Acts 21:24
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.
Original Language Analysis
παραλαβὼν
take
G3880
παραλαβὼν
take
Strong's:
G3880
Word #:
2 of 30
to receive near, i.e., associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn
ἁγνίσθητι
and purify thyself
G48
ἁγνίσθητι
and purify thyself
Strong's:
G48
Word #:
3 of 30
to make clean, i.e., (figuratively) sanctify (ceremonially or morally)
σὺν
with
G4862
σὺν
with
Strong's:
G4862
Word #:
4 of 30
with or together (but much closer than g3326 or g3844), i.e., by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, additi
αὐτὸς
that thou thyself
G846
αὐτὸς
that thou thyself
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
5 of 30
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
also
G2532
καὶ
also
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
6 of 30
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
δαπάνησον
be at charges
G1159
δαπάνησον
be at charges
Strong's:
G1159
Word #:
7 of 30
to expend, i.e., (in a good sense) to incur cost, or (in a bad one) to waste
ἐπ'
with
G1909
ἐπ'
with
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
8 of 30
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
αὐτὸς
that thou thyself
G846
αὐτὸς
that thou thyself
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
9 of 30
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κεφαλήν
their heads
G2776
κεφαλήν
their heads
Strong's:
G2776
Word #:
13 of 30
the head (as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively
καὶ
also
G2532
καὶ
also
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
14 of 30
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
γνῶσιν
may know
G1097
γνῶσιν
may know
Strong's:
G1097
Word #:
15 of 30
to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed)
ὅτι
that those things
G3754
ὅτι
that those things
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
17 of 30
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ὧν
whereof
G3739
ὧν
whereof
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
18 of 30
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
κατήχηνται
they were informed
G2727
κατήχηνται
they were informed
Strong's:
G2727
Word #:
19 of 30
to sound down into the ears, i.e., (by implication) to indoctrinate ("catechize") or (genitive case) to apprise of
περὶ
concerning
G4012
περὶ
concerning
Strong's:
G4012
Word #:
20 of 30
properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas
οὐδέν
nothing
G3762
οὐδέν
nothing
Strong's:
G3762
Word #:
22 of 30
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing
ἀλλὰ
but
G235
ἀλλὰ
but
Strong's:
G235
Word #:
24 of 30
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
στοιχεῖς
walkest orderly
G4748
στοιχεῖς
walkest orderly
Strong's:
G4748
Word #:
25 of 30
to march in (military) rank (keep step), i.e., (figuratively) to conform to virtue and piety
καὶ
also
G2532
καὶ
also
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
26 of 30
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτὸς
that thou thyself
G846
αὐτὸς
that thou thyself
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
27 of 30
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
28 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Acts 21:26Then 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.Acts 24:18Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.Acts 18:18And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.Exodus 19:14And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.1 Corinthians 9:20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
Historical Context
The seven-day purification period followed Nazirite vow regulations. Paul's payment for the sacrifices would have been substantial, possibly using funds from the Gentile churches' collection, ironically using Gentile gifts to demonstrate Jewish piety.
Questions for Reflection
- Are you willing to set aside your Christian liberty to remove obstacles to others' faith?
- How does Paul's example inform modern discussions about contextualizing the gospel in different cultures?
Analysis & Commentary
Paul's willing participation in the purification ritual demonstrated his principle of becoming 'all things to all men' (1 Corinthians 9:22). His public temple presence with these men would testify that he 'walkest orderly, and keepest the law' in matters of cultural practice. This showed Paul's consistency - liberty for Gentiles didn't mean contempt for Jewish heritage.