Acts 26 21

Acts 26:21 kjv

For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

Acts 26:21 nkjv

For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

Acts 26:21 niv

That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.

Acts 26:21 esv

For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

Acts 26:21 nlt

Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.

Acts 26 verses

Acts 26 21 Meaning

Acts 26:21 reveals the core reason for the Apostle Paul's imprisonment and the perilous threats he faced: not due to any criminal wrongdoing, but solely because of his faithful obedience to God's heavenly vision and his unwavering proclamation of the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. His message, emphasizing repentance and faith in Christ for salvation, regardless of ethnic background, was perceived as an assault on cherished Jewish traditions and the exclusivity of the Law by certain factions within Judaism, leading them to violently attempt his murder in the sacred Temple courts.

Acts 26 21 Context

Acts 26:21 is part of Paul's impassioned defense before King Agrippa II, Bernice, and Festus, explaining why he is in chains. Having been granted permission by Festus to speak (Acts 26:1), Paul recounts his zealous past as a persecutor of Christians, his dramatic conversion on the Damascus road (Acts 26:12-18), and the divine commission he received directly from the resurrected Jesus.

In verses 19-20, Paul explains that he "was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision," but faithfully preached "first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." These specific actions and the universal scope of his message are the "causes" (Acts 26:21) for which "the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me."

Historically and culturally, the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem was the epicentre of Jewish faith and national identity. Its purity laws were rigorously enforced. Accusations of defiling the Temple, particularly by bringing uncircumcised Gentiles into sacred courts designated only for Jews, were highly inflammatory and considered capital offenses under Jewish law, capable of inciting mob violence even under Roman rule. The event recounted in this verse refers directly to Paul's arrest described in detail in Acts 21:27-36, where the charge against him was precisely that he had "brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place" (Acts 21:28). This perceived sacrilege, rooted in Paul's inclusive gospel, triggered the murderous attempt by a zealous Jewish crowd.

Acts 26 21 Word analysis

• For these causes (διὰ ταῦτα - dia tauta):

  • This phrase directly links back to Paul's immediate preceding statements in Acts 26:19-20. It signifies that the reason for the Jewish animosity and attempted murder was Paul's faithful obedience to his divine calling and his preaching of repentance and conversion to God to both Jews and Gentiles.
  • Significance: It establishes that Paul was not imprisoned for any crime against the state or morality, but for his zealous proclamation of the Gospel. His "offence" was a matter of theological and cultural contention rather than criminal acts. This phrase highlights the profound opposition the universal message of Christ faced from those clinging to an exclusive, nationalistic understanding of salvation.

• the Jews (οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι - hoi Ioudaioi):

  • This term refers to specific groups or factions within the Jewish population who opposed Paul, not the entire Jewish people universally.
  • Significance: It reflects the historical reality of internal divisions and intense debate within first-century Judaism concerning the person of Jesus and the inclusion of Gentiles in God's covenant. This phrase represents the specific religious zealots and antagonists who felt Paul's message threatened their traditions, national identity, and perceived supremacy, rather than representing a monolithic condemnation by all Jewish people.

• caught me (συνελάβοντο με - synelābonto me):

  • Meaning: "seized," "apprehended," "arrested." It indicates a sudden, forceful, physical act of capture, a swift and aggressive move to lay hold of Paul.
  • Significance: This was not a calm, legal process initiated by authorities, but a violent mob action. It emphasizes the immediate, passionate nature of their hostility, illustrating the volatile atmosphere surrounding Paul's ministry in Jerusalem.

• in the temple (ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ - en tō hierō):

  • Meaning: Refers to the sacred Second Temple in Jerusalem, the central place of Jewish worship, sacrifice, and religious life.
  • Significance: The location underscores the severity and audacity of the act. The Temple was a sanctuary, a place meant for reverence and prayer. Attempting to commit murder within its sacred courts highlighted the extreme rage and fanaticism of the mob, willing to desecrate holy ground to achieve their violent aims. The perceived "defilement" Paul was accused of (bringing Gentiles past their designated court) incited violence in the very place whose sanctity they claimed to defend.

• and went about (καὶ ἐπειρῶντο - kai epeirōnto):

  • Meaning: "they attempted," "they tried," "they sought." This term denotes a determined and purposeful effort.
  • Significance: It indicates their firm intent and active measures towards achieving their goal. It was not a casual thought but a concrete and dangerous pursuit of violence. They did not just contemplate murder; they acted with the clear aim of killing Paul.

• to kill me (ἀποκτεῖναι με - apokteinai me):

  • Meaning: "to put to death," "to murder."
  • Significance: This plainly states their ultimate and extreme intention. It reveals the murderous rage provoked by Paul's proclamation of the universal Gospel. Their opposition was not merely intellectual disagreement or legal dispute, but a lethal animosity, underscoring the spiritual battle at play when God's truth challenges entrenched beliefs.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "For these causes... to kill me": This complete phrase powerfully articulates the injustice of Paul's suffering. His suffering arose not from moral failure or political rebellion, but directly from his devotion to the "heavenly vision" and the message of Christ. It illustrates that following Christ can lead to being persecuted for righteousness' sake, aligning Paul's experience with that of Jesus and other prophets.

Acts 26 21 Bonus section

• The irony of Paul's situation is palpable: he, a former zealous persecutor, now suffers the very persecution he once inflicted upon others, a clear demonstration of the transforming power of Christ.
• Paul's defense here, far from being a plea for leniency, becomes another powerful proclamation of the Gospel, even to powerful Roman and Jewish leaders. His suffering, therefore, becomes a platform for witness.
• This verse stands as a testament to God's providence, as Paul was rescued from the murderous crowd in the temple by Roman soldiers (Acts 21:32), showcasing divine intervention to preserve His servant for further ministry, despite overwhelming hostility.

Acts 26 21 Commentary

Acts 26:21 distills the essence of Paul's protracted suffering into a singular, damning accusation. He clarifies that his imprisonment and the constant threats to his life were not the result of genuine criminality or defilement, as his accusers charged. Instead, they stemmed directly from his unyielding commitment to the mission entrusted to him by the resurrected Jesus: proclaiming the inclusive Gospel to both Jew and Gentile. The phrase "for these causes" directly ties his peril to his ministry described in Acts 26:19-20.

The opposition came from "the Jews" – specifically, those zealous factions who found the idea of salvation by grace through faith for all people, without the full requirements of the Mosaic Law, an affront to their national identity and religious distinctiveness. Their attempt to murder Paul "in the temple" underscores the extreme passion and spiritual blindness of their hostility; they turned a holy place into a scene of mob violence. Their intent was clearly "to kill," highlighting the murderous spiritual opposition to the light of the Gospel when it confronts hardened hearts. This verse not only justifies Paul but also demonstrates the radical nature of the Christian message in its historical context and the cost of faithfully proclaiming it.