Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem
When the travelers arrive in Jerusalem, the brothers receive them joyfully. The next day Paul goes with them to James and the elders and recounts one by one what God has done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
W17hen we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully. 18The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present. 19Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
The elders glorify God for Paul's report but tell him that many believing Jews are zealous for the law and have heard that he teaches Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses. They advise him to purify himself with four men under a vow so the rumors may be shown false, while reminding him that the Gentile believers remain bound only by the earlier letter's few abstentions.
20When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs. 22What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow. 24Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law. 25As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”
The next day Paul takes the men, purifies himself with them, and enters the temple to give notice of when the days of purification will be complete and the offering made for each one.
26So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.