Act 21:27-40 | NET2full | STEP | When the seven days were almost over , the Jews from the province of Asia who had seen him in the temple area stirred up the whole crowd and seized him ,

‏ Acts 21:27-40

27 When the seven days were almost over, ^{▼▼tn BDAG 975 s.v. συντελέω 4 has “to come to an end of a duration, come to an end, be over…Ac 21:27.”} the Jews from the province of Asia ^{▼▼tn Grk “Asia”; in the NT this always refers to the Roman province of Asia. The Roman province of Asia made up about one-third of modern Asia Minor and was on the western side of it. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.} ^{▼▼sn Note how there is a sense of Paul being pursued from a distance. These Jews may well have been from Ephesus, since they recognized Trophimus the Ephesian (v. 29).} who had seen him in the temple area ^{▼▼tn Grk “in the temple.” See the note on the word “temple” in v. 28.} stirred up the whole crowd ^{▼▼tn Or “threw the whole crowd into consternation.” L&N 25.221 has “συνέχεον πάντα τὸν ὄχλον ‘they threw the whole crowd into consternation’ Ac 21:27. It is also possible to render the expression in Ac 21:27 as ‘they stirred up the whole crowd.’”} and seized ^{▼▼tn Grk “and laid hands on.”} him, 28 shouting, “Men of Israel, ^{▼▼tn Or “Israelite men,” although this is less natural English. The Greek term here is ἀνήρ (anēr), which only exceptionally is used in a generic sense of both males and females. In this context, it is conceivable that this is a generic usage since “the whole crowd” is mentioned in v. 27, although it can also be argued that these remarks were addressed primarily to the men present, even if women were there.} help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, ^{▼▼sn The law refers to the law of Moses.} and this sanctuary! ^{▼▼tn Grk “this place.”} ^{▼▼sn This sanctuary refers to the temple. The charges were not new, but were similar to those made against Stephen (Acts 6:14) and Jesus (Luke 23:2).} Furthermore ^{▼▼tn BDAG 400 s.v. ἔτι 2.b has “ἔ. δὲ καί furthermore…al. ἔ. τε καί…Lk 14:26; Ac 21:28.” This is a continuation of the same sentence in Greek, but due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English to use shorter sentences, a new sentence was begun here in the translation.} he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple ^{▼▼tn Grk “into the temple.” The specific reference is to the Court of the Sons of Israel (see the note following the term “unclean” at the end of this verse). To avoid giving the modern reader the impression that they entered the temple building itself, the phrase “the inner courts of the temple” has been used in the translation.} and made this holy place ritually unclean!” ^{▼▼tn Or “and has defiled this holy place.”} ^{▼▼sn Has brought Greeks…unclean. Note how the issue is both religious and ethnic, showing a different attitude by the Jews. A Gentile was not permitted to enter the inner temple precincts (contrast Eph 2:11-22). According to Josephus (Ant. 15.11.5 [15.417]; J. W. 5.5.2 [5.193], cf. 5.5.6 [5.227]), the inner temple courts (the Court of the Women, the Court of the Sons of Israel, and the Court of the Priests) were raised slightly above the level of the Court of the Gentiles and were surrounded by a wall about 5 ft (1.5 m) high. Notices in both Greek and Latin (two of which have been discovered) warned that any Gentiles who ventured into the inner courts would be responsible for their own deaths. See also Philo, Embassy 31 (212). In m. Middot 2:3 this wall was called “soreq” and according to m. Sanhedrin 9:6 the stranger who trespassed beyond the soreq would die by the hand of God.} 29 (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, and ^{▼▼tn Grk “whom.”} they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.) ^{▼▼tn On the phrase “inner temple courts” see the note on the word “temple” in v. 28.} ^{▼▼sn This is a parenthetical note by the author. The note explains the cause of the charge and also notes that it was false.} 30 The whole city was stirred up, ^{▼▼tn On this term see BDAG 545 s.v. κινέω 2.b.} and the people rushed together. ^{▼▼tn Or “the people formed a mob.” BDAG 967 s.v. συνδρομή has “formation of a mob by pers. running together, running together…ἐγένετο σ. τοῦ λαοῦ the people rushed together Ac 21:30.”} They seized ^{▼▼tn Grk “and seizing.” The participle ἐπιλαβόμενοι (epilabomenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun in the translation, and καί (kai) has not been translated here.} Paul and dragged him out of the temple courts, ^{▼▼tn Grk “out of the temple.” See the note on the word “temple” in v. 28.} and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were trying ^{▼▼tn Grk “seeking.”} to kill him, a report ^{▼▼tn Or “information” (originally concerning a crime; BDAG 1050 s.v. φάσις).} was sent up ^{▼▼tn Grk “went up”; this verb is used because the report went up to the Antonia Fortress where the Roman garrison was stationed.} to the commanding officer ^{▼▼tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos) literally described the “commander of a thousand,” but it was used as the standard translation for the Latin tribunus militum or tribunus militare, the military tribune who commanded a cohort of 600 men.} of the cohort ^{▼▼sn A cohort was a Roman military unit of about 600 soldiers, one-tenth of a legion.} that all Jerusalem was in confusion. ^{▼▼tn BDAG 953 s.v. συγχέω has “Pass. w. act.force be in confusion…ὅλη συγχύννεται ᾿Ιερουσαλήμ 21:31.”} 32 He ^{▼▼tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence and the tendency of contemporary English to use shorter sentences, the relative pronoun (“who”) was translated as a pronoun (“he”) and a new sentence was begun here in the translation.} immediately took ^{▼▼tn Grk “taking…ran down.” The participle κατέδραμεν (katedramen) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.} soldiers and centurions ^{▼▼sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.} and ran down to the crowd. ^{▼▼tn Grk “to them”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} When they saw ^{▼▼tn Grk “seeing.” The participle ἰδόντες (idontes) has been taken temporally.} the commanding officer ^{▼▼tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 31.} and the soldiers, they stopped beating ^{▼▼sn The mob stopped beating Paul because they feared the Romans would arrest them for disturbing the peace and for mob violence. They would let the Roman officials take care of the matter from this point on.} Paul. 33 Then the commanding officer ^{▼▼tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 31.} came up and arrested ^{▼▼tn Grk “seized.”} him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains; ^{▼▼tn The two chains would be something like handcuffs (BDAG 48 s.v. ἅλυσις and compare Acts 28:20).} he ^{▼▼tn Grk “and he.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun in the translation, and καί (kai) has been replaced with a semicolon. “Then” has been supplied after “he” to clarify the logical sequence.} then asked who he was and what ^{▼▼tn Grk “and what it is”; this has been simplified to “what.”} he had done. 34 But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else, ^{▼▼tn L&N 33.77 has “ἄλλοι δὲ ἄλλο τι ἐπεφώνουν ἐν τῷ ὄχλῳ ‘some in the crowd shouted one thing; others, something else’ Ac 21:34.”} and when the commanding officer ^{▼▼tn Grk “he”; the referent (the commanding officer) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} was unable ^{▼▼tn This genitive absolute construction has been translated temporally; it could also be taken causally: “and since the commanding officer was unable to find out the truth.”} to find out the truth ^{▼▼tn Or “find out what had happened”; Grk “the certainty” (BDAG 147 s.v. ἀσφαλής 2).} because of the disturbance, ^{▼▼tn Or “clamor,” “uproar” (BDAG 458 s.v. θόρυβος).} he ordered Paul ^{▼▼tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} to be brought into the barracks. ^{▼▼tn Or “the headquarters.” BDAG 775 s.v. παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”} 35 When he came to the steps, Paul ^{▼▼tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} had to be carried ^{▼▼sn Paul had to be carried. Note how the arrest really ended up protecting Paul. The crowd is portrayed as irrational at this point.} by the soldiers because of the violence ^{▼▼tn This refers to mob violence (BDAG 175 s.v. βία b).} of the mob, 36 for a crowd of people ^{▼▼tn Grk “the multitude of people.” While πλῆθος (plēthos) is articular, it has been translated “a crowd” since it was probably a subset of the larger mob that gathered in v. 30.} followed them, ^{▼▼tn The word “them” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.} screaming, “Away with him!” 37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, ^{▼▼tn Or “the headquarters.” BDAG 775 s.v. παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”} he said ^{▼▼tn Grk “says” (a historical present).} to the commanding officer, ^{▼▼tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers) See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 31.} “May I say ^{▼▼tn Grk “Is it permitted for me to say” (an idiom).} something to you?” The officer ^{▼▼tn Grk “He”; the referent (the officer) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} replied, ^{▼▼tn Grk “said.”} “Do you know Greek? ^{▼▼sn “Do you know Greek?” Paul as an educated rabbi was bilingual. Paul’s request in Greek allowed the officer to recognize that Paul was not the violent insurrectionist he thought he had arrested (see following verse). The confusion of identities reveals the degree of confusion dominating these events.} 38 Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebellion ^{▼▼tn L&N 39.41 has “οὐκ ἄρα σὺ εἶ ὁ Αἰγύπτιος ὁ πρὸ τούτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ἀναστατώσας ‘then you are not that Egyptian who some time ago started a rebellion’ Ac 21:38.”} and led the 4,000 men of the ‘Assassins’ ^{▼▼tn Grk “of the Sicarii.”} ^{▼▼sn The term “Assassins” is found several times in the writings of Josephus (J. W. 2.13.3 [2.254-257]; Ant. 20.8.10 [20.186]). It was the name of the most fanatical group among the Jewish nationalists, very hostile to Rome, who did not hesitate to assassinate their political opponents. They were named Sicarii in Latin after their weapon of choice, the short dagger or sicarius which could be easily hidden under one’s clothing. In effect, the officer who arrested Paul had thought he was dealing with a terrorist.} into the wilderness ^{▼▼tn Or “desert.”} sometime ago?” ^{▼▼tn Grk “before these days.”} 39 Paul answered, ^{▼▼tn Grk “said.”} “I am a Jew ^{▼▼tn Grk “a Jewish man.”} from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. ^{▼▼tn Grk “of a not insignificant city.” The double negative, common in Greek, is awkward in English and has been replaced by a corresponding positive expression (BDAG 142 s.v. ἄσημος 1).} Please ^{▼▼tn Grk “I beg you.”} allow me to speak to the people.” 40 When the commanding officer ^{▼▼tn The referent (the commanding officer) has been supplied here in the translation for clarity.} had given him permission, ^{▼▼tn Grk “When he gave permission.” The participle ἐπιτρέψαντος (epitrepsantos) is part of a genitive absolute construction and has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.} Paul stood ^{▼▼tn Grk “standing.” The participle ἑστώς (hestōs) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.} on the steps and gestured ^{▼▼tn Or “motioned.”} to the people with his hand. When they had become silent, ^{▼▼tn γενομένης (genomenēs) has been taken temporally. BDAG 922 s.v. σιγή has “πολλῆς σιγῆς γενομένης when a great silence had fallen = when they had become silent Ac 21:40.”} he addressed ^{▼▼tn Or “spoke out to.” L&N 33.27 has “to address an audience, with possible emphasis upon loudness—‘to address, to speak out to.’ πολλῆς δέ σιγῆς γενομένης προσεφώνησεν τῇ ᾿Εβραίδι διαλέκτῳ ‘when they were quiet, he addressed them in Hebrew’ Ac 21:40.”} them in Aramaic, ^{▼▼tn Grk “in the Hebrew dialect, saying.” This refers to the Aramaic spoken in Palestine in the 1st century (BDAG 270 s.v. ῾Εβραΐς). The participle λέγων (legōn) is redundant in English and has not been translated.}