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Selected Verse: Acts 21:23 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ac 21:23 |
Strong Concordance |
Do [4160] therefore [3767] this [5124] that [3739] we say [3004] to thee [4671]: We [2254] have [1526] four [5064] men [435] which have [2171] a vow [2192] on [1909] them [1438]; |
| |
King James |
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
we have four men--Christian Jews, no doubt.
which have a vow--perhaps kept ready on purpose. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
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 Christians at Jerusalem did not disregard the institutions of Moses, and had not been so far enlightened in the doctrines of Christianity as to forsake yet the ceremonial rites of the Jews.
Which have a vow on them - Which have made a vow. See the notes on Act 18:18. From the mention of shaving the head (in Act 21:24), it is evident that the vow which they had taken was that of the Nazarite; and that as the time of their vow was about expiring, they were about to be shaven, in accordance with the custom usual on such occasions. See the notes on Act 18:18. These persons Paul could join, and thus show decisively that he did not intend to undervalue or disparage the laws of Moses when those laws were understood as mere ceremonial observances. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
vow
Probably according to (Num 6:1-7).
Compare (Col 2:14-17). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
A vow
The Nazarite vow. See Numbers 6:1-21. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| 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 the judgment of others too great a deference to be paid to any mere men? |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| 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 that the days of their vow were nearly at an end, as they were about to shave their heads; for, during the time of the Nazariteship, the hair was permitted to grow, and only shaven off at the termination of the vow. Among the Jews, it was common to make vows to God on extraordinary occasions; and that of the Nazarite appears to have been one of the most common; and it was permitted by their law for any person to perform this vow by proxy. See the law produced in my note on Num 6:21 (note). "It was also customary for the richer sort to bestow their charity on the poorer sort for this purpose; for Josephus, Ant. lib. xix. cap. 6, sec. 1, observes that Agrippa, on his being advanced from a prison to a throne, by the Emperor Claudius, came to Jerusalem; and there, among other instances of his religious thankfulness shown in the temple, Ναζαραιων ξυρασθαι διεταξε μαλα συχνους, he ordered very many Nazarites to be shaven, he furnishing them with money for the expenses of that, and of the sacrifices necessarily attending it." See Bp. Pearce. |
18 And [1161] Paul [3972] after this tarried [4357] there yet [2089] a good [2425] while [2250], and then took his leave [657] of the brethren [80], and sailed thence [1602] into [1519] Syria [4947], and [2532] with [4862] him [846] Priscilla [4252] and [2532] Aquila [207]; having shorn [2751] his head [2776] in [1722] Cenchrea [2747]: for [1063] he had [2192] a vow [2171].
24 Them [5128] take [3880], and purify thyself [48] with [4862] them [846], and [2532] be at charges [1159] with [1909] them [846], that [2443] they may shave [3587] their heads [2776]: and [2532] all [3956] may know [1097] that those things [3754], whereof [3739] they were informed [2727] concerning [4012] thee [4675], are [2076] nothing [3762]; but [235] that thou thyself [846] also [2532] walkest orderly [4748], and keepest [5442] the law [3551].
18 And [1161] Paul [3972] after this tarried [4357] there yet [2089] a good [2425] while [2250], and then took his leave [657] of the brethren [80], and sailed thence [1602] into [1519] Syria [4947], and [2532] with [4862] him [846] Priscilla [4252] and [2532] Aquila [207]; having shorn [2751] his head [2776] in [1722] Cenchrea [2747]: for [1063] he had [2192] a vow [2171].
14 Blotting out [1813] the handwriting [5498] of ordinances [1378] that was against [2596] us [2257], which [3739] was [2258] contrary [5227] to us [2254], and [2532] took [142] it [846] out of [1537] the way [3319], nailing [4338] it [846] to his cross [4716];
15 And having spoiled [554] principalities [746] and [2532] powers [1849], he made a shew of them [1165] openly [1722] [3954], triumphing over [2358] them [846] in [1722] it [846].
16 Let [2919] no [3361] man [5100] therefore [3767] judge [2919] you [5209] in [1722] meat [1035], or [2228] in [1722] drink [4213], or [2228] in [1722] respect [3313] of an holyday [1859], or [2228] of the new moon [3561], or [2228] of the sabbath [4521] days:
17 Which [3739] are [2076] a shadow [4639] of things to come [3195]; but [1161] the body [4983] is of Christ [5547].
1 And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],
2 Speak [01696] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and say [0559] unto them, When either man [0376] or woman [0802] shall separate [06381] themselves to vow [05087] a vow [05088] of a Nazarite [05139], to separate [05144] themselves unto the LORD [03068]:
3 He shall separate [05144] himself from wine [03196] and strong drink [07941], and shall drink [08354] no vinegar [02558] of wine [03196], or vinegar [02558] of strong drink [07941], neither shall he drink [08354] any liquor [04952] of grapes [06025], nor eat [0398] moist [03892] grapes [06025], or dried [03002].
4 All the days [03117] of his separation [05145] shall he eat [0398] nothing that is made [06213] of the vine [03196] tree [01612], from the kernels [02785] even to the husk [02085].
5 All the days [03117] of the vow [05088] of his separation [05145] there shall no razor [08593] come [05674] upon his head [07218]: until the days [03117] be fulfilled [04390], in the which he separateth [05144] himself unto the LORD [03068], he shall be holy [06918], and shall let the locks [06545] of the hair [08181] of his head [07218] grow [01431].
6 All the days [03117] that he separateth [05144] himself unto the LORD [03068] he shall come [0935] at no dead [04191] body [05315].
7 He shall not make himself unclean [02930] for his father [01], or for his mother [0517], for his brother [0251], or for his sister [0269], when they die [04194]: because the consecration [05145] of his God [0430] is upon his head [07218].
21 This is the law [08451] of the Nazarite [05139] who hath vowed [05087], and of his offering [07133] unto the LORD [03068] for his separation [05145], beside that that his hand [03027] shall get [05381]: according [06310] to the vow [05088] which he vowed [05087], so he must do [06213] after the law [08451] of his separation [05145].