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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Acts 21:23

ACTS—NOTE ON Acts 21:23 under a vow. Those under a Nazirite vow stayed away from strong drink and avoided things that would defile them (such as contact with a dead body). They did not cut their hair (Numbers 6:1). When the time of the vow was over (often 30 days), they would cut their hair and present an offering in the temple.

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See also Acts 21:23 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 21:23. _WE HAVE FOUR MEN WHICH HAVE A VOW_] From the _shaving_ of the head, mentioned immediately after, it is evident that the four men in question were under the vow of Nazariteship; and...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WE HAVE FOUR MEN - There are with us four men. It is evident that James and the elders meant to say that these men were connected with them in the Christian church; and the fact shows that the Christi...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 21 _ 1. The journey from Miletus to Tyre and Ptolemais (Acts 21:1)._ 2. In Caesarea (Acts 21:8). 3. The Apostle's Arrival in Jerusalem and his visit to the Temple (Acts 21:15). 4. The Uproa...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ARRIVAL AT JERUSALEM: PAUL'S NAZIRITE VOW. Acts 21:17 gives the general impression on both sides when Paul arrived; in Acts 21:18 he presents himself to James with his retinue, and finds the elders, _...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    NO RETREAT (Acts 21:1-16)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    When we arrived in Jerusalem the brethren received us gladly. On the next day Paul along with us went to visit James; and all the elders were present. He greeted them and recounted one by one the thin...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    VOW. Greek. _euche._ See Acts 18:18. App-134....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Do therefore … vow on them_ They advise St Paul to take a part in the ceremonies of a Nazarite vow. He could not go through the whole course of the observance, for these men had already for some time...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ ΟὟΝ ΠΟΊΗΣΟΝ, _do therefore this_. They advise St Paul to take a part in the ceremonies of a Nazirite vow. He could not go through the whole course of the observance, for these men had already f...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ARRIVAL AT JERUSALEM. PAUL’S RECEPTION BY THE CHURCH AND BY THE PEOPLE...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _COMPROMISE ABOUT THE LAW ACTS 21:17-26:_ When Paul and his companions reached Jerusalem he went to visit James, the Lord's brother._ _ He reported how that God had received many Gentiles into the kin...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΠΟΊΗΣΟΝ _aor. act. imper. от_ ΠΟΙΈΩ (G4160) делать; здесь: принимать обет. _Aor. imper._ призывает к специфическому действию ΕΎΧΉ (G2171) обет (SB, 2:755-61; _см._ Acts 18:18). ΈΧΟΝΤΕΣ _praes. act. p...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1805 PAUL BECOMING A NAZARITE Acts 21:20. 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 th...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHICH HAVE A VOW— Of Nazariteship. See on ch. Acts 18:18. Josephus not only tells us in general, that it was customary with persons in any sickness or distress, to make vows, and to spend at least thi...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE VOYAGE TO ROME Acts 21:17 Acts 28:31 1. AT JERUSALEM. Acts 21:17, Acts 23:30 a. Paul's salutation and the advice of the e

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 18...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men - CHRISTIAN JEWS, NO DOUBT, _ Which have a vow on them - the...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 The party made a quick journey. The various terms, "running straight," "looming up, and leaving," suggest that they sailed before the wind, which blows from the northwest at that time of the year. 4...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ST. PAUL ARRESTED AT JERUSALEM 1. Were gotten] rather, 'had torn ourselves.' COOS] or Cos, a fertile island off the Carian coast, producing silks, ointments, wheat, and wines. RHODES] a city, and lar...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ST. PAUL IN JERUSALEM (CHS 21:17-28:16) 17-40. Disturbances in the Temple. St Paul arrested....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 21 PAUL VISITS THE *BELIEVERS IN TYRE, 21:1-6 V1 We said goodbye to them and then we left. We sailed straight to Cos. The next day, we went to...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WE HAVE FOUR MEN WHICH HAVE A VOW ON THEM. — The advice was eminently characteristic. (1) It came from one who himself lived as bound by the Nazarite vow. “No razor came upon his head, and he drank ne...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    εἰσὶν ἡμῖν, _cf._ Acts 18:10. The four men certainly seem to have been members of the Church at Jerusalem, _i.e._, Jewish Christians. εὐχὴν ἔχοντες : a temporary Nazirite vow, Numbers 6:1 ff. The leng...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    BINDING TOGETHER THE CHURCH Acts 21:15 Mnason was an _early_ disciple. He could remember the first days of the Church's story. It was good for Paul to have the society and care of this good man durin...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Passing on toward Jerusalem, Paul and those with him reached Tyre. There the disciples urged the apostle not to go to Jerusalem; but, having received from the Spirit a revelation of all that lay befor...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Paul Urged To Take Peaceful Actions The group next travelled on to Jerusalem where they planned to lodge with one of the early disciples, Mnason of Cyprus. They were joyfully greeted by the brethren i...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Who have a vow upon them. On which account they will have sacrifices offered for them in the temple. (Witham)_...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    They very judiciously advised Paul to adopt a procedure in connection with four Jewish brethren, who at that time had on them temporary Nazaritish vows, to fall in with them, becoming a Mosaic Nazarit...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. (16) There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple,...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The closing Chapter s from 21 to the end of the book are devoted to an episode full of interest and profit Paul's course from Jerusalem to Rome. And here we find ourselves in an atmosphere considerabl...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    − 23._Do that which we say to thee. _The elders seem (as I said even now) to be fallen unto a foolish pampering [indulgence] through too much love of their nation. But the manifest judgment of that th...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    After this time the apostle has to give account of himself, and to accomplish in a striking manner the predictions of the Lord. Brought before tribunals by the malice of the Jews, given up through the...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    DO THEREFORE THIS THAT WE SAY TO THEE,.... This is said not as commanding, but as advising; and not to what was a duty, and necessary to be done as such, but as a point of prudence: WE HAVE FOUR MEN...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Ver. 23. _A vow on them_] A voluntary vow of Nazariteship, which yet is agreeable to the law's praescript....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _What is it therefore_ Which may not be apprehended on such an occasion? Or, what is to be done? _the multitude must needs come together_ They will certainly be gathered together in a tumultuous manne...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A case of Jewish prejudice:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    DO THEREFORE THIS THAT WE SAY TO THEE: WE HAVE FOUR MEN WHICH HAVE A VOW ON THEM;...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    From this point onwards there is no record of the work of God spreading as it had previously through Paul's energetic ministry. In fact, we read of no conversions until Chapter 28:24, though we may be...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    THEREFORE DO WHAT WE TELL YOU: WE HAVE FOUR MEN WHO HAVE TAKEN A VOW. 1. There are four men in the Jerusalem church which have taken a vow. 2. Their vow was about to expire and they must be purified...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    Acts 21:22-26 Paul in the Temple For centuries this has been. difficult section of Scripture to harmonize with what Paul taught elsewhere.. offer the following comments from Wayne Jackson on this sec...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    19-26 Paul ascribed all his success to God, and to God they gave the praise. God had honoured him more than any of the apostles, yet they did not envy him; but on the contrary, glorified the Lord. Th...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Vows were either, first, such as men did make in gratitude for any deliverance they had received, as from sickness, storms, or any imminent dangers: or, secondly, to enable them the better to serve Go...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Tertullian Against Marcion Book V and the Nazarites introduced into the temple,[99]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 21:23 Therefore G3767 do G4160 (G5657) what G5124 G3739 tell G3004 (G5719) you G4671 We...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “Do therefore this that we say to you. We have four men who have a vow on them. These take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may shave their heads, and all will kno...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PAUL PROVES HIS TRUE DEDICATION IN JERUSALEM AND HIS CONFORMITY WITH THE LAW AND DOES NOTHING THAT IS WORTHY OF DEATH BUT THE DOORS OF THE TEMPLE ARE CLOSED AGAINST HIM (21:17-30)....

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 21:23. DO THEREFORE THIS THAT WE SAY UNTO THEE: WE HAVE FOUR MEN WHICH HAVE A VOW ON THEM. ‘ We,' that is, James the presiding elder and his brother-presbyters of the Jerusalem Church. The advice...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    DO THEREFORE THIS (τουτο ουν ποιησον). The elders had thought out a plan of procedure by which Paul could set the whole matter straight.WE HAVE (εισιν ημιν). "There are to us" (dative of possessi...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    VOW Probably according to (Numbers 6:1). Compare (Colossians 2:14)....

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Holy Spirit forbids Paul to go to Jerusalem. Paul goes to Jerusalem. Paul takes a Jewish vow. Seized in the temple by the Jews and bound with chains. CHARACTERS: Paul, Holy Spirit, Philip,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 21:1. _We came with a straight course to Coos,_ or Cos. See the map of St. Paul's travels. It is the principal island of the group called Cyclades. Hypocrates the physician, and Apelles the paint...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    TO SEE JAMES. This James was not one of the Twelve, but is the human brother of Jesus (see note on 1 Corinthians 15:7; Acts 15:6). He seemed to be a man of great influence in the Jerusalem church (Gal...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow upon them._ PAUL AND THE NAZARITE VOW Hardly had Paul’s glowing words of passionate love to Christ--his plea for a flee pulpi...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And when we were come to Jerusalem the brethren received us gladly._ PAUL AT JERUSALEM Note here-- I. The early conquests of the gospel. During the quarter of a century which had elapsed since Paul...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 21:15. WE TOOK UP OUR CARRIAGES, or things to be carried (see Judges 18:21).—ἀποσκευασάμενοι. The reading of the Received text should be translated, _having packed away our bag...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 21:1 _When it came to pass float we were parted from them, and had set sail _for _it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, _A.V.; _Cos _for _Coos_, A.V....

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And so it came to pass, that after we had gotten from them, and we had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the following day unto to Rhodes, and from there to Patara: where we foun...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Acts 18:18; Numbers 6:2...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    A vow. The Nazarite vow. See Numbers 6:1-21....

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Therefore — To obviate their prejudice against thee: do this that we say to thee — Doubtless they meant this advice well: but could Paul follow it in godly sincerity? Was not the yielding so far to th...

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