Acts 21:31-40

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 21:27-40

We have here Paul brought into a captivity which we are not likely to see the end of; for after this he is either hurried from one bar to another, or lies neglected, first in one prison and then in another, and can neither be tried nor bailed. When we see the beginning of a trouble, we know not either how long it will last or how it will issue. I. We have here Paul seized, and laid hold on. 1. He was seized in the temple, when he was there attending the days of his purifying, and the solemn... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 21:27-36

21:27-36 When the seven days were nearly completed and when the Jews from Asia had seen Paul in the temple, they stirred up the whole mob and they attacked him shouting, "Help, men of Israel! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, against the Law and against this place. Furthermore he has brought Greeks into the Temple and defiled this holy place." For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city and they thought that Paul had taken him into the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 21:37-40

21:37-40 When Paul was about to be brought into the barracks he said to the commander, "May I say something to you?" He said, "Can you speak Greek? Are you not then the Egyptian who some time ago started a revolution and led four thousand men of the Dagger-bearers out into the desert?" Paul said, "I am a man who is a Jew, a native of Tarsus, a citizen of no mean city. I ask you, let me speak to the people." When he had given his permission to do so, Paul stood on the steps and made a gesture... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 21:31

And as they went about to kill him ,.... In the manner as zealots did, without bringing him before any court of judicature, without any charge, trial, and condemnation: tidings came unto the chief captain of the band ; the Roman band of soldiers, who were placed near the temple, to keep the peace of the city, and persons in order; and who were more especially needful, at such a time as the feast of Pentecost, when there was such a great concourse of people in the city, and indeed always... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 21:32

Who immediately took soldiers and centurions ,.... A very large number of soldiers, for they are called an army, in Acts 23:27 with a sufficient number of officers called centurions, who were each of them over an hundred men, to command them, and put them in order: and ran down unto them : from the tower to the temple, the outer part of it; perhaps the mountain of the house, where they had dragged Paul, and were beating him; hither the captain, with his officers and soldiers, came in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 21:33

Then the chief captain came near ,.... To the place where the Jews were beating Paul: and took him the Arabic version adds, "from them"; he rescued him out of their hands, as he himself says, Acts 23:27 . And commanded him to be bound with two chains : partly to appease the people, and partly to secure Paul; who, he supposed, had been guilty of some misdemeanour, which had occasioned this tumult; these two chains were put, one on one arm, and the other on the other arm; and were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 21:34

And some cried one thing, and some another, among the multitude ,.... For though they agreed to beat him, and even to kill him, yet some of them knew not for what; being led by a blind zeal for Moses, the law and temple, or rather by fury and madness: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult ; could not come at the truth of the matter, or any certain knowledge of it, not anything that could be depended upon, because of the noise of the people, and the different notes they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 21:35

And when he came upon the stairs ,.... Or steps, which led up to the castle; for it was built upon a very high place, as appears from the account of it in the preceding verse; to which agrees what Aristaeas F7 Hist. Deuteronomy 70 Interpret. p. 36. Ed. Oxon. says of it in the following words; "in order to have knowledge of all things, we went up to a castle adjoining to the city, which is situated in a very high place, fortified with very high towers, built with large stones, as we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 21:36

For the multitude of the people followed after ,.... The captain and the soldiers, who had taken away Paul from them, and were carrying him to the castle: crying, away with him ; or "take him away", that is, by death; or "lift him up", upon the cross, crucify him, crucify him, as they said concerning Christ. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 21:37

And as Paul was to be led into the castle ,.... Just as he was got up to the top of the steps, or stairs, that led up to the castle, and was about to go into the door of it: he said unto the chief captain, may I speak unto thee ? the apostle was one that had had a good education, and was a man of address, and this his modest and respectful way of speaking to the chief captain shows; and the question he put to him, was in the Greek language: hence it follows, who said to him, canst... read more

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