Acts
Acts 21:20–26
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.”
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.
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
Acts 21:20
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| When they heard | ἀκούσαντες | akousantes | Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural | G191 I hear, listen |
| they glorified | ἐδόξαζον | edoxazon | Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural | G1392 I glorify, honor, bestow glory on |
| God | Θεόν | Theon | Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular | G2316 God, a god |
| Then | τε | te | Conjunction | G5037 and, both |
| they said | εἶπόν | eipon | Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural | G2036 to speak or say (by word or writing) |
| to | αὐτῷ | autō | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular | G846 he, she, it, they, them, same |
| You see | Θεωρεῖς | Theōreis | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular | G2334 I behold, look at, experience |
| brother | ἀδελφέ | adelphe | Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular | G80 a brother |
| how many | πόσαι | posai | Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Plural | G4214 how much, how great, how many |
| thousands | μυριάδες | myriades | Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural | G3461 a myriad, ten thousand |
| of | ἐν | en | Preposition | G1722 in, on, among |
| Jews | Ἰουδαίοις | Ioudaiois | Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural | G2453 Jewish |
| have believed | πεπιστευκότων | pepisteukotōn | Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural | G4100 I believe, have faith in |
| and | καὶ | kai | Conjunction | G2532 and, even, also, namely |
| all | πάντες | pantes | Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural | G3956 all, the whole, every kind of |
| of them are | ὑπάρχουσιν | hyparchousin | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural | G5225 I am, exist, am in possession |
| zealous | ζηλωταὶ | zēlōtai | Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural | G2207 a zealot |
| for the | τοῦ | tou | Article - Genitive Masculine Singular | G3588 the |
| law | νόμου | nomou | Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular | G3551 a law, the Mosaic Law |
Acts 21:21
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| But | δὲ | de | Conjunction | G1161 but, on the other hand, and |
| they are under the impression | κατηχήθησαν | katēchēthēsan | Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural | G2727 I instruct orally |
| that | ὅτι | hoti | Conjunction | G3754 that, since, because |
| you | σοῦ | sou | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular | G4771 you |
| teach | διδάσκεις | didaskeis | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular | G1321 I teach |
| all | πάντας | pantas | Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural | G3956 all, the whole, every kind of |
| Jews | Ἰουδαίους | Ioudaious | Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural | G2453 Jewish |
| who | τοὺς | tous | Article - Accusative Masculine Plural | G3588 the |
| among | κατὰ | kata | Preposition | G2596 down from, against, according to, throughout, during |
| the | τὰ | ta | Article - Accusative Neuter Plural | G3588 the |
| Gentiles | ἔθνη | ethnē | Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural | G1484 a race, people, the Gentiles |
| to forsake | ἀποστασίαν | apostasian | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G646 defection, apostasy |
| Moses | Μωϋσέως | Mōuseōs | Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular | G3475 Moses |
| telling | λέγων | legōn | Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular | G3004 I say, speak |
| them | αὐτοὺς | autous | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural | G846 he, she, it, they, them, same |
| not | μὴ | mē | Adverb | G3361 not, lest |
| to circumcise | περιτέμνειν | peritemnein | Verb - Present Infinitive Active | G4059 I circumcise |
| children | τέκνα | tekna | Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural | G5043 a child, descendent, inhabitant |
| observe | περιπατεῖν | peripatein | Verb - Present Infinitive Active | G4043 I walk, conduct my life |
| customs | ἔθεσιν | ethesin | Noun - Dative Neuter Plural | G1485 a custom |
Acts 21:22
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What | τί | ti | Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular | G5101 who, which, what |
| then | οὖν | oun | Conjunction | G3767 therefore, then |
| should | ἐστιν | estin | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular | G1510 I am, exist |
| They will certainly hear | ἀκούσονται | akousontai | Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural | G191 I hear, listen |
| that | ὅτι | hoti | Conjunction | G3754 that, since, because |
| you have come | ἐλήλυθας | elēlythas | Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular | G2064 I come, go |
Acts 21:23
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Therefore | οὖν | oun | Conjunction | G3767 therefore, then |
| do | ποίησον | poiēson | Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular | G4160 I do, make |
| what | ὅ | ho | Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular | G3739 who, which, what, that |
| we advise | λέγομεν | legomen | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural | G3004 I say, speak |
| you | σοι | soi | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular | G4771 you |
| There are | εἰσὶν | eisin | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural | G1510 I am, exist |
| four | τέσσαρες | tessares | Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural | G5064 four |
| men | ἄνδρες | andres | Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural | G435 a male human being, a man |
| with us | ἡμῖν | hēmin | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural | G1473 I |
| who have taken | ἔχοντες | echontes | Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural | G2192 I have, hold, possess |
| a vow | εὐχὴν | euchēn | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G2171 a prayer, vow |
Acts 21:24
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take | παραλαβὼν | paralabōn | Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular | G3880 I take, receive |
| these | τούτους | toutous | Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural | G3778 this, he, she, it |
| purify yourself | ἁγνίσθητι | hagnisthēti | Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Singular | G48 I cleanse, purify |
| along with | σὺν | syn | Preposition | G4862 with |
| them | αὐτοῖς | autois | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural | G846 he, she, it, they, them, same |
| and | καὶ | kai | Conjunction | G2532 and, even, also, namely |
| pay their expenses | δαπάνησον | dapanēson | Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular | G1159 I spend, bear expense, waste |
| so | ἵνα | hina | Conjunction | G2443 in order that, so that |
| heads | κεφαλήν | kephalēn | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G2776 the head |
| shaved | ξυρήσονται | xyrēsontai | Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural | G3587 I shave |
| Then | καὶ | kai | Conjunction | G2532 and, even, also, namely |
| everyone | πάντες | pantes | Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural | G3956 all, the whole, every kind of |
| will know | γνώσονται | gnōsontai | Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural | G1097 I come to know, learn, realize |
| that | ὅτι | hoti | Conjunction | G3754 that, since, because |
| there | ἐστιν | estin | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular | G1510 I am, exist |
| is no truth | οὐδέν | ouden | Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular | G3762 no one, none, nothing |
| rumors | κατήχηνται | katēchēntai | Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural | G2727 I instruct orally |
| about | περὶ | peri | Preposition | G4012 about, concerning, around |
| you | σοῦ | sou | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular | G4771 you |
| but | ἀλλὰ | alla | Conjunction | G235 but, except |
| you | αὐτὸς | autos | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular | G846 he, she, it, they, them, same |
| also | καὶ | kai | Conjunction | G2532 and, even, also, namely |
| live | στοιχεῖς | stoicheis | Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular | G4748 I walk |
| in obedience | φυλάσσων | phylassōn | Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular | G5442 I keep, guard, observe |
| to the | τὸν | ton | Article - Accusative Masculine Singular | G3588 the |
| law | νόμον | nomon | Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular | G3551 a law, the Mosaic Law |
Acts 21:25
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As for | Περὶ | Peri | Preposition | G4012 about, concerning, around |
| the | τῶν | tōn | Article - Genitive Neuter Plural | G3588 the |
| Gentile | ἐθνῶν | ethnōn | Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural | G1484 a race, people, the Gentiles |
| believers | πεπιστευκότων | pepisteukotōn | Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Plural | G4100 I believe, have faith in |
| we | ἡμεῖς | hēmeis | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Plural | G1473 I |
| have written | ἐπεστείλαμεν | epesteilamen | Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural | G1989 I write, send by letter to. |
| our decision | κρίναντες | krinantes | Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural | G2919 I judge, decide, think good |
| they | αὐτοὺς | autous | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural | G846 he, she, it, they, them, same |
| must abstain | φυλάσσεσθαι | phylassesthai | Verb - Present Infinitive Middle | G5442 I keep, guard, observe |
| from | τό | to | Article - Accusative Neuter Singular | G3588 the |
| sacrificed to idols | εἰδωλόθυτον | eidōlothyton | Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular | G1494 sacrificed to an image |
| blood | αἷμα | haima | Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular | G129 blood |
| the meat of strangled animals | πνικτὸν | pnikton | Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular | G4156 strangled |
| and | καὶ | kai | Conjunction | G2532 and, even, also, namely |
| sexual immorality | πορνείαν | porneian | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G4202 fornication, idolatry |
Acts 21:26
| English | Greek | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the | τῇ | tē | Article - Dative Feminine Singular | G3588 the |
| next | ἐχομένῃ | echomenē | Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Feminine Singular | G2192 I have, hold, possess |
| day | ἡμέρᾳ | hēmera | Noun - Dative Feminine Singular | G2250 a day |
| Paul | Παῦλος | Paulos | Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular | G3972 Paul |
| took | παραλαβὼν | paralabōn | Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular | G3880 I take, receive |
| the | τοὺς | tous | Article - Accusative Masculine Plural | G3588 the |
| men | ἄνδρας | andras | Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural | G435 a male human being, a man |
| purified himself | ἁγνισθεὶς | hagnistheis | Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular | G48 I cleanse, purify |
| along with | σὺν | syn | Preposition | G4862 with |
| them | αὐτοῖς | autois | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural | G846 he, she, it, they, them, same |
| he entered | εἰσῄει | eisēei | Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular | G1524 I go in, enter |
| the | τὸ | to | Article - Accusative Neuter Singular | G3588 the |
| temple | ἱερόν | hieron | Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular | G2411 a temple |
| to give notice | διαγγέλλων | diangellōn | Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular | G1229 I announce throughout, spread the news of |
| of the | τῶν | tōn | Article - Genitive Feminine Plural | G3588 the |
| date | ἡμερῶν | hēmerōn | Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural | G2250 a day |
| purification | ἁγνισμοῦ | hagnismou | Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular | G49 purification |
| would be complete | ἐκπλήρωσιν | ekplērōsin | Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular | G1604 completion, fulfillment |
| the | ἡ | hē | Article - Nominative Feminine Singular | G3588 the |
| offering | προσφορά | prosphora | Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular | G4376 an offering, sacrifice |
| would be made | προσηνέχθη | prosēnechthē | Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular | G4374 I bring to, offer |
| for | ὑπὲρ | hyper | Preposition | G5228 in behalf of, above |
| each | ἑκάστου | hekastou | Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular | G1538 each, every one |
| of them | αὐτῶν | autōn | Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural | G846 he, she, it, they, them, same |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
Acts 21:20 Romans 10:2 · Galatians 1:14 · Acts 22:3 · Acts 11:18 · Acts 15:1 · Acts 15:5
Acts 21:21 1 Corinthians 9:19–21 · Galatians 6:12–15 · Galatians 5:1–6 · Acts 15:19–21 · Acts 21:28 · Romans 14:1–6 · 1 Corinthians 7:18–19
Acts 21:23 Acts 18:18 · Numbers 6:2–7
Acts 21:24 Acts 21:26 · Acts 18:18 · Acts 24:18 · Exodus 19:14 · 1 Corinthians 9:20
Acts 21:25 Acts 15:29 · Acts 15:19–20
Acts 21:26 Acts 24:18 · Acts 21:24 · Numbers 6:13–20 · 1 Corinthians 9:20
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.