Act 21:30-32 | RWP | e4.org | All the city was shaken ( εκινηθη η πολις ολη ). First aorist passive of κινεω , common verb for violent motion and emotion. See also where the word is used by Tertullus of Paul as the stirrer up of riots! The people ran together ( εγενετο συνδρομη του λαου ). Rather, There came a running together ( συν-δρομη from συν-τρεχω ) of the people. The cry spread like wildfire over the city and there was a pell-mell scramble or rush to get to the place of the disturbance. They laid hold on Paul ( επιλαβομενο του Παυλου ). Second aorist middle participle of επιλαμβανομα with the genitive (cf. επεβαλαν in verse ). Dragged ( ειλκον ). Imperfect active of ελκω (and also ελκυω ), old verb to drag or draw. Imperfect tense vividly pictures the act as going on. They were saving the temple by dragging Paul outside. Curiously enough both επιλαβομενο and ειλκυσαν occur in about the arrest of Paul and Silas in Philippi. Straightway the doors were shut ( ευθεως εκλεισθησαν α θυρα ). With a bang and at once. First aorist (effective) passive of κλειω . The doors between the inner court and the court of the Gentiles. But this was only the beginning, the preparation for the real work of the mob. They did not wish to defile the holy place with blood. The doors were shut by the Levites.

‏ Acts 21:30-32

All the city was shaken ( εκινηθη η πολις ολη ). First aorist passive of κινεω, common verb for violent motion and emotion. See also 24:5 where the word is used by Tertullus of Paul as the stirrer up of riots!

The people ran together ( εγενετο συνδρομη του λαου ). Rather, There came a running together ( συν-δρομη from συν-τρεχω ) of the people. The cry spread like wildfire over the city and there was a pell-mell scramble or rush to get to the place of the disturbance.

They laid hold on Paul ( επιλαβομενο του Παυλου ). Second aorist middle participle of επιλαμβανομα with the genitive (cf. επεβαλαν in verse 27).

Dragged ( ειλκον ). Imperfect active of ελκω (and also ελκυω ), old verb to drag or draw. Imperfect tense vividly pictures the act as going on. They were saving the temple by dragging Paul outside. Curiously enough both επιλαβομενο and ειλκυσαν occur in 16:19 about the arrest of Paul and Silas in Philippi.

Straightway the doors were shut ( ευθεως εκλεισθησαν α θυρα ). With a bang and at once. First aorist (effective) passive of κλειω. The doors between the inner court and the court of the Gentiles. But this was only the beginning, the preparation for the real work of the mob. They did not wish to defile the holy place with blood. The doors were shut by the Levites.

As they were seeking to kill him ( ζητουντων αυτων ). Genitive absolute of ζητεω, to seek, without αυτων (they). This was their real purpose.

Tidings ( φασις ). From φαινω, to show. Old word for the work of informers and then the exposure of secret crime. In LXX. Here only in the N.T.

Came up ( ανεβη ). Naturally in the wild uproar. The Roman guard during festivals was kept stationed in the Tower of Antonia at the northwest corner of the temple overlooking the temple and connected by stairs (verse 35).

To the chief captain ( τω χιλιαρχω ). Commander of a thousand men or cohort (Mr 15:16). His name was Claudius Lysias.

Of the band ( της σπειρης ). Each legion had six tribunes and so each tribune (chiliarch) had a thousand if the cohort had its full quota. See on 10:1; 27:1. The word is the Latin spira (anything rolled up). Note the genitive σπειρης instead of σπειρας (Attic).

Was in confusion ( συνχυννετα ). Present passive indicative of συνχυννω (see verse 27, συνεχεον ). This is what the conspirators had desired.

Forthwith ( εξαυτης ). Common in the Koine ( εξ αυτης, supply ωρας, hour).

He took ( παραλαβων ). See verses 24, 26.

Centurions ( εκατονταρχας ). See on Lu 7:2 for discussion. Plural shows that Lysias the chiliarch took several hundred soldiers along (a centurion with each hundred).

Ran down ( κατεδραμεν ). Effective second aorist active indicative of κατατρεχω. From the tower of Antonia, vivid scene.

And they ( ο δε ). Demonstrative use of ο. The Jewish mob who had begun the work of killing Paul (verse 31).

Left off beating Paul ( επαυσαντο τυπτοντες τον Παυλον ). The participle with παυομα describes what they were already doing, the supplementary participle (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1121). They stopped before the job was over because of the sudden onset of the Roman soldiers. Some ten years before in a riot at the passover the Roman guard marched down and in the panic several hundred were trampled to death.