Handelingen 21:21

21 En zij zijn aangaande u bericht, dat gij al de Joden, die onder de heidenen zijn, leert van Mozes afvallen, zeggende: dat zij de kinderen niet zouden besnijden, noch naar de wijze der wet wandelen.

Handelingen 21:21 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 21:21

And they are informed of thee
By persons that came from the several parts of the Gentile world, where the apostle had been preaching; and by letters which came from the Jews in those parts, who were no friends to the apostle's ministry:

that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles, to
forsake Moses:
or "apostatize from Moses"; that is, the law of Moses; that he taught the Gentiles not to regard the rituals of the law of Moses gave them no uneasiness; but that he should teach the Jews that were scattered among the Gentiles, and as many of them that believed in Christ, to disregard and drop the observance of them, who had been always brought up in them, this they could not bear; and that the apostle so taught, they had credible information: particularly,

saying, that they ought not to circumcise their children;
though this does not appear; it is true the apostle taught that circumcision was abolished, and that it was nothing; yea, that to submit to it as necessary to salvation, was hurtful and pernicious; but as a thing indifferent, he allowed of it among weak brethren; and in condescension to their weakness, did administer it himself; in which he became a Jew to the Jew, that he might gain some:

neither to walk after the customs;
either of the law of Moses, meaning other rites there enjoined, besides circumcision; or of their fathers, and their country, the traditions of the elders, which as yet they had not got clear of; the disuse of old customs is not easily brought about, or it is not easy to bring persons off of them.

Handelingen 21:21 In-Context

19 En als hij hen gegroet had, verhaalde hij van stuk tot stuk, wat God onder de heidenen door zijn dienst gedaan had.

20 En zij, dat gehoord hebbende, loofden den Heere, en zeiden tot hem: Gij ziet, broeder, hoevele duizenden van Joden er zijn, die geloven; en zij zijn allen ijveraars van de wet.

21 En zij zijn aangaande u bericht, dat gij al de Joden, die onder de heidenen zijn, leert van Mozes afvallen, zeggende: dat zij de kinderen niet zouden besnijden, noch naar de wijze der wet wandelen.

22 Wat is er dan te doen? Het is gans nodig, dat de menigte samenkome; want zij zullen horen, dat gij gekomen zijt.

23 Doe dan hetgeen wij u zeggen: Wij hebben vier mannen, die een gelofte gedaan hebben.