Acts 21:34

ἐπεφώνουν for ἐβόων with אABDE.

μὴ δυναμένου δὲ αὐτοῦ with אABDE.

34. ἄλλοι δὲ ἄλλο τι ἐπεφώνουν, and some shouted one thing and some another. ἐπιφωνέω is the verb which St Luke gives for the din of the multitude which shouted against Jesus (Luke 23:21), ‘Crucify Him’; also for the adulatory shouting in honour of Herod Agrippa (Acts 12:22). No other New Testament writer uses the word. It is twice found in the LXX. (1Es 9:47; 2Ma 1:23), both times of loud responses in prayer.

The chief captain appears to have made an effort to learn what was laid to the charge of the Apostle.

διὰ τὸν θόρυβον, because of the uproar. Probably, as at Ephesus (Acts 19:32), a large part of the shouters hardly knew themselves why the clamour was raised.

ἄγεσθαι … εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν, to be led into the castle. παρεμβολή signifies ‘an encampment,’ but was employed to designate the barracks which the Romans had in the Tower of Antonia. The same word is rendered ‘army’ in Hebrews 11:34. Cf. also LXX. 1 Samuel 4:5-7.