Acts 21:32 kjv
Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
Acts 21:32 nkjv
He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
Acts 21:32 niv
He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
Acts 21:32 esv
He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
Acts 21:32 nlt
He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.
Acts 21 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 21:32 | And immediately he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the chiliarch and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. | Acts 20:19, Acts 20:31 |
| Acts 22:30 | But on the next day, wanting to know the real reason why he was accused by the Jews, he unbound him at once and ordered the chief priests and all the council to assemble, and brought Paul down and placed him before them. | Acts 23:10, Acts 23:12, Acts 23:15 |
| Acts 23:10 | As the dispute grew violent, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the soldiers to come and take Paul away to the barracks. | Acts 21:34, Acts 21:37 |
| Acts 25:24 | Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all you men who are here with us. You see this man about whom all the people of the Jews are petitioning me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. | Acts 22:22, Acts 25:25, Acts 26:31 |
| Acts 14:19 | But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds, and when they had stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, they supposed he was dead. | Acts 13:50, Acts 14:5, 2 Cor 11:25 |
| Acts 14:20 | But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and went into the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. | Acts 13:51 |
| 2 Cor 11:25 | Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; | 2 Cor 11:23, 2 Cor 11:24, 2 Cor 11:26 |
| 2 Cor 6:5 | in punishments by imprisonment, in turmoil, in labors, in sleepless nights, in hunger; | 2 Cor 11:23, 2 Cor 11:27 |
| Phil 3:6 | as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness under the law, blameless. | Acts 8:3, Gal 1:13 |
| Gal 1:13 | For you heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. | Acts 9:1, Gal 1:23 |
| 1 Tim 3:7 | He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil. | 1 Tim 5:14, 1 Tim 6:9, Tit 1:7 |
| Luke 21:12 | But before all these things take place, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be dragged before kings and governors for my name’s sake. | Luke 21:16, John 16:2, 1 Pet 4:12 |
| Ps 3:1-3 | O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “there is no salvation for him in God.” But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. | Ps 3:1, Ps 18:2, Ps 27:1 |
| Ps 27:1-3 | The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me, to attack my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise against me, in this I will be. | Ps 3:6, Ps 46:1, Prov 18:10 |
| Jer 1:17 | “But you, gird up your loins; stand up, and tell them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I strike you down before them. | Jer 15:19, Jer 15:20 |
| Mark 5:33 | but the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. | Mark 5:30, Luke 8:46 |
| Acts 19:28-29 | And when they heard this, they were filled with wrath and cried out: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging Gaius and Aristarchus, Companions of Paul. | Acts 19:28, Acts 19:29, Acts 19:34 |
| Acts 19:31 | Also some Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him, begging him not to risk himself in the theater. | Acts 19:31 |
Acts 21 verses
Acts 21 32 Meaning
This verse describes a chaotic scene in Jerusalem where the crowd and the chief priests seize Paul. They arrest him, beat him, and attempt to kill him. The Roman chiliarch, alerted to the commotion, rushes in with soldiers to prevent Paul from being torn apart. This moment highlights the intense opposition Paul faced from Jewish leaders and the violent unrest that characterized Jerusalem during that period.
Acts 21 32 Context
Paul has just arrived in Jerusalem and has been warmly received by the believers, including James, the leader of the Jerusalem church. However, elders have informed Paul that rumors are circulating that he teaches Jews to forsake Moses. To demonstrate that these rumors are false and to maintain peace with the Jewish believers, Paul agrees to a purification ritual, which involves expensive offerings. This public demonstration, however, ignites a furious backlash from the Jewish crowd in the temple. They see Paul associating with Gentiles within the temple courts, misinterpreting his presence. The commotion draws the attention of the Roman authorities, who intervene to restore order.
Acts 21 32 Word Analysis
“And immediately” (καὶ εὐθὺς - kai euthys): Indicates a swift and direct response from the chiliarch, emphasizing the urgency and danger of the situation.
“he”: Refers to Claudius Lysias, the chiliarch, the commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem.
“took soldiers and centurions”: The chiliarch brought a substantial force, consisting of ordinary soldiers and officers (centurions), to quell the riot. This shows the seriousness with which Roman authorities treated disturbances of public order.
“and ran down to them”: This conveys the rapid movement of the military force towards the scene of conflict in the temple courtyard or its vicinity.
“And when they saw”: The visibility of the military force served as a deterrent.
“the chiliarch and the soldiers”: The imposing presence of the Roman military.
“they stopped beating Paul”: The intervention of the Roman soldiers immediately halted the physical assault on Paul. This illustrates the effectiveness of Roman authority in imposing peace, even through force, within the occupied territory.
Paul's arrest by the crowd: The verse depicts the climax of the opposition faced by Paul in Jerusalem, a manifestation of the intense religious and cultural tensions of the time.
Roman intervention for crowd control: The presence of the chiliarch and his soldiers underscores the dual role of Roman authority – maintaining civil order while also being the ultimate source of protection in extreme situations, even for individuals they did not fully understand.
Cessation of violence: The stopping of the beating signifies the immediate impact of external authority in bringing an end to mob violence, providing a temporary respite for Paul.
Acts 21 32 Bonus Section
This incident in Jerusalem marks a significant turning point in Paul’s ministry as recorded in Acts. His desire to minister in Jerusalem and reconcile with Jewish believers leads to his arrest. The crowds’ violent reaction to Paul reveals the deep divisions within Judaism concerning the interpretation of the Law and the inclusion of Gentiles. The Roman intervention, though not altruistic, providentially preserves Paul’s life, allowing him to continue his mission and ultimately appeal to Caesar, as he had intended and as the Lord had assured him (Acts 23:11). This event sets in motion the final phase of Paul’s documented journey in Acts, leading him to Rome.
Acts 21 32 Commentary
The immediate action of the Roman commander, Claudius Lysias, in bringing a contingent of soldiers highlights the volatile nature of Jerusalem. The Jews, while zealous for their traditions, often resorted to violent outbursts. Lysias's intervention was not out of sympathy for Paul, but a standard procedure to prevent a citizen from being harmed and to maintain Roman authority. The sight of the disciplined Roman soldiers was enough to make the mob disperse, revealing their fear of Roman reprisal over their zeal. This event is a crucial turning point, leading to Paul’s imprisonment and subsequent missionary journeys under Roman custody, ultimately fulfilling his mission to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and Caesar himself.