Acts 21:23,24 - 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 thirty days in extraordinary devotions; but also says, that when Agrippa came to Jerusalem, he offered sacrifices of thanksgiving, and ordered a good number of Nazarites to be shaved; a phrase exactly answering to this before us: whence Dr. Lardner very naturally argues, that to be at charges with Nazarites, was both a common and very popular thing among the Jews. Maimonides expressly asserts, that a person who was not himself a Nazarite, might bind himself by a vow to take part with one in his sacrifices. The charges of these four Nazarites would be the price of eight lambs and four rams, besides oil, flour, &c. Numbers 6:14-15. The circumstance of shaving here, shews that the vow was accomplished; for it was begun with letting the hair grow; and put an end to, by shaving it off. See Acts 21:26. It is evident from the last clause of Acts 21:24 that whatever might have passed between St. Paul and St. James on the subject in private, (Comp. Galatians 2:2.) St. James and the brethren thought it most regular and convenient that theJewish ritual should still be observed by those of the circumcision whobelievedinChrist:andconsideringwhattribulationthe church of Jerusalem must otherwise have been exposed to by the Sanhedrim, who no doubt would have prosecuted them to the utmost as apostates; and also how soon Divine Providence intended to render the practice of it impossible, and to break the whole power of the Jews by the destruction of the temple, city, and nation; it was certainly the most orderly and prudent conduct to conform to it, though it was looked upon by those who understood the matter fully (which it was not necessary that all should,) as antiquated, and ready to vanish away. Hebrews 8:13.