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

Acts 21:37 depicts Paul, amidst a chaotic arrest, seizing a crucial moment before being fully confined in the Roman barracks. He respectfully yet assertively asks the Roman military commander, the tribune, for permission to speak. This marks a pivotal shift from being a silenced victim of mob violence to a potential advocate for himself and the gospel.

Acts 21 37 Context

Paul had returned to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey (Acts 21:15ff), defying prophetic warnings about imprisonment. He visited James and the elders, giving an account of his Gentile ministry (Acts 21:18-19). To alleviate concerns among Jewish Christians about Paul's perceived disregard for the Law, he underwent a purification rite in the Temple (Acts 21:20-26). However, during this period, Jews from Asia Minor recognized him in the Temple and incited a riot, falsely accusing him of teaching against the Law, bringing Gentiles into the sacred areas, and defiling the Temple (Acts 21:27-29).

The entire city was thrown into an uproar, and Paul was dragged out of the Temple and severely beaten, almost killed by the mob (Acts 21:30-31). It was at this critical juncture that the Roman tribune of the cohort, stationed at the Antonia Fortress overlooking the Temple, intervened with soldiers and centurions (Acts 21:31-32). He arrested Paul, chaining him, and then tried to ascertain the cause of the riot, receiving conflicting reports from the crowd (Acts 21:33-34). Overwhelmed by the mob's violence, the soldiers had to carry Paul up the steps into the fortress for his safety. This specific verse (37) occurs just as Paul is being taken inside, moving from public exposure and peril to a Roman military enclosure. It's a strategic moment where Paul, having been forcefully silenced and violently treated, initiates communication with the highest Roman official present.

Acts 21 37 Word analysis

• And as Paul: Connects to the preceding action (being carried). "Paul" (Παῦλος - Paulos), the central figure, shifts from passive victim to active interactor. His identity as a Roman citizen (revealed later in the narrative) provides a crucial layer to this interaction.

• was about to be brought: μέλλοντα ἄγεσθαι (mellonta agesthai). The use of the passive participle emphasizes Paul's being acted upon by Roman authority, not entering willingly. It denotes the imminent completion of an action, marking a decisive threshold.

• into the barracks: εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν (eis tēn parembolēn). The "barracks" refers specifically to the Antonia Fortress, a large Roman military headquarters attached to the Temple grounds in Jerusalem. This fortress symbolized Roman military might and direct control over the city, particularly the Temple area. Entry into it meant official Roman detention, removal from the public eye, and the beginning of formal proceedings or interrogation. It also signaled an end to the immediate danger from the Jewish mob.

• he said to the tribune: "He said" indicates Paul's initiative and control. This marks a significant turn from being beaten and carried. "Tribune" (χιλίαρχος - chiliarchos) refers to the Roman commander of a cohort, essentially a military colonel in charge of around 1,000 men. His name, Claudius Lysias, is revealed later. Addressing him directly and politely shows Paul's courage and diplomatic skill. This interaction highlights the intersection of Roman law, Jewish religious conflict, and apostolic mission.

• 'May I say something to you?': Ἔξεστί μοι εἰπεῖν τι πρὸς σέ; (Exesti moi eipein ti pros se?). Lit. "Is it permissible for me to speak something to you?" This is a formal, polite inquiry seeking permission. It's a strategic opening question that demonstrates Paul's respect for the Roman officer's authority while simultaneously asserting his own capacity and intention to speak. It contrasts sharply with the silent, brutalizing mob outside. This question's implications—that Paul possesses language capabilities and perhaps even social standing beyond that of a common criminal—will surprise the tribune in the following verse.

• "about to be brought into the barracks, he said": This sequence highlights Paul's opportune timing. He chooses the moment just before disappearing entirely from public view to assert his voice and agency, a crucial moment between chaotic violence and structured interrogation. This transition space offered a window of opportunity that Paul masterfully seized.

Acts 21 37 Bonus section

The Antonian Fortress (παρεμβολή - parembolē) was a major Roman military installation. Located at the northwest corner of the Temple Mount, it housed up to 1,000 soldiers. Its commanding view allowed the Romans to monitor and rapidly respond to any unrest within the Temple precincts, which was frequently the site of Jewish fervor and potential rebellion. For Paul, entering this fortress meant entering Roman jurisdiction, which would ultimately lead to his appeals to Caesar and his journey to Rome, thus fulfilling divine prophecy. Paul's calm request and subsequent impressive Greek (mentioned in Acts 21:38) are crucial for disarming the tribune's preconceived notions, moving Paul from being a nameless, arrested agitator to an individual capable of articulate discourse. This small linguistic detail sets the stage for Paul to be heard, creating the very platform that Jesus had prophesied in Acts 9:15, that Paul would carry the Gospel "before kings and rulers."

Acts 21 37 Commentary

Acts 21:37 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating Paul's transition from an object of mob violence to a subject engaging with Roman authority. Stripped of his freedom and dignity, dragged by a frenzied crowd, and about to be secluded in a Roman military fort, Paul demonstrates remarkable composure and presence of mind. His simple question to the tribune, "May I say something to you?", is deeply strategic. It immediately establishes communication with the highest Roman official present, showing both respect for Roman power and Paul's inherent right as a human to speak. This question is a subtle but potent act of resistance against his forced silence, preparing the way for his compelling defense that begins in Acts 22. It signals Paul's determination to turn every challenging circumstance into an opportunity to bear witness to the gospel, even before pagan authorities. His polite request also implicitly questions the tribune's assumption that he is merely a common, uneducated troublemaker, as his unexpected command of Greek will immediately demonstrate. This calm initiative foreshadows Paul's consistent readiness to engage and testify throughout his imprisonment.