²⁴ Take these men with you and share in their ·cleansing ceremony [ritual purification]. Pay their expenses so they can shave their heads [^Ca ritual that indicates the end of a Nazirite’s vows; Num. 6:13–20]. Then ·it will prove to everyone [^Leveryone will know] that what they have heard about you is not true and that you ·follow [^Lindeed keep/observe] the law of Moses in your own life. ²⁵ We have already sent a letter [^Lwith our judgment/decision] to the Gentile believers [^Cthe decision of the council of Jerusalem; 15:6–21]. The letter said: ‘Do not eat food that has been offered to idols, or blood, or animals that have been strangled. Do not take part in sexual sin [15:20].’”

²⁶ The next day Paul took the four men and shared in the ·cleansing ceremony [ritual purification] with them. Then he went to the Temple and announced the time when the days of the ·cleansing ceremony [ritual purification] would be finished and an ·offering [sacrifice] would be ·given [offered] for each of the men.