Acts 21 28

Acts 21:28 kjv

Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

Acts 21:28 nkjv

crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

Acts 21:28 niv

shouting, "Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place."

Acts 21:28 esv

crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

Acts 21:28 nlt

yelling, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple ? and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles. "

Acts 21 verses

Acts 21 28 Meaning

This verse describes a forceful accusation by the Jews in Jerusalem against the apostle Paul and his companions, specifically Barnabas. They are accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple courts, which was forbidden by Mosaic law. The statement implies that "this man" (likely Titus, whom Paul had with him and was uncircumcised) and Paul, by their actions, have defiled the holy place.

Acts 21 28 Context

This verse occurs at a critical juncture in Paul's journey, shortly after his arrival in Jerusalem. Paul had been instructed by the Holy Spirit not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:23), yet he felt compelled by God's calling to go, anticipating his suffering there (Acts 20:22-24). Upon arrival, he was welcomed by the elders and recounted his ministry among the Gentiles. However, concerned about reports that Paul taught Jews to forsake Moses, they devised a plan for Paul to demonstrate his respect for the Law by participating in a purification ritual in the temple. This verse reflects the immediate backlash when some Jews from Asia, who recognized Paul and his traveling companion Trophimus (a Gentile convert), falsely accused Paul of bringing Trophimus into the inner courts of the temple, a place restricted to Jews. This accusation ignited the ensuing turmoil, leading to Paul's arrest by the Roman commander.

Acts 21 28 Word Analysis

• ὅτε (hote) - "when"; temporal conjunction, marking the timing of the events.
• εἶδον (eidon) - "they saw"; aorist indicative active of ὁράω (horaō), meaning to see with understanding or recognition.
• αὐτοὺς (autous) - "them"; accusative plural masculine pronoun, referring to Paul and his companions, or specifically to Trophimus.
• ἐν (en) - "in"; preposition indicating location within.
• τῷ (tō) - "the"; definite article.
• ἱερῷ (hierō) - "temple"; dative singular neuter of ἱερόν (hieron), referring to the temple complex, likely the outer courts accessible to Gentiles.
• καὶ (kai) - "and"; conjunction.
• ἀνέκραξαν (anekraxan) - "they cried out"; aorist indicative active of ἀνακράζω (anakrazō), to cry out or shout, often in alarm or accusation.
• τὴν (tēn) - "the"; definite article.
• Ἰουδαίων (Ioudaiōn) - "of the Jews"; genitive plural masculine adjective/noun, indicating possession or origin.
• βοηθόν (boēthon) - "helper" or "accomplice"; accusative singular masculine noun. Here, it signifies that Trophimus was brought with Paul as if to support him in an act that they considered offensive, or perhaps it reflects their outrage that someone seen as a troublemaker was "helped" into the temple. The Septuagint uses similar terms in contexts of aiding or supporting an action, sometimes with negative connotations.

Word Groups Analysis

• "For they had seen them in the temple": This phrase establishes the visual evidence that fueled the accusation. The identification of "them" likely includes Trophimus, an Ephesian Gentile. The location "in the temple" is critical, implying a breach of the sacred precincts.
• "and cried out": The sudden, loud outcry signifies alarm and outrage among the accusers. It was an immediate, emotional reaction to what they perceived as a defilement of the temple.
• "Helper of the Jews": This phrasing is somewhat challenging. In the context, it's likely a distorted accusation by the crowd. They are accusing Paul of being aided by Trophimus in what they saw as a transgression. Alternatively, some scholars suggest "Helper" might be used sarcastically, or it could be a corruption of another word in the transmission of the text. A more direct reading, though, is that they saw Trophimus in the temple and, connecting him to Paul, cried out, identifying him as Paul's associate or "accomplice" in a perceived offense against Jewish sanctity. The term "Jews" here refers to the accusers themselves.

Acts 21 28 Bonus Section

The accusation points to the existence of explicit signage within the temple complex warning Gentiles against proceeding further, as described by historical sources like Josephus. Such signs were meant to protect the inner sanctum from defilement, carrying severe penalties for transgressors. The zealous reaction of the accusers in this verse underscores the sensitive nature of Jewish religious practices and the deep-seated pride in their unique covenantal identity and their sacred space, the Temple. It also shows how readily misunderstanding and false accusations could arise, especially regarding Paul’s ministry which aimed at inclusivity through Christ.

Acts 21 28 Commentary

The Jews' cry reflects a deeply ingrained zealousness for the sanctity of the temple. They viewed any Gentile presence within the inner courts as a grave desecration, a boundary violation with severe consequences. Paul, in his ministry, had striven to bridge the divide between Jew and Gentile in Christ, a revolutionary concept that was understandably met with resistance by those who adhered strictly to the Old Covenant regulations concerning temple access. The accusation, whether factually accurate regarding Trophimus’s location in the restricted areas or a gross exaggeration born from suspicion and prejudice, served as the catalyst for Paul's arrest. It highlighted the continuing tension between the new reality in Christ and the old structures of separation. The spiritual unity in Christ (Galatians 3:28) did not immediately erase the physical and cultural boundaries that the Law had prescribed, and the practical application of this new unity remained a delicate and often contentious matter.