Acts 21:27-40

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 21:27

And when the seven days were almost ended ,.... The Syriac version renders it, "when the seventh day was come"; from the time that Paul came to Jerusalem: some understand this of the seven weeks from the passover to Pentecost, and that it was when they were almost ended, and the day of Pentecost was at hand, for which Paul came up to Jerusalem; but rather, the seven days of purification of the Nazarites are meant: the Jews which were of Asia ; and it may be chiefly of Ephesus, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 21:28

Crying out, men of Israel, help ,.... The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "help us"; to hold Paul, on whom they had laid their hands, and to assist in beating him: but why such an outcry for help against a single man, and he but little of stature, and weak in body, and so easily held and overpowered? it may be they chose to engage others with them, to give the greater countenance to their actions, and for their own security and protection, should they be opposed or called to an account; ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 21:29

For they had seen before with him in the city ,.... Not of Ephesus, but of Jerusalem: Trophimus an Ephesian ; the same that is mentioned in Acts 20:4 whom these Jews of Asia, and who very probably were inhabitants of Ephesus, knew very well to be a Gentile: whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple ; for seeing him walk with the apostle very familiarly through the streets of Jerusalem, they concluded from thence, that he took him with him into the temple, which was a very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 21:30

And all the city was moved, and the people ran together ,.... The outcry in the temple reached the ears of some that were without, and these alarmed others; so that the report of a disturbance in the temple soon went through the whole city; and brought people out of their houses, who ran together in great numbers, to see what was the matter: and they took Paul and drew him out of the temple ; as unworthy to be in that holy place; and that it might not be defiled with his blood; for their... 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

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