Acts 21 38

Acts 21:38 kjv

Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?

Acts 21:38 nkjv

Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?"

Acts 21:38 niv

"Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?"

Acts 21:38 esv

Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?"

Acts 21:38 nlt

"Aren't you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took 4,000 members of the Assassins out into the desert?"

Acts 21 verses

Acts 21 38 Meaning

The Roman tribune, Claudius Lysias, mistakenly identifies the Apostle Paul, who has just been rescued from a riot in Jerusalem, with a notorious Egyptian revolutionary. This Egyptian had previously led a substantial group of dagger-wielding assassins into the wilderness to foment rebellion against Roman rule, a clear act of sedition. The tribune's question underscores his concern over political unrest and his assumption that Paul is a dangerous insurgent and a threat to Roman authority.

Acts 21 38 Context

Paul has returned to Jerusalem from his third missionary journey, fulfilling a desire to strengthen Jewish believers and deliver financial aid to the impoverished church there (Acts 21:1-17). Seeking to demonstrate his respect for Jewish customs and counter false rumors of anti-Judaism, he agrees to purify himself in the Temple with four other men undergoing a Nazirite vow (Acts 21:20-26). However, Jews from Asia who had previously encountered Paul mistakenly identify him in the Temple area. They stir up the crowd with false accusations that Paul teaches against the Law and has brought a Gentile (Trophimus, an Ephesian, Acts 21:29) into the sacred Jewish precincts, thereby defiling the Temple. A furious mob seizes Paul, dragging him out of the Temple courts and brutally assaulting him with the intention of lynching him (Acts 21:27-31). The sudden uproar draws the attention of the Roman garrison commander, Claudius Lysias, stationed nearby. With Roman soldiers and centurions, he swiftly intervenes, arresting Paul and rescuing him from the mob (Acts 21:32-36). As Paul is being carried up the steps into the barracks due to the mob's frenzy, he requests to speak to the tribune, identifying himself as a Greek speaker (Acts 21:37). The tribune, astonished, responds with the question in Acts 21:38, revealing his prior assumption that Paul was the notorious Egyptian rebel, implying a deep Roman suspicion of anyone involved in public disturbance, especially in volatile Judea, which was prone to violent uprisings against Roman authority. The historical context indicates that the specific "Egyptian" mentioned by the tribune is consistent with accounts from Josephus, describing an Egyptian false prophet who, during the time of Governor Felix (around A.D. 54-58), gathered thousands of followers on the Mount of Olives, promising to overthrow the Roman garrison in Jerusalem by miraculous means. This leader eventually fled after his followers were dispersed by Felix. The Roman authorities were well aware of such figures and the militant groups they commanded, viewing them as significant threats to stability.

Acts 21 38 Word analysis

• "Are you not then": This interrogative phrase conveys the Roman tribune's initial astonishment and conviction regarding Paul's identity. It implies, "Surely, you must be that person!" reflecting his strong prior assumption.
• "the Egyptian" (ho Aigyptios): Refers to a specific, infamous Egyptian Jew who claimed prophetic authority and led a significant revolt. His designation as "the" Egyptian indicates his notoriety to the Roman authorities and the Jewish populace.
• "who some time ago" (pro toutōn tōn hēmerōn, πρὸ τούτων τῶν ἡμερῶν): Literally "before these days." This temporal phrase indicates a past event that was recent enough to be prominent in the collective memory and current concerns of Roman officials.
• "stirred up a revolt" (anastasai tarachēn, ἀναστατεῦσαι ταραχήν): This strong verb phrase signifies causing a violent insurrection or severe public disturbance. Anastasis often relates to 'rising up,' which in this context denotes political rebellion, and tarachēn means 'agitation, disorder, or tumult,' highlighting a severe challenge to Roman peace and order.
• "and led four thousand men": Specifies a considerable organized force. While Josephus records up to 30,000 followers for this Egyptian, the 4,000 may refer specifically to the armed core or reflect the Roman military's estimate of the direct combatants, indicating a substantial military threat.
• "of the Assassins" (tōn sikariōn, τῶν σικαρίων): A Greek transliteration of the Latin word sicarii, meaning "dagger-men." These were a distinct, extreme faction within the broader Jewish Zealot movement. They employed small daggers (sicae) hidden in their cloaks to assassinate Roman officials and perceived Jewish collaborators in public, marking them as ruthless political terrorists.
• "out into the wilderness" (eis tēn erēmon, εἰς τὴν ἔρημον): The wilderness in Judea often served as a rallying point for revolutionaries, outlaws, and prophetic figures. It was a place away from Roman scrutiny, allowing for clandestine organization, and also carried symbolic resonance of the Exodus, often associated with messianic expectations of new beginnings or liberation from oppression.

• "the Egyptian who... stirred up a revolt": This grouping identifies a specific individual known for violent anti-Roman actions, underscoring the severity of the tribune's initial misjudgment of Paul.
• "led four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness": This phrase details the leader's specific actions, demonstrating the organized, violent, and strategic nature of the revolutionary movement. Leading them to the wilderness suggested preparation for a larger, overt assault on Roman rule from a relatively safe base.

Acts 21 38 Bonus section

• Paul's immediate response (Acts 21:39) to the tribune's question is crucial: "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city." This not only refutes the tribune's identification but also subtly highlights his legitimate background as a citizen of a reputable Hellenistic city, a stark contrast to a wild, insurrectionist Egyptian.
• The contrast between earthly and heavenly leadership is implicit. The Egyptian revolutionary offered temporal freedom and power through violence. Paul, though a Jew like the Egyptian, represented a divine liberation that was spiritual and transformational, offering the eternal kingship of Christ rather than a nationalistic overthrow.
• Divine Sovereignty: This instance of mistaken identity, rather than hindering Paul, served as an instrumental step in God's plan, ultimately leading Paul before Roman officials and even Caesar, fulfilling Jesus' prophecy in Acts 9:15 about Paul bearing His name before Gentiles and kings.

Acts 21 38 Commentary

Acts 21:38 serves as a pivot point, revealing the deep-seated Roman anxieties regarding Jewish insurgency and their immediate assumption that Paul, by association with the Temple riot, was a figure of comparable menace to a known rebel. The tribune's question mistakes Paul's gospel mission for the violent political ambitions of the Egyptian, illustrating how easily the early Christian movement, which proclaimed a new king and challenged existing orders, could be misunderstood as a seditious political movement in the highly charged Judean context. The precise identification of the rebel's followers as "Assassins" (Sicarii) highlights the ruthless and organized nature of the threats Roman authorities faced, emphasizing the gravity of their suspicion towards Paul. This mistaken identity, however, becomes an ironic providence, granting Paul a platform to clarify his identity and boldly proclaim the Gospel to the very crowd and authorities who sought to silence him.