Acts 21:34 kjv
And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
Acts 21:34 nkjv
And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks.
Acts 21:34 niv
Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.
Acts 21:34 esv
Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.
Acts 21:34 nlt
Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn't find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress.
Acts 21 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 21:27-36 | ...When the seven days were nearly ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd... | Primary narrative of the event |
| Acts 22:22 | They listened to him until this utterance, then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he is not fit to live." | Crowd's violent reaction confirmed |
| Acts 23:10 | When the disagreement became violent, the commander was afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them... | Captain's intervention and concern |
| Acts 23:12-15 | ... a plot was revealed against Paul by more than forty of the Jews... | Underlying conspiracy against Paul |
| John 18:38 | Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back out to the Jews... | Similar instances of accusation |
| Galatians 5:12 | I wish that those who are troubling you would mutilate themselves. | Paul's frustration with opposition |
| 1 Corinthians 14:33 | For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. In all the churches of the saints. | Contrasting God's nature |
| Romans 13:3 | For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will praise him. | Role of civil authority |
| Psalm 69:7-9 | Surely for your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers... | Shared suffering with Christ |
| Isaiah 49:7 | Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker, "Ask me of things to come; concerning my children, and the work of my hands, command me." | God's purpose in Paul's ministry |
| Romans 11:11 | So I ask, did they stumble in such a way as to fall finally? By no means! But through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. | Gentile inclusion and Jewish reaction |
| Acts 18:6 | But when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his clothes and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." | Paul's stance on rejection |
| Acts 20:23 | Except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every town that holds, "chains and afflictions await me." | Foreknowledge of suffering |
| Acts 28:24-28 | And some were persuaded by what he said, but others disbelieved... | Mixed reception to the gospel |
| Philippians 1:12 | I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel... | Advancement of the gospel despite adversity |
| 2 Timothy 4:16 | At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them. | Desertion by companions |
| 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 | Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I spent adrift at sea... | Summary of Paul's trials |
| Romans 10:2 | For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. | Jewish zeal without understanding |
| Jeremiah 7:11 | And has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord. | Parallel of disruption in God's house |
| Luke 21:12 | But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. | Prophecy of persecution |
Acts 21 verses
Acts 21 34 Meaning
This verse describes a commotion where the chief captain attempts to learn from Paul why the crowd is so agitated, but then he is prevented from questioning Paul due to the overwhelming noise and disturbance caused by the rioting crowd. The underlying issue is likely related to accusations brought against Paul by the Jews in Jerusalem concerning his ministry to the Gentiles, which had stirred significant opposition.
Acts 21 34 Context
The events of Acts 21 are unfolding in Jerusalem during Pentecost. Paul had just arrived, intending to deliver relief to the poor saints in Jerusalem. However, Jews from Asia Minor recognized him in the temple, accused him of bringing Gentiles into the temple area (a grave offense), and stirred up the entire crowd. This ignited a riot. The chief captain, Lysias, intervened with Roman soldiers to rescue Paul from the mob's violent assault. It is in this chaotic aftermath, as Paul is being held by the soldiers and moved up the steps, that the captain decides to question Paul directly about the cause of the uproar.
Acts 21 34 Word Analysis
- Now (νῦν - nun): Indicates the present moment, immediately following Paul's rescue.
- when (δέ - de): A conjunction showing transition or contrast, here linking the rescue to the captain's action.
- he was to be (ἐξῆν - exēn): "It was allowed" or "it was possible." Suggests an opportunity or permission for the captain to question Paul.
- brought (ἀχθῆναι - achthēnai): Passive infinitive of ἄγω (agō), meaning "to lead" or "to bring." Paul was being escorted by soldiers.
- into (εἰς - eis): Preposition indicating movement into.
- the barracks (τὴν παρεμβολήν - tēn parembolēn): The Roman military barracks or camp. This was a secure place to question Paul away from the mob.
- he (αὐτός - autos): Refers to the chief captain, Claudius Lysias.
- said (εἶπεν - eipen): Simple past tense of λέγω (legō), "to say."
- that (ὅτι - hoti): Introduces a subordinate clause, giving the content of what the captain said.
- he (αὐτὸς - autos): Himself. Emphasizes that Paul, not some other individual, was the subject of interest.
- might (ἄν - an): A particle used with subjunctive verbs to indicate possibility or potential.
- know (μάθῃ - mathē): Aorist subjunctive of μανθάνω (manthanō), "to learn" or "to understand." The captain wanted to learn the reason for the commotion.
- reason (αἰτίαν - aitian): "Cause," "ground," "accusation." The underlying cause or reason for the violent outbreak.
- of (τῆς - tēs): Possessive or explanatory article.
- the uproar (θορύβου - thorubou): "Tumult," "disturbance," "uproar," "clamor." A violent, noisy disturbance.
Words-group analysis:
- "he said that he might know the reason of the uproar": This clause expresses the captain's intention. He, the highest military authority present, wants to ascertain the cause of the disorder he is trying to quell. The focus is on seeking factual information in a chaotic situation.
Acts 21 34 Bonus Section
The eagerness of the captain to question Paul ("he might know the reason") also reveals the precariousness of Paul's position. Without proper understanding, the captain might have taken the wrong action against Paul. This situation echoes other instances in Acts where leaders seek understanding before judging or acting, like Felix later (Acts 24:25) and Agrippa (Acts 25:22; 26:3). The Roman presence, though intervening to maintain order, also represents the political powers that the early Christians would encounter. The scene underscores that the gospel often brings societal upheaval due to its challenge to existing religious and cultural norms.
Acts 21 34 Commentary
The chief captain, Claudius Lysias, having rescued Paul from the enraged mob, seeks to get to the root of the disturbance. His immediate thought is to question Paul himself, assuming Paul is the central figure, which he is, but not necessarily the instigator of the violence. The Greek phrase "he might know the reason of the uproar" (ἵνα μάθῃ αἰτίαν τοῦ θορύβου - hina mathē aitian tou thorubou) highlights the captain's need for information. He understands that to manage the situation, he must understand its cause. This is a practical, law-and-order approach. However, his ability to question is immediately hampered by the intensity of the crowd's reaction, demonstrating the extreme hostility towards Paul. This highlights the significant conflict between Jewish factions and Paul's ministry, a conflict that Roman authority often found itself trying to manage in Judea.