Acts 21:31-35

 

Acts 21:31 (KJB)

And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

 

Uproar - Confused, incited, or stirred up

 

The Jews had forgotten that they were under the authority of the Romans and had tried to kill Paul simply on accusations. This situation had become to serious and to loud. Someone had taken the news of this mob riot to the chief captain of the band which would have been the Roman Tribune who would have been in charge of between 600-1000 soldiers. He told him that “all Jerusalem” was in an uproar so the Roman tribune probably figured it was a full riot going on.

 

Acts 21:32 (KJB)

Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.

 

Immediately the Tribune had dispatched at the minimum two Centurions. A Centurion is one that has authority over 100 soldiers. They did not even walk, they ran right into the middle of the fracas. When the Jews saw the Roman soldiers coming toward them, they stopped beating Paul. After all, Paul was a Roman citizen and if he did anything wrong, he would have to be tried so the mob was in total error beating him without even so much as a hearing. That same situation happened to him in Philippi where he was beaten without a trial being a Roman citizen.

 

Acts 21:33 (KJB)

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

 

The soldiers were finally able to take Paul but because they did not know what he did, he could have been a dangerous criminal, so they bound him with two chains. This means that Paul was now chained to two Roman soldiers instead of one. Just like Peter when he was captured, only he was chained to four Roman soldiers. The Roman Tribune now begins to inquire as to he was and what he had done. He asked these questions of the mob and I am sure he was sorry for making that mistake.

 

Acts 21:34 (KJB)

And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

 

Castle - Barracks or a fortified camp

 

Here is history repeating itself again. Paul was facing the same situation here that he did in Ephesus. (Acts 19:32 KJV) Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. In Ephesus, they did the same thing as most of them didn’t even know why they were there. Now in Jerusalem, there was conflicting accusations as some cried one thing and another yelled something else. The Commander knew he was not going to get any true information out of this mob, so instead of remaining out there and trying to ascertain the facts, he brought him into the castle which was probably the barracks of the Tower of Antonia.

 

Acts 21:35 (KJB)

And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.

 

The crowd was so vicious and intent on killing Paul, that when they moved toward the stairs which was between the temple court and the Tower of Antonia, they had attempted to surge around the soldiers and attack Paul, so in order to hurry up and get out of the way, they literally picked Paul up and carried him up the stairs. They had kept up the pressure because they were still under the belief that the temple was defiled by Paul bringing Trophimus into it. They were so set on Paul obeying the law and yet they also forgot that even in the law of God it is written that a person under accusations is to have a trial. (Deu 17:4 KJV) And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: This mob did anything but inquire diligently, yet they still wanted to kill Paul.

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