Acts 21:20-22

21:20 When they heard this, they praised ¹  God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews ²  there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers ³  of the law. ⁴  21:21 They have been informed about you – that you teach all the Jews now living ⁵  among the Gentiles to abandon ⁶  Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children ⁷  or live ⁸  according to our customs. 21:22 What then should we do? They will no doubt ⁹  hear that you have come.

¹ tn Or “glorified.”

² tn Grk “how many thousands there are among the Jews.”

³ tn Or “are all zealous for the law.” BDAG 427 s.v. ζηλωτής 1.a.β has “of thing…τοῦ νόμου an ardent observer of the law Ac 21:20.”

⁴ sn That is, the law of Moses. These Jewish Christians had remained close to their Jewish practices after becoming believers (1 Cor 7:18-19; Acts 16:3).

⁵ tn BDAG 511 s.v. κατά B.1.a has “τοὺς κ. τὰ ἔθνη ᾿Ιουδαίους the Judeans (dispersed) throughout the nations 21:21.” The Jews in view are not those in Palestine, but those who are scattered throughout the Gentile world.

⁶ tn Or “to forsake,” “to rebel against.” BDAG 120 s.v. ἀποστασία has “ἀποστασίαν διδάσκεις ἀπὸ Μωϋσέως you teach (Judeans) to abandon Moses Ac 21:21.”

⁷ sn That is, not to circumcise their male children. Biblical references to circumcision always refer to male circumcision.

⁸ tn Grk “or walk.”

⁹ tn L&N 71.16 has “pertaining to being in every respect certain – ‘certainly, really, doubtless, no doubt.’…‘they will no doubt hear that you have come’ Ac 21:22.”