Discovery BoxActs 21:22-24
Context21:22 What then should we do? They will no doubt 1 hear that you have come. 21:23 So do what 2 we tell you: We have four men 3 who have taken 4 a vow; 5 21:24 take them and purify 6 yourself along with them and pay their expenses, 7 so that they may have their heads shaved. 8 Then 9 everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told 10 about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with 11 the law. 12
[21:22] 1 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.”
[21:23] 2 tn Grk “do this that.”
[21:23] 3 tn Grk “There are four men here.”
[21:23] 4 tn L&N 33.469 has “‘there are four men here who have taken a vow’ or ‘we have four men who…’ Ac 21:23.”
[21:23] 5 tn On the term for “vow,” see BDAG 416 s.v. εὐχή 2.
[21:24] 3 sn That is, undergo ritual cleansing. Paul’s cleansing would be necessary because of his travels in “unclean” Gentile territory. This act would represent a conciliatory gesture. Paul would have supported a “law-free” mission to the Gentiles as an option, but this gesture would represent an attempt to be sensitive to the Jews (1 Cor 9:15-22).
[21:24] 4 tn L&N 57.146 has “δαπάνησον ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς ‘pay their expenses’ Ac 21:24.”
[21:24] 5 tn The future middle indicative has causative force here. BDAG 686 s.v. ξυράω has “mid. have oneself shaved…τὴν κεφαλήν have one’s head shaved…Ac 21:24.”
[21:24] 6 tn Grk “and.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun in the translation, and καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the logical sequence.
[21:24] 7 tn The verb here describes a report or some type of information (BDAG 534 s.v. κατηχέω 1).
[21:24] 8 tn Grk “adhere to the keeping of the law.” L&N 41.12 has “στοιχέω: to live in conformity with some presumed standard or set of customs – ‘to live, to behave in accordance with.’”
