Paul Seized in the Temple
Acts 21:27-36
Acts.21.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ως: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- εμελλον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- επτα: NUM,acc,pl,neut
- ημεραι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- συντελεισθαι: VERB,pres,pass,inf
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- Ασιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- Ιουδαιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- θεασαμενοι: VERB,aor,mid,ptc,nom,pl,m
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ιερω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- συνεχεον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οχλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- επεβαλον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- επ᾽αυτον: PREP+PRON,acc,sg,3,m
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- χειρας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
Parallels
- Acts 21:28 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same incident: the crowd accuses Paul of bringing Greeks into the temple, explaining the motive for laying hands on him.
- Acts 21:30-31 (structural): Narrative continuation describing the crowd's violence—dragging Paul out and attempting to kill him—directly parallel to the seizure reported in 21:27.
- Acts 22:22-23 (quotation): Paul's subsequent recounting of the riot in Jerusalem; the crowd's reaction and attempt to kill him correspond to the episode where Jews of Asia seized him in the temple.
- Acts 23:10 (thematic): Another Jerusalem uproar centered on Paul (the Sanhedrin scene), reflecting the recurring pattern of violent public disturbances against him.
- Acts 14:19 (thematic): Earlier example of violent opposition to Paul (stoning at Lystra and being dragged out of the city), showing a repeated motif of Jewish/urban mob hostility in Acts.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the seven days were nearly completed, some Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him.
- When the seven days were nearly ended, some Jews from Asia, seeing Paul in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him.
Acts.21.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κραζοντες·Ανδρες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- Ισραηλιται: NOUN,voc,pl,m
- βοηθειτε·ουτος: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ανθρωπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κατα: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- λαου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- νομου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- τοπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τουτου: DEM,gen,sg,m
- παντας: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- πανταχη: ADV
- διδασκων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ετι: ADV
- τε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- Ελληνας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- εισηγαγεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ιερον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- κεκοινωκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αγιον: ADJ,acc,sg,neut
- τοπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τουτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 21:21 (verbal): The Jerusalem believers summarize the same charge reported against Paul: that he teaches Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses and Jewish customs (teaching against the law and customs).
- Acts 6:13-14 (verbal): False witnesses accuse Stephen of speaking against 'the holy place' and the law—language and tactic parallel to the crowd's charge that Paul 'defiled' the temple and taught against the law.
- Acts 15:1-5 (thematic): The Jerusalem controversy over whether Gentile converts must observe the Mosaic law reflects the broader issue underlying the accusation that Paul was teaching against the law and bringing Gentiles into Jewish religious space.
- Acts 22:22 (structural): When Paul explains his mission to the Gentiles, the crowd reacts violently—showing the recurrent pattern where claims about teaching Gentiles and undermining the law provoke hostile Jewish crowds.
Alternative generated candidates
- They cried out: "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place; furthermore he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."
- They cried out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who everywhere teaches against the people and the law and this place; besides, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."
Acts.21.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- γαρ: PART
- προεωρακοτες: PART,nom,pl,m,perf,act
- Τροφιμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Εφεσιον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- πολει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- συν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- ενομιζον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ιερον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εισηγαγεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Παυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 20:4 (verbal): Names 'Trophimus the Ephesian' as a companion of Paul—identifies the same individual the crowd had seen with Paul in Acts 21:29.
- Acts 21:28 (quotation): Immediate accusation by the Jews that Paul 'brought Greeks into the temple'—the very charge alluded to in 21:29.
- Acts 21:27 (structural): The preceding verse describes Jews from Asia spotting Paul in the temple and stirring up the crowd, providing the broader narrative context for the Trophimus allegation.
- Acts 22:22 (thematic): When Paul declares he was sent to the Gentiles the crowd reacts violently—parallels the uproar provoked by the claim that Paul had brought a Gentile (Trophimus) into the temple.
- Galatians 2:11-14 (thematic): Paul's confrontation with Peter over withdrawing from Gentile table fellowship highlights the same Jewish–Gentile tensions and sensitivities that underlie the accusation recorded in Acts 21:29.
Alternative generated candidates
- (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed Paul had brought him into the temple.)
- For they had previously seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, and they supposed Paul had brought him into the temple.
Acts.21.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εκινηθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- τε: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πολις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ολη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- συνδρομη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- λαου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- επιλαβομενοι: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Παυλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ειλκον: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εξω: ADV
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ιερου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- ευθεως: ADV
- εκλεισθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- θυραι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
Parallels
- Acts 19:29 (verbal): A similar description of a city-wide uproar and mob action—the town is 'in uproar' and people are seized and dragged into a public space (theater), echoing the language and crowd violence in Acts 21:30.
- Acts 14:19 (thematic): Mob violence against Paul: he is stoned and dragged out of the city, paralleling the scene of the crowd seizing and dragging Paul from the temple.
- Acts 22:22 (verbal): The crowd's violent reaction to Paul's speech—shouting and rushing at him—continues the same pattern of popular fury and attempt to kill or seize Paul described in 21:30.
- Matthew 26:47-50 (thematic): An organised crowd seizes a prominent figure (Jesus) at the instigation of religious authorities; parallels the mob seizure and public arrest dynamic found in Acts 21:30.
Alternative generated candidates
- The whole city was stirred; the people ran together, seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and immediately shut the doors.
- Then the whole city was thrown into confusion; the people rushed together, seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.
Acts.21.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ζητουντων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,gen,pl,m
- τε: CONJ
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- αποκτειναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- ανεβη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- φασις: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- χιλιαρχω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σπειρης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- ολη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- συγχυννεται: VERB,pres,pas,ind,3,sg
- Ιερουσαλημ: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 21:30 (quotation): Immediate context: the crowd had seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, setting up the reported attempt to kill him that reaches the commander in 21:31.
- Acts 22:22 (thematic): A Jewish mob again cries out to kill Paul after his defense before the crowd — another instance of the Jerusalem crowd seeking Paul's death.
- Acts 14:19 (thematic): Paul is stoned and left for dead by a hostile crowd at Lystra; parallels the violent intent of crowds against Paul and the threat to his life.
- Acts 19:29 (verbal): Describes a riot in Ephesus where 'the whole city was filled with confusion' (similar language and the sense of civic disorder found in 21:31).
- Acts 23:10 (structural): The tribune/commander intervenes because of a tumult and fear that the crowd will tear Paul apart — parallels the Roman officer's involvement signaled in 21:31 when the commander is informed of the city's confusion.
Alternative generated candidates
- While they were attempting to kill him, the commander of the cohort learned that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
- But when the commander of the cohort and the chief centurions heard of the uproar, they ran down and rescued him, taking him from the crowd and ordering him bound with two chains.
Acts.21.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εξαυτης: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,f
- παραλαβων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- στρατιωτας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εκατονταρχας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- κατεδραμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- επ᾽αυτους: PREP+PRON,acc,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- ιδοντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- χιλιαρχον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- στρατιωτας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- επαυσαντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- τυπτοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Παυλον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 22:24-29 (verbal): Soldiers/centurion intervene when Paul is about to be flogged; the revelation of Paul’s Roman citizenship causes the centurion to halt the corporal punishment—close parallel in action and authority stopping violence against Paul.
- Acts 23:23-24 (structural): The Roman commander assigns a sizable military escort to carry Paul safely to Caesarea after a plot against his life—another instance of soldiers protecting Paul from mob/assassin violence.
- Acts 16:37-39 (thematic): After Paul and Silas are publicly beaten in Philippi, Roman magistrates and officers become involved to remedy the wrong; underscores the recurring theme of Roman legal/military authority checking abuses against Paul and his companions.
- Acts 12:6-7 (allusion): Peter is guarded by Roman soldiers but is miraculously released when the guards fall asleep and an angel frees him; contrasts human/military custody with interventions that alter the fate of apostles.
Alternative generated candidates
- At once he took soldiers and centurions and ran down among them. When they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
- They inquired who he was and what he had done.
Acts.21.33 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- εγγισας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- χιλιαρχος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- επελαβετο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εκελευσε: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δεθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- αλυσεσι: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- δυσι: NUM,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επυνθανετο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ειη: VERB,pres,act,opt,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- πεποιηκως: VERB,perf,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 22:24-29 (structural): Same pattern: a Roman officer intervenes, orders Paul to be brought/bound and moves toward coercive interrogation; Paul’s status as a Roman affects how the officer proceeds.
- Acts 23:10 (structural): Another episode where the tribune, fearing violence, commands Paul to be taken into the barracks—parallel intervention by Roman authority to secure and question Paul.
- Acts 16:24-26 (thematic): Paul and Silas are physically bound (feet in stocks) by civil authorities and imprisoned—shares the motif of binding/restraint by officials.
- Matthew 27:2 (thematic): Jesus is bound and delivered to the governor—a common Gospel/Acts motif of a prisoner being bound and handed over to official custody for questioning or trial.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the commander came up, laid hold of him, and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done.
- Some shouted one thing and some another; and because the commander could not learn the truth for the tumult, he commanded that Paul be carried into the barracks.
Acts.21.34 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- αλλο: ADJ,neut,sg,nom
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- επεφωνουν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- οχλω·μη: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- δυναμενου: VERB,pres,mid,part,gen,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- γνωναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ασφαλες: ADJ,acc,sg,n
- δια: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θορυβον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εκελευσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αγεσθαι: VERB,pres,pass,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- παρεμβολην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 21:30 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same episode: the crowd rises and seizes Paul, and the resulting confusion prevents clear knowledge of events (same narrative uproar/context).
- Acts 19:29–31 (thematic): Ephesus riot where the whole city is stirred up and officials intervene; similar motif of a popular uproar that overwhelms order and forces authorities to take protective/controlling action.
- Acts 16:22–24 (thematic): In Philippi a mob incites magistrates to seize and punish Paul and Silas; parallels the dynamic of popular agitation prompting official detention or restraint.
- Matthew 27:20–24 (thematic): The crowd’s clamoring at Jesus’ trial compels Pilate to act against his judgment; illustrates the broader New Testament theme of mob pressure driving authority decisions (parallel to the uproar preventing clear inquiry).
Alternative generated candidates
- Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another; because of the tumult he could not ascertain the facts, so he commanded that he be brought into the barracks.
- When he came to the steps, the violence of the people was such that they had to lift him up on the soldiers' shoulders;
Acts.21.35 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτε: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- επι: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αναβαθμους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- συνεβη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- βασταζεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- υπο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- στρατιωτων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- δια: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- οχλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 21:30 (verbal): Describes the same outbreak of mob violence that precipitates the soldiers' intervention—the crowd seizes Paul and drags him out of the temple area.
- Acts 21:33 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: the Roman commander intervenes, seizes Paul, and orders him bound and taken to the barracks—explains why soldiers are carrying him up the steps.
- Acts 23:10 (thematic): The tribune brings soldiers to break up a riot and protect Paul from the crowd—parallel instance where Roman troops rescue Paul from popular violence.
- Acts 14:19 (thematic): Paul is stoned and dragged out of the city by a violent mob—a comparable episode of popular violence against Paul resulting in others carrying him away.
- Acts 16:22-24 (thematic): A hostile crowd and local authorities beat and imprison Paul and Silas—another example of mob/official violence against Paul that leads to forcible removal and custody.
Alternative generated candidates
- When he reached the steps, it happened that they had to carry him because of the violence of the crowd; for the people pressed upon him.
- for the crowd of the people was following, crying, "Away with him!" As they were about to carry him into the barracks, Paul asked the tribune, "May I say something to you?"
Acts.21.36 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ηκολουθει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: PART
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πληθος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- λαου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- κραζοντες·Αιρε: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 22:22 (verbal): Immediate parallel in Acts: after Paul speaks the crowd cries out 'Away with such a fellow' (αἴρειν αὐτόν), repeating the same formula and mob reaction.
- Matthew 27:23 (verbal): During Jesus' trial the crowd shouts 'Away with him!' (Greek: Ἄρον αὐτόν), a similar imperative to remove and condemn the accused.
- Luke 23:18 (verbal): Luke records the crowd demanding Barabbas and calling 'Away with this man,' paralleling the vocative cry and crowd pressure on authorities.
- Acts 19:29 (structural): A violent mob scene in Ephesus where the crowd seizes Paul's companions—parallels the public uproar, seizure, and chaotic crowd action in Acts 21:36.
- Acts 17:6 (thematic): Crowd uproar in Thessalonica that drags believers before city authorities ('they rushed to Jason's house'); thematically parallels communal disturbance and hostile public reaction.
Alternative generated candidates
- The multitude of the people followed, shouting, "Away with him!"
- He answered, "Can you speak Greek?"
When the seven days were nearly completed, some Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him.
They cried out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place; moreover he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”
For they had previously seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the sanctuary.
The whole city was thrown into confusion; the crowd rushed together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were shut.
As they were trying to kill him, a report reached the commander of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When the rioters saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
Then the commander came near and took him, and ordered him bound with two chains; he inquired who he was and what he had done.
Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another; since the commander could not learn the truth because of the uproar, he commanded that Paul be brought into the barracks.
As they were going up the steps, the soldiers had to carry him because of the violence of the mob.
When the commander gave him leave, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people; and when there was a great silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew tongue.