Acts 21 29

Acts 21:29 kjv

(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

Acts 21:29 nkjv

(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

Acts 21:29 niv

(They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

Acts 21:29 esv

For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

Acts 21:29 nlt

(For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.)

Acts 21 verses

Acts 21 29 Meaning

This verse reveals the specific, yet false, reason for the mob's frenzy against Paul in Jerusalem: Asian Jews had previously observed Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, with Paul in the city. Based on this sighting, they supposed or conjectured that Paul had brought Trophimus into the inner areas of the Temple, an act strictly forbidden to non-Jews and punishable by death. This grave accusation, born of assumption rather than evidence, ignited the riot against Paul, falsely implicating him in a sacrilegious act and providing the spark for his subsequent arrest.

Acts 21 29 Context

Acts chapter 21 marks Paul's return to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey, bringing relief for the poor believers there (Acts 24:17). Despite warnings of danger from various prophets, Paul was determined to go, feeling compelled by the Holy Spirit. Upon arrival, he met James and the elders, who heard of his fruitful Gentile ministry but also voiced concerns about reports among Jewish believers that Paul taught Jews living among Gentiles to forsake Moses, circumcision, and the Law. To address these misperceptions and demonstrate his ongoing respect for Jewish tradition, the elders suggested Paul join four men in a purification vow (Nazirite vow) in the Temple, covering their expenses (Acts 21:23-26). This action was intended to publicly affirm Paul's Jewish piety. However, towards the end of this seven-day purification period, some zealous Jews from the province of Asia (where Paul had ministered extensively) saw Paul in the Temple area. Seeing him also with Trophimus, an Ephesian, outside the temple previously (Acts 21:29) sparked a grave assumption. Verse 29 provides the specific, albeit incorrect, details for the outrage in verse 28, which led to a riot, Paul's arrest by the Roman tribune, and the beginning of a prolonged period of trials and imprisonment.

Acts 21 29 Word analysis

• For: (γὰρ - gar) A causal conjunction. It links this verse as the explanation for the outcry described in the previous verse (Acts 21:28). It clarifies why the Asian Jews reacted so violently.
• they: Refers to the "Jews from Asia" (οἱ ἀπὸ τῆς Ἀσίας Ἰουδαῖοι - hoi apo tēs Asias Ioudaioi) mentioned in Acts 21:27. These were Jewish zealots likely from Ephesus or the surrounding region, who knew Paul and his Gentile associates.
• had previously seen: (προεωράκεσαν - proeōrakesan) A compound Greek verb in the perfect tense. This implies a prior, completed action of seeing. They didn't see Paul bringing Trophimus into the Temple at that moment; rather, they recalled an earlier sighting. This specific tense is crucial in highlighting the inference rather than direct observation.
• Trophimus: (Τρόφιμον - Trophimon) A Greek name, meaning "nourishing" or "well-fed." He was a known Gentile believer, a companion of Paul, and one of the delegates accompanying Paul from Asia to Jerusalem with the collection for the poor (Acts 20:4). His Greek name and Ephesian origin confirm his non-Jewish identity.
• the Ephesian: (τὸν Ἐφέσιον - ton Ephesion) Identifies his city of origin, Ephesus, a major Roman city in the province of Asia. This specific detail was important to the Asian Jews, confirming he was a Gentile from their home region, further fueling their preconceived notions about Paul.
• with him: "Him" refers to Paul. They saw Trophimus accompanying Paul, implying closeness and association.
• in the city: (ἐν τῇ πόλει - en tē polei) This refers to Jerusalem, but specifically indicates within the city walls, not necessarily inside the restricted areas of the Temple itself. This is a critical distinction that exposes the leap of logic made by the accusers.
• and they supposed: (ὑπενόουν - hypenooun) Imperfect tense of a Greek verb meaning "to suspect, imagine, infer, suppose, surmise, think wrongly." This is the pivotal word of the verse, explicitly stating that their conviction was based on conjecture, assumption, or a mistaken inference, not factual observation. It underscores the baselessness of the accusation.
• that Paul: The subject of their false assumption.
• had brought him: (εἰσήγαγεν - eisēgagen) The action attributed to Paul – "he had brought in." This implies an active, deliberate, and illegal act by Paul.
• into the temple: (εἰς τὸ ἱερόν - eis to hieron) This refers to the inner, sacred areas of the Temple beyond the Court of the Gentiles, specifically the courts accessible only to Jews (like the Court of Women or Court of Israelites). An inscription discovered (the "soreg" inscription) clearly warned Gentiles not to pass this point on pain of death. Bringing a Gentile into this forbidden zone was an act of extreme defilement, inciting righteous indignation among zealous Jews.

Acts 21 29 Bonus section

The accusation in Acts 21:29 is profoundly ironic when considered against the spiritual fulfillment Paul articulated elsewhere. While the physical Temple maintained its stringent boundaries, Paul's theology emphasized that in Christ, the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile had been broken down (Eph 2:14). Gentiles were now fellow citizens, members of God's household, and together with Jews, were being built into a holy temple in the Lord (Eph 2:19-22). The Asian Jews feared Paul was literally violating the physical temple, but Paul taught that Christ was establishing a new, spiritual temple composed of both Jews and Gentiles united by the Holy Spirit, which implicitly welcomed Gentiles into God's presence in a way far more profound than any physical structure could ever allow. This incident thus underscores the deep tension between traditional Jewish legalism and the expansive, inclusive nature of the Gospel message that Paul proclaimed.

Acts 21 29 Commentary

Acts 21:29 concisely presents the ignition point of the mob violence against Paul. The core issue is not what was seen, but what was supposed. Zealous Jews from Asia, intimately familiar with Paul's ministry among Gentiles and perhaps with Trophimus himself as a Gentile convert, recalled seeing Paul and Trophimus together in the open, public spaces of Jerusalem. This observation, entirely permissible, morphed into a malicious and baseless assumption: that Paul had then proceeded to bring this Gentile into the sacred, forbidden inner precincts of the Temple. This accusation of temple defilement, one of the most inflammatory charges possible in Jerusalem, weaponized deep-seated ethnic and religious anxieties, making a peaceful resolution impossible. Paul, who was actively engaging in purification rites to affirm his Jewish bona fides, ironically became the target of this accusation specifically related to the sanctity of the Jewish Temple. This misunderstanding and false accusation became a catalyst, ushering in Paul's arrest and initiating the next major phase of his life and ministry: his trials and journey to Rome, ultimately serving to advance the Gospel in unforeseen ways.