Acts 21 37

Acts 21:37 kjv

And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

Acts 21:37 nkjv

Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, "May I speak to you?" He replied, "Can you speak Greek?

Acts 21:37 niv

As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, "May I say something to you?" "Do you speak Greek?" he replied.

Acts 21:37 esv

As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, "May I say something to you?" And he said, "Do you know Greek?

Acts 21:37 nlt

As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, "May I have a word with you?" "Do you know Greek?" the commander asked, surprised.

Acts 21 verses

Acts 21 37 Meaning

The verse describes the commotion and surprise caused by the arrest of Paul within the temple precinct. The primary meaning is the escalating misunderstanding and outrage of the Jewish crowd and the Roman soldiers' swift intervention, revealing the volatile religious and political climate of Jerusalem.

Acts 21 37 Context

In Acts 21, Paul is in Jerusalem, where he has been urged by the elders to participate in a Nazarite purification ritual to demonstrate his respect for the Law and counter rumors that he is teaching against it. Despite this, he is recognized in the temple by Jews from Asia Minor. They falsely accuse him of bringing a Gentile (Trophimus) into the inner court, an act that was punishable by death for a Gentile. This ignites a riot. The Jewish crowd violently seizes Paul and attempts to kill him, dragging him out of the temple courtyard. It is at this critical moment of escalating mob violence that the commander of the Roman garrison learns of the disturbance and intervenes.

Acts 21 37 Word Analysis

• δὲ (de): A conjunctive particle, often translated as "and," "but," or "now." Here, it connects the events, transitioning from the people taking Paul out of the temple to the report reaching the chiliarch.
• αὐτὸν (auton): Accusative singular masculine pronoun, "him," referring to Paul.
• ὁ (ho): The definite article, "the."
• χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos): A Roman military commander, specifically the tribune in command of a cohort, numbering about 1,000 soldiers. In Jerusalem, this position was crucial for maintaining order due to the large Jewish population and frequent religious gatherings.
• ὡς (hos): A relative pronoun or conjunction, here meaning "as," "when," or "about the time that."
• εἶδεν (eiden): Third person singular aorist indicative active of ὁράω (horaō), meaning "to see." It indicates a completed action of seeing.
• τὸν (ton): The definite article.
• ὄχλον (ochlon): Accusative singular masculine noun, meaning "crowd," "throng," or "mob." It emphasizes the disorderly mass of people.
• τὸ πλῆθος (to plēthos): Accusative singular neuter noun, meaning "the multitude" or "the crowd." Similar to "ochlon," but can sometimes imply a larger, more general gathering.
• ὡς (hos): As noted before, "as" or "when."
• εἰς (eis): Preposition meaning "into" or "to."
• συγχύνῃ (synchynē): Third person singular aorist subjunctive active of συγχύννω (synchynnō), meaning "to confuse," "to stir up," or "to throw into confusion/uproar." The subjunctive mood suggests it’s related to the commander's action or understanding of the situation – he saw the crowd in the act of causing confusion.
• συνέβη (synebē): Third person singular aorist indicative active of συμβαίνω (symbainō), meaning "to happen," "to occur," or "to come about." It denotes that an event took place.
• ἐπὶ (epi): Preposition with various meanings, here likely "upon" or "in respect of," indicating what the confusion was about.
• πᾶσαν (pasan): Accusative singular feminine adjective, "all" or "the whole."
• γίνεσθαι (ginesthai): Present infinitive middle of γίνομαι (ginomai), meaning "to happen," "to occur," or "to be." Combined with 'synebē,' it signifies "what was happening."

Words-group analysis:

• "and it came to pass, as he was about to enter...": This phrase highlights the specific moment the chiliarch intervened. His position likely afforded him a vantage point.
• "...he saw the crowd and the uproar...": The immediate perception of the chiliarch was of disorder and chaos, the "ochlon" and "plēthos" being active in their disruption.
• "...as confusion was happening to all...": The use of "synekhynē" and "ginestai" emphasizes that the entire situation was one of intense commotion and disorder that was actively unfolding.

Acts 21 37 Bonus Section

The commander's intervention is critical, as it aligns with the broader narrative of Roman authority attempting to manage Judea. The specific wording about the "confusion" or "uproar" reflects the constant challenge Roman forces faced in preventing riots, particularly during religious festivals when large crowds converged. Paul’s accusation of defiling the temple with a Greek, while a severe religious offense to the Jews, was also a potentially destabilizing political charge that necessitated a Roman response to prevent further insurrection against Roman rule. This verse marks a turning point, shifting the narrative from Jewish judicial pursuit to Roman military custody, setting the stage for Paul's subsequent legal defenses.

Acts 21 37 Commentary

The commander’s timely observation of the chaotic scene—Paul being violently apprehended and the immense, agitated crowd—prompted his decisive action. His role as chiliarch was to maintain Roman peace and order. The urgency to intervene stemmed from the palpable "uproar" and the clear potential for escalation, which the Romans were tasked with preventing. The commander likely recognized the mob’s violent intent, differentiating it from a mere protest. His intervention, though swift, highlights the volatile religious and social atmosphere of Jerusalem, where such incidents could quickly turn deadly. It also underscores the military's role in policing religious disputes within the city.