21:15-26 After these days (at Caesarea) and having made
ready, we went up to Jerusalem. Also some of the disciples from Caesarea came with us. They brought us to the house of a certain
Cypriot named Mnason where we could stay.
He was an early disciple.
Being in Jerusalem
the brothers received us joyfully.
The next day we went in with Paul to see James. All the elders had come as well. After greeting them (Paul) related each
and every thing which God had accomplished amongst the Gentiles through his
ministry. On hearing this they
glorified God and said to him.
"You see brother how there are many, even tens of thousands of
the Jews who have believed. This
includes people quite zealous for the law.
They were informed about you that you were teaching apostasy about
Moses. That is, throughout the
nations you were telling all the Jews not to
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circumcise
their children, nor to walk in our customs.
What then is to be done? In any event they will hear that you have
come (to Jerusalem). We
are telling you therefore that you should do the following. There are four men here who have taken a
vow on themselves. (We want you to)
go and be purified with then and pay the price for them to shave their
heads. Then all men will be informed
that there is nothing in what they have been told. Rather you also continue to keep the
law. And with regard to the
believing Gentiles we have put it into writing that we judge they should do
the following that is, keep both
from idol sacrifice and blood and what is strangled and
fornication." And so Paul
took the men the next day and having been purified with them they went into
the temple. They announced that on
the completion of the days of purification the offering (customary
sacrifice) should be made on behalf of each one of them.
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