^21:23So do what⁷⁴ we tell you: We have four men⁷⁵ who have taken⁷⁶ a vow;⁷⁷^21:24take them and purify⁷⁸ yourself along with them and pay their expenses,⁷⁹ so that they may have their heads shaved.⁸⁰ Then⁸¹ everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told⁸² about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with⁸³ the law.⁸⁴

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Footnotes

74 Grk “do this that.”
75 Grk “There are four men here.”
76 L&N 33.469 has “ ‘there are four men here who have taken a vow’ or ‘we have four men who …’ Ac 21:23.”
77 On the term for “vow,” see εὐχή 2.
78 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).
79 L&N 57.146 has “δαπάνησον ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς ‘pay their expenses’ Ac 21:24.”
80 The future middle indicative has causative force here. ξυράω has “mid. have oneself shaved … τὴν κεφαλήν have one’s head shaved … Ac 21:24.” Having their heads shaved probably involved ending a voluntary Nazirite vow (Num 6:14–15).
81 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.
82 The verb here describes a report or some type of information ( κατηχέω 1).
83 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.’ ”
84 The law refers to the law of Moses.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have made a vow. Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay for them to get their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Here’s what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow. Go with them to the Temple and join them in the purification ceremony, paying for them to have their heads ritually shaved. Then everyone will know that the rumors are all false and that you yourself observe the Jewish laws.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Therefore do this that we tell you: we have four men who have taken a vow upon themselves. Take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses so that they can shave their heads, and everyone will know that the things which they had been informed about you are nothing, but you yourself also agree with observing the law.

KJV 1900King James Version

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

Public Domain