Acts 21 35

Acts 21:35 kjv

And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.

Acts 21:35 nkjv

When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.

Acts 21:35 niv

When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers.

Acts 21:35 esv

And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,

Acts 21:35 nlt

As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him.

Acts 21 verses

Acts 21 35 Meaning

Acts 21:35 vividly describes the intense peril Paul faced as Roman soldiers sought to extricate him from an enraged Jewish mob in Jerusalem. After being dragged from the Temple and severely beaten, Paul, barely able to walk, was physically lifted and carried by the soldiers as they ascended the stairs leading from the Temple area into the Antonia Fortress. This action was necessitated by the sheer force and violent pressure of the surrounding crowd, which continued to press in, making safe passage on foot impossible due to their murderous intent. It highlights both Paul's immediate vulnerability and the crucial intervention of the Roman authorities in preventing his death.

Acts 21 35 Context

Acts chapter 21 chronicles Paul's return to Jerusalem, a journey he undertook with unwavering resolve despite repeated prophetic warnings of imprisonment and suffering. Upon his arrival, Paul engaged in a purification ritual at the Temple, intending to show respect for Jewish customs and refute rumors of him teaching Jews to abandon the Law. However, during this time, some Jews from Asia recognized Paul, inciting the crowd by falsely accusing him of defiling the Temple by bringing Gentiles into forbidden areas. This sparked a massive uproar throughout the city. The enraged mob seized Paul, dragged him out of the Temple, and began to beat him, intent on killing him.

Hearing reports of a riot, the Roman military commander (chiliarch) of the Antonia Fortress, Claudius Lysias, swiftly deployed soldiers. They immediately intervened, rescuing Paul from the violent crowd, though they arrested him, supposing him to be the instigator of the disturbance. As Paul was being taken towards the safety of the fortress for questioning, the intense hatred and aggression of the Jewish crowd were still palpable and dangerous. Verse 35 specifically highlights the climactic moment where the persistent, murderous rage of the mob was so overwhelming that the Roman soldiers could not simply walk Paul to safety; they had to physically lift and carry him up the stairs, illustrating the critical threat to Paul's life and the extreme measures required for his preservation.

Historically, the Antonia Fortress was strategically located on the northwest corner of the Temple Mount, overlooking the Temple courts. It was a constant Roman military presence designed to monitor and quell potential unrest, particularly during Jewish festivals. The "stairs" refers to the literal flight of steps that connected the Temple's outer courts directly to the fortress. This scene vividly captures the volatile social and religious climate of Jerusalem under Roman occupation, where a mere accusation, even if false, could instantly ignite mob violence against perceived religious transgressors.

Acts 21 35 Word analysis

• And (δὲ, de): A transitional particle, linking this event directly to the preceding actions, indicating a continuation of Paul's arduous ascent.
• when he came upon (ὡς ἐγένετο ἐπὶ, hōs egeneto epi): "As it happened upon." Denotes the moment Paul reached the specific location, the threshold of the stairs.
• the stairs (τοὺς ἀναβαθμοὺς, tous anabathmous): Refers to the physical steps or ascent. In this context, it specifically means the prominent staircase leading from the Temple court area to the Roman Antonia Fortress. This detail grounds the narrative geographically.
• it happened that he was carried (ἐβαστάζετο, ebastazeto): The verb bastazō in the imperfect passive voice, "he was being carried," not "he walked" or "he ascended." This continuous action underscores that Paul was physically lifted and supported, likely unable to move on his own due to injury, exhaustion, or the crushing pressure of the mob. It signifies an urgent act of rescue, not merely assistance.
• by the soldiers (ὑπὸ τῶν στρατιωτῶν, hypo tōn stratiōtōn): Identifies the agents of carrying as the Roman soldiers dispatched by the chiliarch. Their role here is strictly to maintain Roman order and prevent a riot, not necessarily to save Paul out of personal sympathy, yet their actions served God's protective plan.
• because of (διὰ τὴν, dia tēn): States the causal reason for the soldiers' action.
• the violence (βίαν, bian): Greek bia, meaning brute force, violent energy, or coercion. This emphasizes the extreme, aggressive, and uncontrolled nature of the crowd's actions and pressure. It was not mere jostling but a furious and potentially lethal crush.
• of the crowd (τοῦ ὄχλου, tou ochlou): Refers to the large, agitated assembly of Jewish people who were in an uproar and seeking Paul's life, driven by false accusations and religious fervor.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And when he came upon the stairs": This phrase marks a significant transition point from the public Temple courts, where the mob assault occurred, to the Roman military installation, offering potential refuge. The stairs represented the immediate physical ascent to a different jurisdiction and security.
• "it happened that he was carried by the soldiers": This highlights the profound helplessness of Paul and the necessity of direct, forceful intervention. Paul was not walking voluntarily but was a passive object of the soldiers' forceful extraction, confirming his immediate physical danger and the severity of the mob's pressure. The Roman military's physical power was directly employed to counter the mob's will.
• "because of the violence of the crowd": This clause directly provides the intense motivation and justification for the soldiers' actions. The crowd's aggression was so extreme and unyielding that normal progression was impossible, making physical carrying a necessity to ensure Paul's survival and prevent the riot from escalating further. This explains why the carrying occurred, underscoring the mob's relentless and dangerous pursuit.

Acts 21 35 Bonus section

The "stairs" (anabathmoi) in Acts 21:35 were a very public and visible location, directly linking the vast Temple courts where thousands congregated to the Antonia Fortress. For Paul to be carried there made his perilous state a spectacle for all present, demonstrating the depth of the Jewish crowd's hatred. This incident subtly showcases the limitations of human will and religious zeal when untempered by divine truth; the very people who should have recognized their Messiah instead pursued His most ardent messenger with deadly intent. Furthermore, the event sets up Paul's powerful discourse from those very stairs in the following verses (Acts 21:40, 22:1), where, even in his vulnerable state, he takes the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel to his would-be executioners. The strategic placement of the Roman fortress and its ever-present military force proved critical not only for maintaining order but for advancing God's narrative through the protection of His chosen vessel.

Acts 21 35 Commentary

Acts 21:35 offers a stark snapshot of divine providence amidst human brutality. Paul, resolute in his commitment to spread the Gospel, faced an implacable opposition rooted in nationalistic zeal and religious misunderstanding. The need for him to be carried up the steps is not a minor detail but a powerful depiction of the crowd's murderous intensity. It underscores Paul's complete vulnerability, his physical state likely near collapse from beatings and the sheer pressure of the mob. This verse serves as a pivot, marking Paul's transition from active missionary to prisoner, setting the stage for his trials and his eventual journey to Rome under Roman guard, fulfilling Christ's plan (Acts 23:11). The intervention of the Roman soldiers, who were ultimately serving God's purposes in preserving Paul's life, even if inadvertently, reflects God's sovereign hand utilizing worldly authorities for the protection of His servants. This entire incident resonates with the consistent New Testament theme of suffering as an inescapable component of faithful Christian witness.