Acts 21 33

Acts 21:33 kjv

Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

Acts 21:33 nkjv

Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done.

Acts 21:33 niv

The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

Acts 21:33 esv

Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done.

Acts 21:33 nlt

Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done.

Acts 21 verses

Acts 21 33 Meaning

Acts 21:33 describes the immediate, decisive action of the Roman commander (later identified as Claudius Lysias) who intervened in the Temple riot. He seized Paul, ordered him to be restrained with two chains, and began to interrogate him about his identity and his alleged crime. This was an attempt to quell the disturbance and establish order by identifying the perceived instigator.

Acts 21 33 Context

Paul, having completed his third missionary journey, arrives in Jerusalem (Acts 21:15-17). Despite warnings of danger (Acts 21:4, 21:10-14), he feels compelled by the Holy Spirit to go. He is received by James and the elders (Acts 21:18), who advise him to undertake a purification rite to show his respect for Jewish customs and dispel false rumors that he was teaching Jews to abandon the Law (Acts 21:20-24). While performing this rite in the Temple, Jews from Asia Minor recognize him, stir up the entire crowd with false accusations that he brought a Gentile into the Temple (a capital offense), and seize him (Acts 21:27-29). The entire city is aroused, and a violent mob drags Paul out of the Temple courts, intent on killing him (Acts 21:30-31). It is into this intensely volatile situation that the Roman commander intervenes. The Roman garrison, stationed at the Antonia Fortress overlooking the Temple, was responsible for maintaining order, especially during festivals when the Jewish populace was high and tensions often flared. The commander's swift action was a standard military response to an unfolding riot.

Acts 21 33 Word analysis

• Then (Greek: Τότε - tote): Marks a significant moment of sequential action and immediate response to the preceding violent riot. It emphasizes the abruptness of the intervention.
• the commander (Greek: ὁ χιλίαρχος - ho chiliarchos): Refers to the Roman tribune, later identified as Claudius Lysias (Acts 23:26). A chiliarchos commanded a cohort of roughly a thousand men, representing significant Roman military authority. His presence highlights Roman control over Jerusalem and their primary duty to suppress any public disorder.
• came near (Greek: ἐγγίσας - enggisas): Denotes a physical approach, a direct and assertive movement into the volatile scene of the riot.
• and arrested him (Greek: ἐπιλαβόμενος αὐτοῦ - epilabomenos autou): More accurately "seized him" or "took hold of him." This emphasizes the forceful physical apprehension in a chaotic situation, indicating custody and the immediate removal of Paul from the mob's direct violence.
• and commanded him to be bound (Greek: καὶ ἐκέλευσε δεθῆναι - kai ekeleuse dethēnai): Shows the commander's immediate exercise of authority through an imperative order. To be bound was standard practice for securing a prisoner, particularly in public unrest, signaling his status as an arrested person under suspicion.
• with two chains (Greek: ἁλύσεσι δυσί - halusesi dysi): This specific detail, "two chains," is significant. It suggests a more severe level of security than a single chain, typically used for particularly dangerous or important prisoners, or those deemed a major threat to public order. It implies a significant person or a serious charge in the commander's initial assessment, even before interrogation.
• and asked (Greek: καὶ ἐπυνθάνετο - kai epynthaneto): Indicates the initiation of a formal inquiry. This was part of Roman due process following an arrest, to gather information and establish the facts.
• who he was (Greek: τίς εἴη - tis eiē): A fundamental question for identification. The commander's ignorance of Paul's identity underscores the chaotic nature of the event and the commander's prior unawareness of the individual at the center of the riot.
• and what he had done (Greek: καὶ τί ἐστιν πεποιηκώς - kai ti estin pepoikōs): The inquiry into the specific actions or crimes Paul was accused of. This was crucial for understanding the cause of the riot and for determining the appropriate legal procedure.

Words-group analysis:

• "the commander came near and arrested him": This phrase captures the immediate, forceful, and decisive intervention of Roman authority. It depicts a structured military response to widespread chaos, emphasizing the swift removal of the perceived instigator from the public eye and mob's wrath.
• "commanded him to be bound with two chains": This signifies the initial presumption of serious guilt or perceived danger. The double chains suggest a high-security measure for someone considered a major threat, standard for those thought to have incited such a severe public disturbance. It marks Paul's entry into Roman legal custody under suspicion.
• "and asked who he was and what he had done": This grouping illustrates the commander's methodical approach, even amidst the chaos. It reflects basic Roman interrogation procedure: first secure the subject, then identify, then investigate the charges. It reveals the commander's initial ignorance of Paul, only seeing him as the central figure of the riot, not yet aware of his Roman citizenship or his innocence regarding the accusations.

Acts 21 33 Bonus section

• The Antonia Fortress, adjacent to the Temple, served as the primary Roman military base in Jerusalem. Its commanding position allowed the Roman cohort to observe activities in the Temple courts and intervene rapidly, as Claudius Lysias does here. This demonstrates a well-oiled Roman system for maintaining imperial control over a volatile region.
• Paul's experience of being bound with chains would become a recurring theme in his ministry and letters. It was a tangible sign of his suffering for Christ (Col 4:18), but also a symbol through which the Gospel was paradoxically advanced (Phil 1:12-14).
• The commander's initial lack of knowledge regarding Paul highlights the anonymity he had, from the Roman perspective, compared to the intense notoriety he held among some Jewish factions. This arrest introduces Paul to the Roman legal system, an encounter that ultimately ensures his passage to Rome, fulfilling a long-held desire and divine directive.

Acts 21 33 Commentary

Acts 21:33 provides a vivid snapshot of Roman military intervention during a time of heightened political and religious tension in Jerusalem. The commander's actions were driven by practical necessity: to quash a dangerous riot, secure the apparent troublemaker, and restore order. Paul's arrest, though initiated under false pretense and without immediate inquiry into the truth, was providentially used by God. It literally saved Paul from being lynched by the furious mob, shifting his immediate danger from popular Jewish rage to Roman custody, where a semblance of legal process existed. The binding with two chains, a sign of grave suspicion, inadvertently sets the stage for Paul's later testimonies before Roman officials and eventually to Caesar, fulfilling his divine mission to preach the Gospel to Gentiles and kings (Acts 9:15; Acts 23:11). This scene underscores that God works through complex human interactions, even those involving unjust arrests, to advance His sovereign plans for His servants and the spread of His message.Practical application:

• In moments of false accusation or chaos, God often uses unexpected means to protect and guide His faithful, even if it means temporary discomfort or captivity.
• The pursuit of order and justice, even when flawed (as the commander's initial assumption of guilt), can sometimes inadvertently serve a greater divine purpose.