul to go on cheerfully in his work. James and the elders of the church at Jerusalem, asked Paul to gratify the believing Jews, by some compliance with the ceremonial law. They thought it was prudent in him to conform thus far. It was great weakness to be so fond of the shadows, when the substance was come. The religion Paul preached, tended not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it. He preached Christ, the end of the law for righteousness, and repentance and faith, in which we are to make great use of the law. The weakness and evil of the human heart strongly appear, when we consider how many, even of the disciples of Christ, had not due regard to the most eminent minister that even lived. Not the excellence of his character, nor the success with which God blessed his labours, could gain their esteem and affection, seeing that he did not render the same respect as themselves to mere ceremonial observances. How watchful should we be against prejudices! The apostles were not free from blame in all they did; and it would be hard to defend Paul from the charge of giving way too much in this matter. It is vain to attempt to court the favour of zealots, or bigots to a party. This compliance of Paul did not answer, for the very thing by which he hoped to pacify the Jews, provoked them, and brought him into trouble. But the all-wise God overruled both their advice and Paul's compliance with it, to serve a better purpose than was intended. It was in vain to think of pleasing men who would be pleased with nothing but the rooting out of Christianity. Integrity and uprightness will be more likely to preserve us than insincere compliances. And it should warn us not to press men to doing what is contrary to their own judgment to oblige us.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - Which have a vow; meaning emphatically the vow of a Nazarite.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Do therefore this that we say to thee,.... This is said not as commanding, but as advising; and not to what was a duty, and necessary to be done as such, but as a point of prudence:

we have four men which have a vow on them; that is, there were four men who were of the church at Jerusalem, believers in Christ, but weak ones, who were zealous of the law, and bigots to it, and who had voluntarily vowed a vow of the Nazarites; see Numbers 6:2.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. we have four men—Christian Jews, no doubt.

which have a vow—perhaps kept ready on purpose.

Acts 21:23 Parallel Commentaries

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Paul's Arrival at Jerusalem
…22What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that you are come. 23Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24Them take, and purify yourself 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 you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law. …

Numbers 6:13 "'Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over. They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting.
Numbers 6:18 "'Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.
Acts 18:18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.
Acts 21:22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come,
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), so as to win those under the law.