Act 21:28, 22:21-22 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 28. Men of Israel . Jews. All who are the friends of the law of Moses. This is the man , etc. This implies that they had before given information to the Jews at Jerusalem that there was such a man; and they now exulted in the fact that they had found him. They, therefore, called on all these to aid in securing and punishing him. That teacheth , etc. , . Against the people . The people of the Jews. That is, they pretended that he taught that the customs and laws of the Jewish nation were not binding, and endeavoured to prejudice all men against them. And the law . The law of Moses. And this place . The temple. Everything against the law would be interpreted also as being against the temple, as most of the commandments of the law were celebrated there. It is possible also that Paul might have declared that the temple was to be destroyed. Comp. . And further, brought Greeks , etc. The temple was surrounded by various areas called courts . . The outermost of these courts was called the court of the Gentiles, and into that it was lawful for the Gentiles to enter. But the word "temple" here refers, doubtless, to the parts of the area appropriated especially to the Israelites, and which it was unlawful for a Gentile to enter. See the area marked G G G G in the plan of the temple, . And hath polluted , etc. He defiled the temple by thus introducing a Gentile. No greater defilement, in their view, could scarcely be conceived. No more effective appeal could be made to the passions of the people than this. (e) "teacheth"

Acts 21:28

Verse 28. Men of Israel. Jews. All who are the friends of the law of Moses.

This is the man, etc. This implies that they had before given information to the Jews at Jerusalem that there was such a man; and they now exulted in the fact that they had found him. They, therefore, called on all these to aid in securing and punishing him.

That teacheth, etc. Acts 6:13, Acts 6:14.

Against the people. The people of the Jews. That is, they pretended that he taught that the customs and laws of the Jewish nation were not binding, and endeavoured to prejudice all men against them.

And the law. The law of Moses.

And this place. The temple. Everything against the law would be interpreted also as being against the temple, as most of the commandments of the law were celebrated there. It is possible also that Paul might have declared that the temple was to be destroyed. Comp. Acts 6:13,14.

And further, brought Greeks, etc. The temple was surrounded by various areas called courts. Mt 21:12. The outermost of these courts was called the court of the Gentiles, and into that it was lawful for the Gentiles to enter. But the word "temple" here refers, doubtless, to the parts of the area appropriated especially to the Israelites, and which it was unlawful for a Gentile to enter. See the area marked G G G G in the plan of the temple, Mt 21:12.

And hath polluted, etc. He defiled the temple by thus introducing a Gentile. No greater defilement, in their view, could scarcely be conceived. No more effective appeal could be made to the passions of the people than this.

(e) "teacheth" Acts 6:13,14, 24:5,6

Acts 22:21-22

Verse 21. And he said unto me, Depart. Because the Christians at Jerusalem would not receive him.

Far hence. Paul travelled far in the heathen nations. A large part of his time in the ministry was spent in remote countries, and in the most distant regions then known. Rom 15:19.

(m) "I will" Acts 13:2,47, Rom 1:5, 11:13, 15:16, Gal 2:7,8, Eph 3:7,8 1Timm 2:7 Verse 22. And they gave him audience. They heard him patiently.

Unto this word. The word Gentiles.

Away with such a fellow. Greek, Take such a man from the earth; i.e., put him to death. It is language of strong indignation and abhorrence. The reasons of their indignation were not that they supposed that the Gentiles could not be brought into covenant with God, for they would themselves compass sea and land to make one proselyte; but they were,

(1.) that they believed that Paul taught that they might be saved without conforming to the law of Moses; and,

(2.) his speech implied that the Jews were more hardened than the Gentiles, and that he had a greater prospect of success in bringing them to God than he had in regard to the Jews.

(%) "lifted up" "raised" (n) "it is not fit" Acts 25:24