Bible Commentaries
Acts 21

Verse 2

1. Now they find another ship heading the direction they want to go. This ship is headed for Phoenicia. This city is part of Syria.

2. All of Paul's party went and board and headed out. Notice the "we" in this verse means that Luke is a part of the group.

Verse 3

1. They sailed within sight of Cyprus. This was the first stop on Paul's first mission trip. Paul now knows that he is close to home.

2. The ship landed at Tyre. They are now on the shore of Israel.

1. This city was partly on an island and partly on the mainland.

2. It was the source of much rebuke and prophetic statements in the Old Testament and was mentioned by Jesus in Mat_11:21 .

Verse 4

1. Paul learns there is a church in Tyre, so he remains there seven days.

2. Inspired prophets told Paul that he should not go to Jerusalem.

Verse 5

1. Since Paul did made a similar stay in Troas ( Act_20:6-7 ), it is assumed that he waited seven days so he could meet and worship with the assembled church at Tyre.

2. When it was time to leave many - men, women and children - escorted them to the edge of the city.

3. There a prayer service was held.

Verse 6

1. Paul and those with him boarded a ship.

2. The disciples from Tyre returned the their homes.

Verse 7

1. It was a short trip from Tyre to Ptolemais, a city near Ceasarea.

2. They met with the brethren there and remained one day.

Verse 8

8 On the next day we who were Paul ' s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

1. Now they arrive at Caesarea and enter the house of Philip.

1. We last heard about Philip in Act_8:40 . After the conversion of the Ethiopian, Philip traveled up the coast to Caesarea.

2. That was about 25 years ago. Now - 25 years later, Philip is still at the same location. If there was any doubt about the issue of "located preacher" - Philip is the answer. He was a preacher in the same city for 25 years. That is a located preacher.

2. This Philip is identified as one of the seven deacons appointed in Act_6:1-15 to care for the Greek speaking widows.

3. Paul's group stayed with Philip.

Verse 9

1. Philip had four daughters, not married, who were inspired prophets.

2. Some attempt to make this passage approval for women to preach in the church. Not so. There were inspired women in they early church. Joe_2:1-32 says that there will be women who prophesy.

3. Women could use this gift to teach children. They could use this gift to teach other women. They could use this gift to evangelize the lost. This gift could be used in many ways outside the assembled church.

Verse 10

1. Agabus, is a prophet from Judea (the area around Jerusalem).

2. He comes to meet with Paul and his companions.

Verse 11

11 When he had come to us, he took Paul ' s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, " Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. '"

1. There are several kinds of prophecy - oral, visual, apocalyptic, written.

2. Agabus used the visual method. The most famous of the visual prophets was Ezekiel.

3. Agabus takes Paul's belt. He uses this belt to tie his own hands and feet.

4. Then he explains.

1. The man who owns this belt will be bound in by the Jews.

2. This will take place in Jerusalem.

3. He will be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles (Romans).

Verse 12

1. Now all in Paul's party are joining with the disciples from Tyre.

2. They pleaded with Paul to stay away from Jerusalem.

Verse 14

14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, " The will of the Lord be done. "

1. Paul was not persuaded. Was he stubborn? Or, was he acknowledging the will of God?

2. "The will of the Lord be done" was the resignation of his companions. If this is the will of God, we can not prevent it.

Verses 15-16

1. With Paul determined, all the others could do was go along and "hope for the best."

2. Some disciples from Caesarea joined them on their way to Jerusalem.

3. One of the early converts, Mnason, from Cyprus, was also in the group.

4. It seems that this convert was now living in Jerusalem. He had come to Caesarea and was now traveling with them to Jerusalem. When they get to Jerusalem, his home will be their place to stay.

Verse 17

1. Finally, they arrive in Jerusalem.

2. They are greeted with open arms and a warm welcome.

Verse 19

1. Paul now greets and reports on his work. He has been gone about 5 years and has much to talk about.

2. This third mission trip was more Gentile focused.

Verse 20

20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, " You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;

1. There was great rejoicing as Paul talks about churches started and growing.

2. There was also some concerns.

1. Many thousands of Jews were converted. 3,000 on Pentecost ( Act_2:41 ); 5,000 ( Act_4:4 ); and multiplied greatly ( Act_6:7 ).

2. Now, 25 years later, there are many thousands of Jewish converts.

3. BUT - they are zealous for the law. They are wanting to bind the Law of Moses on Gentile converts. This should have been settled in Act_15:1-41 , but it is still a problem.

Verse 21

1. These Jewish Christians know about Paul and his work.

2. They are aware that Paul is teaching Jews and Gentiles to leave the Law of Moses.

3. They are upset that Paul has taught that circumcision is not important or necessary.

Verse 22

1. Word will get out that Paul is in town. There must be a meeting with these Jewish brethren to discuss their disagreement with Paul.

2. There must be an assembly called for this purpose.

Verse 23

1. There are four men in the Jerusalem church which have taken a vow.

2. Their vow was about to expire and they must be purified - by Jewish law.

Verse 24

1. By having Paul take them for this purification, there would be a symbolic gesture, that Paul was not totally opposed to the Law of Moses and keeping its precepts.

2. This would show the Jews that Paul walks orderly.

Verse 25

25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. "

1. However, the Gentiles are not under these rules. They restate what was decided in Act_15:1-41 at the conference in Jerusalem.

2. Other than these four things - the Gentiles are not required to observe Jewish laws.

Verse 26

1. Paul took the men the next day so all of them could be purified and conclude their vow.

2. An offering was made to show that the vow was kept.

Verse 27

1. During the period of seven days that were part of the purification process, trouble arose.

2. Jews from Asia had heard Paul teach against keeping the Law.

3. They stir up the crowd and capture Paul.

Verse 28

28 crying out, " Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place. "

1. They charge Paul with two crimes.

1. Paul teaches against the Law - telling people they do not have to keep the Law of Moses.

2. Paul defiled the Temple by bringing in Greeks (uncircumcised) into the temple.

Verse 29

1. This verse explains the second charge. They had seen Trophimus, from Ephesus, with Paul in the city.

2. They "supposed" that Paul brought him into the Temple.

Verse 30

1. Now the whole city of Jerusalem is in an uproar.

2. They form a mob. They grab Paul and drag him out of the temple.

Verse 31

1. Their intent was clear. They wanted to kill Paul.

2. News of this uproar came to the Roman army commander.

Verse 32

1. This Roman commander takes charge. He takes soldiers and centurions, and headed for the temple.

2. As the Roman officers approached, they stopped beating Paul.

Verse 33

1. Paul is now in the hands of the Romans.

2. He is bound with two chains.

3. Now they begin to inquire - Who is this man and what has he done?

Verse 34

1. The same thing happened here that occurred at the trial of Jesus. Many had charges. All different. None of them confirmed.

2. When the truth could not be learned from this mob of angry Jews, Paul was taken away to the Roman army barracks for his protection.

Verse 35

1. The Roman palace was about 75 feet higher than the Temple grounds.

2. As they approached the stairs leading up the palace, soldiers had to carry Paul because of the potential for violence of the Jewish mob.

Verse 36

36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, " Away with him! "

1. The Jews were still bent on killing Paul.

2. "Away with him" means - put him to death. See Luk_23:18 .

Verse 37

37 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?

1. Paul requests to speak to the commander.

2. The commander is surprised that Paul speaks in the Greek language because he supposes that Paul is Jewish and would only speak Hebrew.

Verse 38

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

1. The commander has a case of mistaken identity.

2. He believes Paul to be an Egyptian that caused some problem and lead away 4,000 people.

Verse 39

39 But Paul said, " I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people. "

1. Paul identifies himself - Paul - a Jew - from Tarsus - no small or unimportant city.

2. Then Paul requests to speak to the people - the mob of Jews.

Verse 40

1. The commander gave permission for Paul to address the crowd.

2. Paul stood on the stairs and motioned for silence.

3. When they were quiet - Paul spoke in the Hebrew language.

4. NOTE: This chapter ends with a comma. The next chapter is Paul's speech to this crowd.