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

Acts 21:31 records the pivotal moment when the Roman military became aware of the intense riot instigated against the Apostle Paul in the Temple courtyard. As the mob actively sought to kill Paul by beating him, the alarming news of the city-wide uproar reached the commander of the Roman cohort stationed in Jerusalem. This immediate notification and subsequent Roman intervention were crucial, preventing Paul's death by lynching and redirecting the course of his missionary endeavors, setting the stage for his appeal to Caesar and journey to Rome.

Acts 21 31 Context

Acts chapter 21 marks Paul's final return to Jerusalem at the culmination of his third missionary journey. Despite warnings from various disciples and the prophet Agabus concerning the suffering awaiting him there (Acts 21:4, 11-14), Paul was determined to go, feeling compelled by the Spirit to minister to his Jewish brethren and deliver the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem. Upon arrival, he reported his Gentile ministry successes to James and the elders, who, aiming to appease conservative Jewish Christians who were suspicious of Paul, advised him to participate in a Nazarite vow purification ritual in the Temple (Acts 21:20-24). This act was meant to demonstrate his adherence to Jewish customs and contradict rumors that he taught Jews to forsake the Law. However, Paul was recognized by some Jews from Asia (specifically Ephesus), who mistakenly believed he had brought Trophimus, an Ephesian Gentile, into the inner Temple courts, an act forbidden to non-Jews and punishable by death. This false accusation (Acts 21:28) ignited an intense riot. The entire city was stirred up, and the mob seized Paul, dragging him out of the Temple with the intent to kill him, shouting to shut the Temple gates behind them to avoid defiling the sacred space with a murder. It is in this exact moment of near-death that Acts 21:31 occurs, detailing the alarm reaching Roman authorities who quickly intervened. Historically, during Jewish festivals like Pentecost (which this likely was), Jerusalem's population swelled, making the city prone to civil unrest. The Romans maintained a strong military presence, particularly a cohort garrisoned in the Antonia Fortress, which overlooked the Temple Mount, to swiftly quell any uprisings threatening the Pax Romana.

Acts 21 31 Word analysis

• καὶ (kai) - And: This simple conjunction links the unfolding narrative directly to the preceding events. It emphasizes the immediacy of the report given the ongoing violent actions.
• ζητούντων (zētountōn) - seeking: A present participle, indicating a continuous and active effort. It suggests not a momentary outburst, but a determined and prolonged intention of the mob. The Greek verb `ζητέω` (zēteō) often implies searching with a specific aim.
• αὐτὸν (auton) - him: Referring specifically to Paul. The focus of the mob's murderous intent was clear and singular.
• ἀποκτεῖναι (apokteinai) - to kill: An aorist infinitive, expressing the direct purpose of their actions. The Greek verb `ἀποκτείνω` (apokteinō) unambiguously means "to kill" or "to murder," leaving no doubt about the severity of their intent. This was a premeditated or immediate death sentence from the mob, a lynching.
• φάσις (phasis) - word / report: This term refers to the news or an official report. In this context, it suggests an urgent and potentially formal or direct communication. It's more than a rumor; it's a substantive report of civil disorder.
• ἀνέβη (anebē) - came to / rose up: An aorist verb from `ἀναβαίνω` (anabainō), meaning "to go up" or "to ascend." It implies the report "ascended" the chain of command, reaching the highest local Roman military authority. It signifies swift dissemination.
• τῷ χιλιάρχῳ (tō chiliarchō) - to the commander: Dative case, indicating the recipient. `χιλίαρχος` (chiliarchos) literally means "commander of a thousand," equivalent to a tribune or colonel. This was a high-ranking Roman officer, the commanding officer of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem, responsible for maintaining public order. His intervention indicates the seriousness of the situation.
• τῆς σπείρης (tēs speirēs) - of the cohort: `σπεῖρα` (speira) denotes a cohort, typically a unit of about 600 soldiers, approximately a tenth of a legion. The commander oversaw this significant military force. This identifies the specific Roman military unit involved in the intervention.
• ὅτι (hoti) - that: Introduces the content of the report received by the commander.
• συγχύννεται (synchynnetai) - was in confusion / stirred up: This verb `συγχύνω` (synchynō) in its present tense highlights that the state of "confusion" or "tumult" was ongoing and pervasive. The entire city was experiencing this disorder, suggesting a widespread riot.
• ὅλη (holē) - all / whole: Modifies "Jerusalem," emphasizing the complete scope and gravity of the unrest. It wasn't just a localized brawl but a disturbance affecting the entire populace.
• Ἱερουσαλὴμ (Ierousalem) - Jerusalem: The city itself, a densely populated and religiously charged center, especially during festival times, making such widespread "confusion" particularly dangerous.

• ζητούντων αὐτὸν ἀποκτεῖναι (zētountōn auton apokteinai) - (while) they were seeking to kill him: This phrase vividly portrays the desperate situation Paul faced. The participle `ζητούντων` emphasizes the active and ongoing nature of the mob's attempt. This wasn't merely a threat but a physical act of violence leading to intended murder, which Romans would see as a grave breach of public order and potentially an uprising.
• φάσις ἀνέβη τῷ χιλιάρχῳ τῆς σπείρης (phasis anebē tō chiliarchō tēs speirēs) - word came to the commander of the cohort: This describes the alert system of the Roman military. Information about unrest, especially involving large crowds, would be quickly escalated to the senior officer responsible for maintaining order. The Roman authorities were vigilant about maintaining peace (Pax Romana) in occupied territories, and any significant public disturbance warranted immediate attention from their highest local official.
• ὅτι συγχύννεται ὅλη Ἱερουσαλήμ (hoti synchynnetai holē Ierousalem) - that all Jerusalem was in confusion: This summary of the report to the commander underscores the magnitude of the problem. It wasn't just a minor skirmish but a city-wide pandemonium. For Roman rule, "all Jerusalem in confusion" would signify a potential rebellion, a situation that demanded the immediate and decisive deployment of force. This perspective highlights the Roman concern for civil order over individual justice for Paul at this initial stage.

Acts 21 31 Bonus section

The speed with which the news reached the chiliarchos suggests that the Antonia Fortress, the Roman barracks overlooking the Temple court, had soldiers constantly on patrol or observation. A disturbance of the magnitude described – Paul being dragged out of the Temple and beaten – would have been highly visible to the Roman guards. This swift reaction highlights the pragmatic approach of the Roman Empire: maintaining stability by suppressing any perceived threats to their authority or potential insurrections, even if it meant intervening in internal Jewish disputes. For Paul, this marked the end of his active missionary travels and the beginning of his role as a prisoner for Christ, which, paradoxically, extended his witness to new audiences, including the Roman elite, eventually fulfilling the divine call for him to preach to kings and Gentiles (Acts 9:15). The crowd's clamor for his death echoes similar shouts against Jesus decades earlier (Luke 23:18-23, John 19:15).

Acts 21 31 Commentary

Acts 21:31 marks a critical turning point in Paul's life and ministry, transitioning from direct missionary endeavors to a long process of judicial trials. The verse underscores the visceral hatred directed at Paul by zealous elements within Judaism, intent on his death outside any legal process. The instantaneous "word" reaching the commander reveals the Roman military's efficiency and heightened state of readiness, especially during festivals, and their keen watch over the volatile city. The motivation for their intervention was primarily to suppress public disorder rather than to save Paul's life directly; "all Jerusalem in confusion" was a severe threat to Roman control. This Roman intervention, though impersonal, was providentially used by God to preserve Paul for his ultimate mission to Rome, as foretold by Christ himself (Acts 23:11). Thus, human animosity and Roman imperial concern coalesce to advance God's divine purpose for His servant.