Bible Commentaries
Acts 21

Verse 1

1 Act 21:1-2. The ship they took at Miletus went as far as Patara only, where the group had to change over to another vessel bound for Phenicia. That was a small tract of country on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Verse 3

3 Act 21:3. Discovered Cyprus means they came in sight of that island, but passing it on their left they sailed on into Syria, the larger territory of which Phenicia was a small part. The ship landed at Tyre, an important seaport of the last named country. Here the ship was to unload its cargo which made a delay in the journey of seven days.

Verse 4

4 Act 21:4. Through the Spirit applies to the general condition of persecution that would beset Paul, not that it was an inspired directive for him not to go.

Verse 5

5 Act 21:5. Brought us on our way means that they all went with them to "see them off." Leave-taking was often done in connection with a prayer service. It was done when Paul and the elders separated (chapter 20:36).

Verse 6

6 Act 21:6. After saying good-bye they separated. The disciples went to their homes and Paul and his company went into the ship which was ready to sail again.

Verse 7

7 Act 21:7. Paul and his group ended their sea travel at this town. There were some brethren here with whom they visited for one day.

Verse 8

8 Act 21:8. This traveling was done by land, bringing them to Caesarea which was the headquarters of the Roman government in Palestine. Philip was one of the deacons appointed in chapter 6. He is called the evangelist because of such work as he did as recorded in chapter 8.

Verse 9

9 Act 21:9. These virgins were the maidens mentioned elsewhere and their prophesying fulfilled the prediction made in Joe 2:28-29 and quoted by Peter in Act 2:17-18.

Verse 10

0 Act 21:10. This is the same Agabus who made a prediction in chapter 11:28. The primary meaning of a prophet is a foreteller, although it is not restricted to that definition, but sometimes is used of those who edify or exhort (1Co 14:3). Agabus was a prophet of the former kind, those being the days of spiritual gifts.

Verse 11

1 Act 21:11. See the note on "prophets acting" at 1Ki 20:35 in volume 2 of the Old Testament Commentary. Agabus took this dramatic manner of making his prediction to impress its importance upon the group.

Verse 12

2 Act 21:12. The whole group believed the prediction of Agabus, and in their anxiety and love for Paul, tried to persuade him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Verse 13

3 Act 21:13. Paul did not worry over the prediction, but he was vexed because of the attitude of the group. He declared his willingness to go even further in his endurance for the sake of Jesus. He was willing to die for him if need be, although Agabus had not included that in his prediction.

Verse 14

4 Act 21:14. The will of the Lord be done indicates their resignation to whatever lot might befall the beloved apostle. His fortitude had the effect of reconciling them to the program that Christ might have mapped out for him.

Verse 15

5 Act 21:15. Took up our carriages is all from APOSKEUAZO, which Thayer defines, "To pack up and carry off." We means Luke, Paul and the others of their company.

Verse 16

6 Act 21:16. Mnason was formerly of the island of Cyprus but was now living in Jerusalem. He was returning home with this group and arrangements were made for them to stay with him.

Verse 17

7 Act 21:17. Brethren received us gladly indicated a friendly attitude toward the brethren of Paul's group. This was not only because of the common interest they had in the cause of Christ, b

Verse 18

8ut there were certain questions that had arisen among the Jewish Christians that they wished Paul to clarify.

Verse 19

9 Act 21:19. One of the main subjects of interest in those days was the admittance of the Gentiles to the benefits of the Gospel.

Verse 20

0 Act 21:20. While many of the brethren rejoiced in the conversion of the Gentiles, they were confused as to their proper relation to the national customs of the Jews under the law of Moses. Zealous of the law means they had a desire to continue the aforesaid customs of the law even though they had embraced the Gospel. They had the right to do so (chapter 16:3; 18:21), but did not understand why thy,, Gentiles did not also.

Verse 21

1 Act 21:21. Paul taught that no one was to be justified by the law of Moses. This teaching of the apostle was misunderstood and some thought that he also opposed the Jews who observed the old practices even though they did it merely as national customs. These elders understood Paul's position on the subject, but many of the Jewish brethren did not, and they were informing him of the situation.

Verse 22

2 Act 21:22. Paul was told that there would be an assembling of these zealous Jewish disciples in order to inquire into the subject.

Verse 23

4 Act 21:23-24. As a proof that Paul had not turned against the law as far as the national customs were concerned, they told him of an opportunity just at hand where he could engage in one of those customs, which was in regard to vows and the formalities required. The directions for observing this vow are in Numbers 6 th chapter.

Verse 25

5 Act 21:25. This refers to Act 15:23-29.

Verse 26

6 Act 21:26. Paul complied with the advice of the elders. When he did so he carried out a principle he set forth in 1Co 9:20.

Verse 27

7 Act 21:27. Paul had to be in the temple to perform the custom mentioned in the preceding verse. That attracted the attention of the Jews of Asia, a small Roman province in which was the city of Ephesus. They had known of Paul's work in their home city, and still had a prejudice against him. They raised a commotion among the people and caused them to threaten Paul with violence.

Verse 28

8 Act 21:28. Like most riotous demonstrations, the motive was a false accusation. The mob accused Paul of opposing the law. (See comments at verses 20, 21.) They even accused him of bringing some Greeks (Gentiles) into the temple for the purpose of corrupting it.

Verse 29

9 Act 21:29. When people have the motive of persecuting a man whose teaching they do not like but cannot meet, they will take things for granted and form wrongful conclusions. Paul was seen with one Trophimus somewhere in the city, then the people presumed that he had taken him into the temple to corrupt it.

Verse 30

0 Act 21:30. A general uproar was caused and Paul was forcibly taken out of the temple. The doors were closed to prevent him from returning should he get loose.

Verse 31

1 Act 21:31. Went about to kill him means they were actually beginning their acts of violence, and intended to continue until they had him killed (verse 32). Word of the riot reached the ears of the captain of the military.

Verse 32

2 Act 21:32. The captain took a crew of soldiers with him to the scene of the riot. The appearance of this company caused the mob to cease beating Paul.

Verse 33

3 Act 21:33. The captain partook of the mob spirit and mistreated Paul, although the apostle had not even been accused by any officer.

Verse 34

4 Act 21:34. The riotous clamor of the mob confused the captain so that he concluded to remove Paul from them for further investigation, all the while treating him very roughly. The castle was the place that contained the barracks of the soldiers.

Verse 35

5 Act 21:35. The mob spirit was so violent that Paul had to be carried by the soldiers to get him through the crowd to a place of personal safety.

Verse 36

6 Act 21:36. Away with him was an outburst of rage prompted by the spirit of murder, for Paul had not even been accused by any legal witness.

Verse 37

7 Act 21:37. While this military police was pushing Paul along, he asked permission to make a speech to the people in his own behalf. This request was made in the Greek language, which surprised the captain who thought Paul was an Egyptian.

Verse 38

8 Act 21:38. The only fact that was present in both the case of the Egyptian and that of Paul, was that there was an uproar among the people. But the apostle was not to blame for the present riot, a truth seemingly unknown to the chief captain.

Verse 39

9 Act 21:39. Paul did not answer the captain with a direct "no," but stated in brief his identity. Instead of being an Egyptian he was a Jew. Tarsus was no mean city which means it was no insignificant place. Paul's nativity, then, was an honorable and noted one. On that basis he again asked permission to speak to the people.

Verse 40

0 Act 21:40. After being given license or permission to speak, Paul stood on the stairway to be in sight and hearing of the people, making a signal with his hand requesting their attention. When talking to the captain (verse 37) who was a Gentile, Paul used the Greek tongue. Now that the crowd was mostly Jewish, he used their own language which he knew they could understand and would respect.