Page 103 - acts_study_book3

Act 21:31 Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison
that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

And as they went about (sought) to kill him, tidings (news) came unto the chief captain of the
band (Roman army, 1000 men), that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Mob violence is running the city. They are using religion to disobey the law and murder
someone without a trial. There will only be an execution. They can never trap Paul by legal
means in Corinth (Chapter 18) or Ephesus (Chapter 19), so they are breaking the law
themselves. This is why the Romans have every right to come in and seize and protect Paul.
The chief captain (tribune) is a leader of one thousand soldiers in the Roman garrison. This
represents the extent of law in the church. When the religious person violates civil law, he
must face the system. The Romans represent law and order, especially in the midst of chaos.

Act 21:32 He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they
saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

Who (commander) immediately took (grabbed the nearest) soldiers (foot soldiers) and
centurions (captains over 100), and ran down unto them (the rioting Jews): and when they saw
the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating Paul.

This commander is such a contrast to Pontius Pilate who catered to the people. This ruler
knows the law, order, and the destructive potential of mobs. Since those beating Paul fear the
death sentence for murder, they stop. They then stand back and scream accusations to justify
themselves. Their intent is to convince the Roman government to kill Paul since they can’t
without suffering the consequences.

Act 21:33 Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound
with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done.

Then the chief captain came near, and took him (Paul), and commanded him to be bound with
two chains; and demanded (investigated) who he was, and what he had done.

Paul is taken for his own protection until he can be tried. He is bound with two chains, which is
the way the Romans bound the prisoners (12:6). The military leader remains calm and reacts
smoothly in an emotional event. He now demands information after putting the mob and Paul
in their proper places.

CONFUSION IN THE MOB

Act 21:34 And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could
not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the
barracks.