Acts 21:31

And as they went about(Rev. Ver."were seeking") to kill him The object of the mob was clearly, now that they had the Apostle in their power, to beat him to death in the crowd, and thus avoid a charge of murder against any individual.

tidings came unto(Better with Rev. Ver. up to) the chief captain of the band The chief military officer of the Romans in Jerusalem was stationed in the tower of Antonia, which was situate on the N.W. of the Temple on the hill Acra. It had been built by Herod and was so close to the scene of the tumult that news would be brought at once. The military officer (probably a tribune) is called in the Greek, chiliarch, that is, officer over a thousand men. On the word "band" for a Roman cohort, or troop of soldiers, cf. Acts 10:1. The verb "came up to" shews that the writer was familiar with the locality and had the whole scene in his mind.

that all Jerusalem was in an uproar Rev. Ver."in confusion." At the time of the feast religious party feeling would run very high, and the multitudes of strangers visiting the city would think to shew their zeal for the temple and the law by their eagerness to avenge any supposed profanation.