College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 21:27-40
b.
Jews from Asia cause Paul's arrest. Acts 21:27-40.
And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him,
crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.
For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.
And all the city was moved, and the people ran together; and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut.
And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
And forthwith he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them: and they, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul.
Then the chief captain came near, and laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had done.
And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd: and when he could not know the certainty for the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle.
And when he came upon the stairs, so it was that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the crowd;
for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, Away with him.
And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith unto the chief captain, May I say something unto thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek?
Art thou not then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?
But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, give me leave to speak unto the people.
And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying,
Acts 21:27-28 Imagine the surprise that must have appeared in the eyes of certain Jews from Asia when they saw in the streets of Jerusalem the familiar, but despised figure of Saul of Tarsus. These were some of the very Jews who had opposed him in Ephesus. When they first saw him he was walking with a certain Greek named Trophimus. This fact only served to heighten their hatred of him and his liberal ways.
Then, one day, while these same Jews were worshiping in the temple, whom did they there behold but this despised heretic. In a moment they were crying out in hatred against him. And what were the words of their cry? Men of Israel help. This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people (the Jews) and the law and this place.
And then to give a real charge that could result in his death they cried out what they knew was not so: And moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.
839.
Why were the Jews from Asia filled with even more hatred than usual when they saw Saul in Jerusalem?
Acts 21:29-32 This was a trumped-up charge based wholly on hatred. They had only seen him with one Greek and that not in the temple, but in the streets, and they supposed he had brought him into the temple.
But they were not content with words only. Even as they cried they took hold of the apostle, while yet he was in the very act of worship. He was pulled and hauled across the temple floor toward the door of the Holy Enclosure; out into the Gentile quarter; and straightway the temple guards shut the doors to shut out this heretic. The spirit of the mob had taken hold of these Jews and they forthwith proceeded to beat Paul to death. This was done just outside the Gate Beautiful.
The Roman authorities who ever kept a watchful eye out for the ever increasing Jewish tumults soon spied the crowd and heard the cries. Word went up to the tribune in the tower of Antonia as to what was taking place; indeed, he was told that: All Jerusalem was in confusion.-'-' When these unarmed Jews saw the Roman soldiers bearing down upon them they had good reason to leave off beating Paul. But a short time before five to ten thousand of them had been trampled to death close to this very spot; so says Josephus.
The tribune soon had officially laid hands on Paul and bound him to two of his soldiers with handcuffs. Paul was now the prisoner of the Roman government. The bonds and afflictions had indeed come.
840.
What was the lie told by the Jews?
841.
Where was Paul as he was being beaten by the Jews?
842.
What was told to the tribune that brought such immediate action?
Acts 21:33-40 Turning to those close by, Claudius Lysias asked Who is he? Some shouted one thing and some shouted another and all of them shouted something. Amid this uproar no sense could be had so in disgust at these noisy, unreasonable Jews, Claudius Lysias commanded: Take him to the castle. But Paul was not to be led away alone for the crowd followed him shouting what they shouted at another prisoner of Rome: Away with Him. Coming to the steps of the castle, the crowd pressed so closely upon Paul that he had no room to proceed, but proceed he must, so the soldiers hoisted Paul upon their shoulders and in this manner he was carried up the stairs to the tower. But the apostle paid not the slightest heed to all this tumult for his mind and heart were filled with another matter. Even as he was set down on his feet again he burst out with this question to the chief captain: May I say something to thee?
It wasn-'t what Paul said but the language that he used that gave the tribune a start. Lysias thought he knew the one he had arrested, but when he heard the Greek tongue he realized he was wrong. The man he thought Paul to be was an Egyptian, and no common prisoner either, but rather that notorious outlaw who drew away four thousand men of the assassins after him. These (p. 192) assassins seemed to be an underground organization bent on the overthrow of the Roman government; so it was especially desirous that such be captured. Who then is this man about whom such a tumult is made? The tribune asked if Paul was not the one he thought him to be. Paul gave answer to this in the pointed concise words:
I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city.
The emphasis placed upon the city was to impress the tribune with his position in the Roman world. To his citizenship not only of Tarsus but of the Roman empire he was soon to allude.
Perhaps to answer better the question of just who Paul was he was given permission to speak to the mob. But the purpose was thwarted, for if Paul used Greek to attract the attention of the Roman army officer, he was to use Hebrews to draw the attention of those of his own race.
Stepping forward, as best he could with the bonds upon him, he made the familiar gesture to his audience for attention. He secured it and a great stillness fell over the mob gathered before him. The great consuming love of the apostle for his kindred according to the flesh is here manifested. He loved them that they might be saved.
843.
What was the first act of Lysias upon rescuing Paul?
844.
What was in the mind of Paul as he was being carried on the shoulders of the soldiers?
845.
Why was the tribune surprised when he heard Paul speak Greek?
846.
Who were the Assassins?
847.
Why mention the city from which Paul was?
848.
How was the purpose of the captain thwarted by Paul?
849.
To what purpose did Paul love his kinsman?