Acts 21 31

Acts 21:31 kjv

And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Acts 21:31 nkjv

Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Acts 21:31 niv

While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Acts 21:31 esv

And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

Acts 21:31 nlt

As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Acts 21 verses

Acts 21 31 Meaning

The verse describes the immediate escalation of a commotion in Jerusalem upon seeing Paul accompanied by Trophimus, leading to a violent reaction by the Jewish crowd who mistakenly believed Paul had brought him into the temple, an act forbidden to Gentiles.

Acts 21 31 Context

The context is Paul's final visit to Jerusalem. After fulfilling his ministry in the Gentile world, he felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem, carrying a collection for the poor saints there. This was seen as a sign of unity between Jewish and Gentile believers. Upon his arrival, he met with James and the elders, who were informed about the Jewish believers' perception that Paul taught apostasy from Moses among the Diaspora Jews. To address this concern and demonstrate his adherence to the Law, Paul agreed to participate in a Nazarite vow alongside four other men. However, during this period, hostile Jews from Asia recognized him in the temple courts and incited a mob, believing he had profaned the sacred space by bringing an uncircumcised Gentile, Trophimus, into it. This verse marks the immediate ignition point of that violent uprising.

Acts 21 31 Word Analysis

• οἱ ἀρχιερῶς (hoi archiereis): "the chief priests." This refers to the high-ranking members of the Jewish religious establishment, including former high priests and those holding significant influence within the Sanhedrin. They often instigated opposition to the early Christian movement, viewing it as a threat to their authority and the established religious order.

• καὶ πᾶν τὸ συνέδριον: "and the whole council." This signifies the Sanhedrin, the supreme religious and judicial body of the Jews. Their involvement indicates the severity of the situation and the concerted effort of the religious leadership to suppress the apostles and their teachings.

• ἐζήτουν (ezētoūn): "they were seeking" or "they sought." This imperfect tense indicates an ongoing action, suggesting their deliberate and persistent efforts to apprehend Paul, not just a momentary impulse.

• ζητῆσαι (zētēsai): "to seize" or "to lay hold of." This is the aorist infinitive, indicating the intended action. They wanted to get hold of Paul.

• τὸν Παῦλον: "Paul." The subject of the council's attention and opposition.

• τὸ πλῆθος (to plēthos): "the multitude" or "the crowd." This refers to the large gathering of people, stirred up by the accusations. The use of "multitude" emphasizes the disorderly and potentially dangerous nature of the assembly.

• ἀναιρεῖν (anairesin): "to kill" or "to destroy." This strong term conveys the lethal intent of the crowd. They were not seeking merely to arrest or detain Paul, but to execute him. The accusative plural noun from the verb ἀναιρέω (anairesō).

• τοῦ Πάσχα (tou Pascha): "of Passover." This context is crucial. Passover was a time of immense religious significance for Jews, commemorating their deliverance from Egypt. Festivals in Jerusalem often brought large crowds, making them volatile environments susceptible to heightened emotions and reactions to perceived religious transgressions.

Word Groups Analysis

• "οἱ ἀρχιερῶς καὶ πᾶν τὸ συνέδριον ἐζήτουν...": This group establishes the primary antagonists (chief priests and the Sanhedrin) and their active pursuit of Paul, highlighting the organized opposition he faced from the religious establishment.

• "...ζητῆσαι τὸν Παῦλον καὶ ἐπίσχειν.": This phrase clarifies the council's goal: to apprehend Paul and prevent him from causing further disruption or propagating his message, as they perceived it. The intent was to stop his ministry and quell any perceived threat to their authority and tradition.

• "τὸ δὲ πλῆθος, ὡς ἀκούσας...": This signals a shift in focus to the general populace. The cause of their action is their hearing of an accusation. The use of "ὡς ἀκούσας" (as having heard) implies they acted on report, likely instigated by the chief priests and council, and that their knowledge might have been incomplete or misconstrued.

• "...τὸ πλῆθος, ὡς ἀκούσας, ἠγέρθη": This vividly depicts the spontaneous eruption of the crowd's anger and action upon hearing the accusation, which would have resonated deeply with their religious sensitivities concerning the temple.

• "ὡς ἀκούσας, ἠγέρθη καὶ τὸ πλῆθος...": The accusative singular masculine participle from ἀκούω (akouō), meaning "having heard." The crowd acted because of what they heard, indicating an immediate, emotional response to the accusation rather than a reasoned judgment.

• "...ἠγέρθη καὶ τὸ πλῆθος": "the multitude was aroused." This Greek word, ἠγέρθη (egērthē), implies being roused or stirred up, signifying a collective, passionate, and almost physical reaction that moved them to action.

• "...καὶ ἦν πόλεμος": "and there was a war" or "and a riot." This phrase denotes the ensuing chaos and violent conflict that erupted. It paints a picture of intense disorder and struggle. The aorist passive verb ἦν (ēn) combined with the noun πόλεμος (polemos), used here figuratively for a violent commotion.

Acts 21 31 Bonus Section

The phrase "was stirred up" (ἠγέρθη) is used in the New Testament to describe a commotion or rebellion, highlighting the turbulent nature of events surrounding Paul. The timing of this incident during Passover is significant, as it was a festival intended to remember God's liberation of Israel but ironically became a setting for violent unrest and misunderstanding regarding God's liberation in Christ. The underlying issue was not Trophimus's presence alone, but the theological implications of Gentiles being included in God's people through faith in Jesus, challenging traditional boundaries. The desire to "kill" (ἀναιρεῖν) shows the intensity of the opposition Paul faced, driven by a zealous, albeit misguided, defense of their religious heritage.

Acts 21 31 Commentary

This verse captures the volatility of Jerusalem during the Passover feast, where deep-seated religious sentiments and political tensions were amplified. The chief priests and the Sanhedrin, the religious elite, were actively seeking to capture Paul, seeing him as a persistent troubler of their authority and a threat to their traditions. The spark that ignited the violent response was the arrival of Trophimus with Paul. Although Paul had previously taken Jewish men to be purified in the temple, the rumor, or perception, that he had brought a Gentile (Trophimus, identified elsewhere as an Ephesian Greek) into the inner courts was considered an unforgivable desecration. This accusation instantly aroused the fervor of the crowd, leading to a "riot" (πόλεμος) with the intent to kill Paul. This illustrates how easily crowds could be manipulated by religious authorities with inflammatory accusations, particularly concerning the sanctity of the temple. Paul's mission to reconcile Jews and Gentiles was a central theme of his ministry, but it directly clashed with the exclusivist practices and anxieties of some within Judaism at that time, leading to severe persecution for him.