Act 21:32-40 | RWP | e4.org | Forthwith ( εξαυτης ). Common in the Koine ( εξ αυτης , supply ωρας , hour). He took ( παραλαβων ). See verses , . Centurions ( εκατονταρχας ). See on 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 ). 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.

‏ Acts 21:32-40

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.

Came near ( εγγισας ). First aorist active participle of εγγιζω, to draw near, Koine verb from εγγυς, near, and common in the N.T.

Laid hold on him ( επελαβετο αντου ). See same verb in verse 30.

To be bound ( δεθηνα ). First aorist passive infinitive of δεω (see verse 11).

With two chains ( αλυσεσ δυσ ). Instrumental case of αλυσις, old word from α privative and λυω (not loosing, i.e. chaining). With two chains as a violent and seditious person, probably leader of a band of assassins (verse 38). See on Mr 5:4.

Inquired ( επυνθανετο ). Imperfect middle of πυνθανομα, old and common verb used mainly by Luke in the N.T. Lysias repeated his inquiries.

Who he was ( τις ειη ). Present active optative of ειμ changed from εστιν (present indicative) in the indirect question, a change not obligatory after a past tense, but often done in the older Greek, rare in the N.T. (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1043f.).

And what he had done ( κα τ εστιν πεποιηκως ). Periphrastic perfect active indicative of ποιεω here retained, not changed to the optative as is true of ειη from εστιν in the same indirect question, illustrating well the freedom about it.

Some shouting one thing, some another ( αλλο αλλο τ επεφωνουν ). Same idiom of αλλο αλλο as in 19:32 which see. The imperfect of επιφωνεω, to call out to, suits well the idiom. This old verb occurs in the N.T. only in Luke and Acts (already in 12:22).

When he could not know ( μη δυναμενου αυτου γνωνα ). Genitive absolute of present middle participle of δυναμα with negative μη and second aorist active infinitive of γινωσκω.

The certainty ( το ασφαλες ). Neuter articular adjective from α privative and σφαλλω, to make totter or fall. Old word, in the N.T. only in Ac 21:34; 22:30; 25:26; Php 3:1; Heb 6:19.

Into the castle ( εις την παρεμβολην ). Koine word from παρεμβαλλω, to cast in by the side of, to assign soldiers a place, to encamp (see on Lu 19:43). So παρεμβολη comes to mean an interpolation, then an army drawn up (Heb 11:34), but mainly an encampment (Heb 13:11, 13), frequent in Polybius and LXX. So here barracks of the Roman soldiers in the tower of Antonia as in verse 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.

Upon the stairs ( επ τους αναβαθμους ). From ανα, up, and βαινω, to go. Late word, in LXX and Koine writers. In the N.T. only here and verse 40.

So it was ( συνεβη ). Second aorist active of συμβαινω, to happen (see on 20:19) with infinitive clause as subject here as often in the old Greek.

He was borne ( βασταζεσθα αυτον ). Accusative of general reference with this subject infinitive, present passive of βασταζω, to take up with the hands, literally as here.

Violence ( βιαν ). See on Ac 5:26. Βιαζω, to use force, is from βια.

Followed after ( ηκολουθε ). Imperfect active of ακολυθεω, was following. Cheated of their purpose to lynch Paul, they were determined to have his blood.

Crying out ( κραζοντες ). Construction according to sense, plural masculine participle agreeing with neuter singular substantive πληθος (Robertson, Grammar, p. 401).

Away with him ( Αιρε αυτον ). The very words used by the mob to Pilate when they chose Barabbas in preference to Jesus (Lu 23:18, Αιρε τουτον ). He will hear it again from this same crowd (Ac 22:22). It is the present imperative ( αιρε ) as in Lu 23:18, but some may have used the urgent aorist active imperative as also in the case of Jesus Joh 19:15, αρον, αρον with σταυρωσον added). Luke does not say that this mob demanded crucifixion for Paul. He was learning what it was to share the sufferings of Christ as the sullen roar of the mob's yells rolled on and on in his ears.

May I say something unto thee? ( Ε εξεστιν μο ειπειν τ προς σε? ). On this use of ε in a direct question see on 1:6. The calm self-control of Paul in the presence of this mob is amazing. His courteous request to Lysias was in Greek to the chiliarch's amazement.

Dost thou know Greek? ( Hελληνιστ γινωσκεισ? ). Old Greek adverb in - from Hελληνιζω, meaning "in Greek." "Do you know it in Greek?" In the N.T. only here and Joh 19:20.

Art thou not then the Egyptian? ( Ουκ αρα συ ε ο Αιγυπτιοσ? ). Expects the answer Yes and αρα argues the matter (therefore). The well-known ( ο ) Egyptian who had given the Romans so much trouble.

Stirred up to sedition ( αναστατωσας ). First aorist active participle of αναστατοω, a late verb from αναστατος, outcast, and so to unsettle, to stir up, to excite, once known only in LXX and Ac 17:6 (which see); 21:38; Ga 5:12, but now found in several papyri examples with precisely this sense to upset.

Of the Assassins ( των σικαριων ). Latin word sicarius, one who carried a short sword σιχα under his cloak, a cutthroat. Josephus uses this very word for bands of robbers under this Egyptian (War II. 17,6 and 13,5; Ant. XX. 8,10). Josephus says that there were 30,000 who gathered on the Mount of Olives to see the walls of Jerusalem fall down and not merely 4,000 as Lysias does here. But Lysias may refer to the group that were armed thus (banditti) the core of the mob of 30,000. Lysias at once saw by Paul's knowledge of Greek that he was not the famous Egyptian who led the Assassins and escaped himself when Felix attacked and slew the most of them.

I am ( Εγω μεν ειμ ). In contrast with the wild guess of Lysias Paul uses μεν and δε. He tells briefly who he is:

a Jew ( Ιουδαιος ) by race,

of Tarsus in Cilicia ( Ταρσευς της Κιλικιας ) by country, belonging to Tarsus (this adjective Ταρσευς only here and Ac 9:11), and proud of it, one of the great cities of the empire with a great university.

A citizen of no mean city ( ουκ ασημου πολεως πολιτης ). Litotes again, "no mean" ( ασημος, old adjective, unmarked, α privative and σημα, mark, insignificant, here only in the N.T.). This same litotes used by Euripides of Athens (Ion 8). But Paul calls himself a citizen ( πολιτης ) of Tarsus. Note the "effective assonance" (Page) in πολεως πολιτης. Paul now ( δε ) makes his request ( δεομα ) of Lysias.

Give me leave ( επιτρεψον μο ). First aorist active imperative of επιτρεπω, old and common verb to turn to, to permit, to allow. It was a strange request and a daring one, to wish to speak to this mob howling for Paul's blood.

When he had given him leave ( επιτρεψαντος αυτου ). Genitive absolute of aorist active participle of the same verb επιτρεπω.

Standing on the stairs ( εστως επ των αναβαθμων ). Second perfect active participle of ιστημ, to place, but intransitive to stand. Dramatic scene. Paul had faced many audiences and crowds, but never one quite like this. Most men would have feared to speak, but not so Paul. He will speak about himself only as it gives him a chance to put Christ before this angry Jewish mob who look on Paul as a renegade Jew, a turncoat, a deserter, who went back on Gamaliel and all the traditions of his people, who not only turned from Judaism to Christianity, but who went after Gentiles and treated Gentiles as if they were on a par with Jews. Paul knows only too well what this mob thinks of him.

Beckoned with the hand ( κατεσεισε τη χειρ ). He shook down to the multitude with the hand (instrumental case χειρ ), while Alexander, Luke says (19:33), "shook down the hand" (accusative with the same verb, which see). In 26:1 Paul reached out the hand ( εκτεινας την χειρα ).

When there was made a great silence ( πολλης σιγης γενομενης ). Genitive absolute again with second aorist middle participle of γινομα, "much silence having come." Paul waited till silence had come.

In the Hebrew language ( τη Εβραιδ διαλεκτω ). The Aramaean which the people in Jerusalem knew better than the Greek. Paul could use either tongue at will. His enemies had said in Corinth that "his bodily presence was weak and his speech contemptible" (2Co 10:10). But surely even they would have to admit that Paul's stature and words reach heroic proportions on this occasion. Self-possessed with majestic poise Paul faces the outraged mob beneath the stairs.