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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Acts 21:20–24

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
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.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

20 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 20

  1. Romans 10:2Rank 1 from verse 20
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    2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

  2. Galatians 1:14Rank 2 from verse 20
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    14And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

  3. Acts 22:3Rank 3 from verse 20
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    3I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

  4. Acts 11:18Rank 4 from verse 20
    Open

    18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

  5. Acts 15:1Rank 5 from verse 20
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    1AND certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

From verse 21

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:19–21Rank 1 from verse 21
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    19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

    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;

    21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

  2. Galatians 6:12–15Rank 2 from verse 21
    Open

    12As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

    13For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

    14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

    15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

  3. Galatians 5:1–6Rank 3 from verse 21
    Open

    1STAND fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

    2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

    3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

    4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

    5For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

    6For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

  4. Acts 15:19–21Rank 4 from verse 21
    Open

    19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

    20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

    21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

  5. Acts 21:28Rank 5 from verse 21
    Open

    28Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

From verse 22

  1. Acts 15:12Rank 1 from verse 22
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    12¶ Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

  2. Acts 15:22Rank 2 from verse 22
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    22Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

  3. Acts 19:32Rank 3 from verse 22
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    32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

From verse 23

  1. Acts 18:18Rank 1 from verse 23
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    18¶ And 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.

  2. Numbers 6:2–7Rank 2 from verse 23
    Open

    2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord:

    3He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.

    4All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.

    5All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no rasor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

    6All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord he shall come at no dead body.

    7He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head.

From verse 24

  1. Acts 21:26Rank 1 from verse 24
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    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.

  2. Acts 18:18Rank 2 from verse 24
    Open

    18¶ And 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.

  3. Acts 24:18Rank 3 from verse 24
    Open

    18Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

  4. 1 Corinthians 9:20Rank 4 from verse 24
    Open

    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;

  5. Exodus 19:14Rank 5 from verse 24
    Open

    14¶ And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 21:20

COMBINED MEANING

heard

↗

Sense 1: Perceived by the ear. Sense 2: Received or learned by report. Sense 3: Listened to, regarded, or heeded. Sense 4: Favourably attended to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

glorified

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of glorify, meaning to honour, praise, magnify, exalt, make glorious, display glory in, or cause the excellence and worth of a person or name to be acknowledged.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

Lord

↗

1. A title of God or Jesus Christ acknowledging authority and rule. 2. A respectful title or address for one in authority.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

brother

↗

Sense 1: A male sibling; a near kinsman. Sense 2: A fellow member of a people or faith.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

believe

↗

Sense 1: To accept as true on testimony or evidence; to be persuaded. Sense 2: To trust or place confidence in.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

law

↗

Sense 1: An authoritative rule, command, ordinance, instruction, standard, or body of requirements. Sense 2: The writings containing such instruction. Sense 3: A governing principle, power, regular order, or civil rule. Sense 4: In family compounds, relationship by marriage.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 21:21

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

teachest

↗

Second-person singular present form of teach, meaning to instruct, inform, train, show, counsel, or communicate knowledge or doctrine.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

forsake

↗

To leave, abandon, desert, reject, renounce, cease following, or withdraw from a person, place, way, command, duty, affection, or former course.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

circumcise

↗

Sense 1: To cut off the foreskin as the commanded sign of the covenant. Sense 2: Figuratively, to remove hardness or uncleanness of heart.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

children

↗

Sons or daughters; descendants; or persons likened to children by age, relation, or character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

neither

↗

1. Also not; nor, introducing or joining a further negative statement or prohibition. 2. Not either, or none, of the alternatives named, commonly in a neither ... nor construction.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

after

↗

1. Later than or following in time or order. 2. Behind. 3. In pursuit of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 21:22

COMBINED MEANING

multitude

↗

1. A great number or large gathered body of persons, creatures, or forces; a crowd, company, or host. 2. A great number, amount, fullness, or abundance of years, words, deeds, mercies, sins, possessions, waters, or other stated things.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hear

↗

Sense 1: To perceive sound or spoken words. Sense 2: To receive or learn by report. Sense 3: To listen to, regard, or heed. Sense 4: To attend favourably to a request.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

art

↗

1. The second-person singular present form of be: are, when one person is addressed. 2. Skill, craft, or skilled workmanship used to make or prepare something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 21:23

COMBINED MEANING

say

↗

Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

vow

↗

Sense 1: A solemn promise made to God. Sense 2: To bind oneself by such a promise.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

on

↗

1. At, upon, or in contact with the named place, object, side, or time. 2. Toward, against, concerning, depending upon, or directed to the named person or thing. 3. Forward or continuing; in joined expressions such as go on, put on, and lay hold on, the other words supply the particular action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Acts 21:24

COMBINED MEANING

take

↗

To receive, seize, carry, accept, choose, or lay hold of.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

purify

↗

Sense 1: To make or declare ceremonially clean. Sense 2: To cleanse from moral defilement. Sense 3: To refine as metal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

charges

↗

1. Commands or duties laid upon a person. 2. Trusts or things entrusted. 3. Accusations. 4. Expenses.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shave

↗

1. To remove hair with a razor or other cutting instrument. 2. To cut or remove closely.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

know

↗

To perceive, understand, recognize, experience, or be assured of something.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

law

↗

Sense 1: An authoritative rule, command, ordinance, instruction, standard, or body of requirements. Sense 2: The writings containing such instruction. Sense 3: A governing principle, power, regular order, or civil rule. Sense 4: In family compounds, relationship by marriage.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

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19And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

Selected passage

21And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

Selected passage

22What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

Selected passage

23Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;

Selected passage

24Them 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.

Selected passage

25As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

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