Acts 21:30 kjv
And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
Acts 21:30 nkjv
And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.
Acts 21:30 niv
The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut.
Acts 21:30 esv
Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.
Acts 21:30 nlt
The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him.
Acts 21 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 21:28 | Crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people, the Law, and this place. Moreover, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." | Paul accused of defiling the Temple |
| Acts 21:31 | But when they tried to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. | Commander intervened |
| Acts 21:32 | He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. | Military intervention |
| Acts 21:33 | Then the commander came and arrested him, and commanded that he be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. | Paul’s arrest |
| Acts 22:20 | "And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, consenting to his death, and keeping the clothes of those who were killing him." | Paul’s testimony before the mob |
| Acts 23:10 | Now when there was a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul be pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to come and take him away from them by force, and to bring him into the barracks. | Paul removed for safety |
| Acts 23:12 | And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. | Plot to kill Paul |
| Acts 25:3 | And requested favorable opportunity against Paul from the governor, intending to kill him on the way. | Another assassination attempt |
| 1 Corinthians 1:23 | But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, | Jewish opposition to the Gospel |
| Galatians 5:11 | And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has been done away. | Persecution for preaching the cross |
| Romans 11:28 | Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the forefathers. | Israel's rejection of Christ |
| John 11:48 | "If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." | Fear of Roman intervention |
| Matthew 10:22 | "And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved." | Persecution foretold |
| Matthew 24:9 | "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake." | Persecution foretold |
| John 16:2 | "They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he is offering God service." | Persecution foretold |
| Acts 19:29 | So the whole city was filled with confusion, and hurried into the amphitheater, dragging Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s companions in travel. | Similar uproar in Ephesus |
| Exodus 32:25 | Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), | Lawless behavior |
| 2 Samuel 15:14 | And David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise and flee! For there is no escape for us from Absalom; hurry, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring destruction upon us, and smite the inhabitants of the city with the edge of the sword.” | Sudden unrest and violence |
| 1 Kings 1:41 | Now Adonijah and all the invited guests who were with him heard it after they had finished eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "Why is this uproar in the city?" | Uproar in the city |
| Psalm 145:9 | The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. | God’s mercy contrasted with mob |
| 1 Timothy 2:2 | For kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. | Call for peace and order |
Acts 21 verses
Acts 21 30 Meaning
The city of Jerusalem erupted in chaos. The elders and the crowd, upon seeing the Ephesian Gentiles in the Temple complex with Paul, seized him and dragged him out of the Temple. They immediately shut its doors, a swift and decisive action to prevent any further defilement, and attempted to kill him.
Acts 21 30 Context
This verse occurs during Paul’s final visit to Jerusalem. The Jerusalem church, still largely Jewish, held a strict adherence to the Law. Rumors and accusations against Paul, specifically that he preached against the Law and defiled the Temple, had preceded him and were now amplified by his recent activity of bringing Gentiles into the Temple courts. The accusation that he brought Trophimus, an Ephesian Gentile, into the inner court of the Temple, reserved for Jews, served as the immediate trigger for the riot. This was seen as a grave sacrilege by devout Jews and stirred up immense hostility. The ensuing uproar was a culmination of the intense theological and cultural tensions between early Jewish Christianity and the more traditional Jewish leadership and populace. The rioting demonstrated the volatile nature of Jerusalem at this time, especially in or around the Temple complex.
Acts 21 30 Word Analysis
- καὶ ὡς (kai hōs): "And as" - Connects this action to the preceding events and introduces the immediate consequence.
- εἶδεν (eiden): "saw" (aorist indicative active 3rd person singular of ὁράω - horaō) - Indicates a completed action, they observed.
- πάντα Ἰερουσαλήμ (panta Hierousalēm): "all Jerusalem" - Hyperbolic expression for the widespread commotion throughout the city.
- εἰς σηκὸν (eis sekon): "into the sanctuary/temple court" - Refers to the inner courts of the Temple, specifically the Court of the Gentiles or even further in, implying defilement of sacred space.
- αἱ σιμοναὶ (hai simonai): "the doors" - Refers to the gates or entrances of the Temple.
- καὶ ἀνεῖλον (kai anheilōn): "and killed" or "and seized to kill" (aorist infinitive active from ἀναιρέω - anaireō) - Indicates their intent and action to put him to death. The participle form implies simultaneous action or purpose.
- αὐτὸν (auton): "him" - Refers to the Apostle Paul.
- ἄχρι (achri): "until" - Signifies the duration of their intention, they continued their actions up to the point of intervention.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And as all Jerusalem saw...": This phrase emphasizes the public and widespread nature of the uproar and the accusatory action taken against Paul. It implies the mob's intention was not covert, but openly enacted before the eyes of the city.
- "...into the temple...and shut the doors": This sequence highlights the deliberate and definitive action of expelling and containing Paul, not just from the street, but from the sacred precinct. Shutting the doors signified isolating the 'desecrator' and enacting judgment within their own authority, away from Roman oversight.
- "...and sought to kill him": This is a direct statement of murderous intent and the immediate attempt to carry it out, driven by religious zeal and outrage.
Acts 21 30 Bonus Section
The shutting of the Temple doors can be seen as a symbolic act, mirroring the exclusivity and the guarding of sacred tradition against perceived impurity. It also serves as a crucial narrative device, moving the story from a religiously charged mob scene to a politically charged arrest by Roman authorities. The text in Acts 19:29 also describes a similar uproar in Ephesus, where the crowd, incited by Demetrius the silversmith, shouted, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" and caused widespread confusion, demonstrating how religious fervor could easily ignite violent public disturbances. This highlights a recurring theme of contention and conflict arising from the preaching of the Gospel.
Acts 21 30 Commentary
The scene depicts a frenzied mob, inflamed by accusations against Paul regarding the Temple and the Law. Their immediate action of dragging him out and shutting the doors underscores their zealous, perhaps misguided, attempt to cleanse and defend the sanctity of the Temple according to their understanding. The urgency and violence—"sought to kill him"—reveal the deep-seated opposition to Paul’s ministry and the perceived threat it posed to their traditions and identity. This immediate, violent reaction is a stark contrast to the Gospel message and foreshadows the difficulties and dangers Paul would face even among his own people. The shutting of the doors also effectively trapped Paul and the crowd outside, necessitating the intervention of Roman authorities for his safety.