21 ¹⁷ So we reached Jerusalem, where the brotherhood welcomed us gladly. 21 ¹⁸ Next day Paul paid a visit to James; we were with him, and all the elders attended. 21 ¹⁹ He greeted them, and then described in detail all that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 21 ²⁰ When they heard this, they gave praise to God. Then they said to Paul: 'You see, brother, how many thousands of converts we have among the Jews, all of them staunch upholders of the Law. 21 ²¹ Now they have been given certain information about you: it is said that you teach all the Jews in the gentile world to turn their backs on Moses, telling them to give up circumcising their children and following our way of life. 21 ²² What is the position, then? They are sure to hear that you have arrived. You must therefore do as we tell you. 21 ²³ We have four men here who are under a vow; 21 ²⁴ take them with you and go through the ritual of purification with them, paying their expenses, after which they may shave their heads. Then everyone will know that there is nothing in the stories they were told about you, but that you are a practising Jew and keep the Law yourself. 21 ²⁵ As for the gentile converts, we sent them our decision that they must abstain from meat that has been offered to idols, from blood, from anything that has been strangled, Some witnesses omit: from anything that has been strangled. and from fornication.' 21 ²⁶ So Paul took the four men, and next day, after going through the ritual of purification with them, he went into the temple to give notice of the date when the period of purification would end and the offering be made for each one of them.