May 8, 2022
Acts 21:27-36
“Arrest and A Rescue”
Service Overview: The rumors of Paul’s abandonment of the law grew, and a mob was stirred. But as fate (or rather providence) would have it, Paul is rescued by none other than the Romans themselves. God’s rescue can come in surprising ways at times.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
Background Information:
- This is the sixth time a crowd was incited because of Paul’s ministry (14:19; 16:19-22; 17:5-8, 13; 19:25-34). (John F. Walvoord, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament, 416)
- The Fortress of Antonia was built by Herod the Great to overlook the temple area to the south and the city to the north and west, with exits to both the Court of the Gentiles and the city proper (cf. BC, 4:136). The commander was not a chief priest (contra SBK, 2:631; 4:644) and had nothing to do with the priests and officials of the temple (contra HJP, 2.1:267). Rather, he represented Rome’s interests and was commissioned to intervene in the affairs of the people on behalf of those interests (cf. Jeremias, Jerusalem, pp. 211-12). (Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, John and Acts, 522)
- During special festivals in Jerusalem, the Roman soldiers were stationed in the Tower of Antonia at the northwest corner of the Temple area. The fact that there was a commander present means that a cohort, or a thousand men, were billeted there. The Romans knew that the Pentecost feast was fraught with potential dangers in Jerusalem. When the commander heard of Paul’s beating, he rushed to the scene outside the court of the Temple. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 306)
- The temple was constructed so that Gentiles were barred from admittance into certain portions. The Holy of Holies was the inner sanctum where only the high priest could go on the Day of Atonement. Then there was the Holy Place, where only Jews could go. The outer court, or the court of the Gentiles, was the only portion of the temple permitted to Gentiles. At the entrance to the Holy Place there was a sign written in both Greek and Latin warning all who were not Jews from passing that point and entering. Gentiles caught entering the holy place were condemned to execution. Josephus testifies that the Roman occupiers were so careful not to stir up the Jews about their religious conviction that the Romans would carry out the execution of Gentiles who violated this particular sacred principle. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 324)
- So dense and violent was the crowd, Luke recalls, that the soldiers hoisted Paul over their heads when they reached the tower stairs. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 250)
The question to answer…
Why is it Paul’s efforts to stifle the rumors about him failed?
Answer…
Because people, wantonly blind to truth, often persist in believing lies, to the degree of their own prejudices.
What key things are important to identify in this text?
- The false assumption that fueled a false accusation.
(vv. 27-29 | Ps. 101:7; Pro. 12:19, 22; Isaiah 54:15-17; Matthew 5:10-11; 2 Timothy 3:12)
The charge against Paul resulted from the fact that he and Trophimus were seen together in the city, which led to the assumption that they went together into the Holy Place in the temple. But as Bruce observes, “It is absurd to think that Paul, who on this very occasion was going out of his way to appease Jewish susceptibilities, should have thus wantonly flouted Jewish law and run his own head into danger” (Book of the Acts, p. 434, n.46). (Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, John and Acts, 522)
With their emotions running at full speed, and their brains in neutral, these men argued: (1) wherever Paul went, his Gentile friends went; (2) Paul was seen in the temple; therefore, his friends had been in the temple too! Such is the logic of prejudice. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 392)
- The ease at which the mob then formed.
(v30. | Ps. 2:1; 21:11; 35:4; 36:4; Prov. 6:12-13; 12:20; Jer. 18:23; Mic. 2:1; Zech. 8:16-17)
The Asian Jews in Jerusalem appear to have known exactly what they were doing. They may not have been able to destroy Paul when he was in Ephesus, but they would finish the job in Jerusalem. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Location, 4284)
Mobs are stirred up by prejudice and exclusivism, not by reason and just charges. Religious fervor is as dangerous as political hatred. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 306)
- The beautiful irony of God’s providential rescue via the Romans.
(vv. 31-36 | Genesis 50:20; Psalm 27:14; 31:15; 145:14-20; Matthew 6:25-34; Romans 8:28)
That the Roman commander rescued Paul from the Jewish mob was an answer to prayer. Paul had written to the Romans, “Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea” (Rom. 15:31). It may not have been everything that Paul had hoped for. He did not anticipate being arrested. But it was all in God’s plan as the first step in getting him to Rome. (Stanley M. Horton, Acts, Kindle Location 8094)
Luke gives the impression that if the mob was not interrupted, Paul’s life would not last another five minutes. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 324)
How can this text serve to challenge our faith today?
A. Stay sharp when hearing any accusation.
(Ps. 11:5; 26:2; Isaiah 26:3; Romans 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 4:1-4)
We know what a strong propensity men have to falsehood, so that they not only have a natural desire to be deceived, but each individual appears to be ingenious in deceiving himself. (John Calvin, Bible Commentaries: Matthew, Mark, and Luke (mid-16th century)
Some Asian Jews stirred up the people against Paul by spreading rumors about him. They knew how effective Paul’s work had been. Their strategy was to discredit him so that his work would be weakened. Be alert when you hear accusations against God’s workers. Be aware that bad reports often come from unbelievers who are merely trying to hinder the progress of Christianity by maligning Christians. Keep an open mind, and pray. Ask God to silence any rumormongers and to strengthen his servants. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 366)
B. Seek to stand out for Jesus (in a good way).
(Matthew 5:10; 5:44; Romans 12:14-21; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 3:16-17; 1 Peter 4:12-16)
Paul’s faith angered the Jerusalem crowd. An angry response might not be the goal we seek. But, with God’s help, it is our goal to live for Him in a way distinct enough to draw some response. If we disappear into the crowd, we betray our calling to be light and salt (see Matthew 5:13-16). (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Location, 4296)
Even in the roughest seas the Spirit enables a fully dedicated man to keep his buffeted ship pointed in the right direction. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 250)
You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. (C. S. Lewis, A Grief Observed, 22)
C. Trust God for your rescue.
(Ps. 23:4; 37:39; 91:14-15; 107:28; Mat. 5:10-12; John 15:18; Romans 8:35; 1 Peter 4:19)
For Paul’s own sake he was arrested and chained by each arm to two soldiers. In the confusion the commander was able to extract no coherent charge from the excited mob and Paul was actually carried through the seething mob into the barracks. There was never a time when Paul was nearer death than this and it was the impartial justice of Rome which saved his life. (William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 157)
When you come to Christ, you do not come to give, you come to receive. You do not come to try your best, you come to trust. You do not come just to be helped, but to be rescued. You do not come to be made better (although that does happen), you come to be made alive! (Erwin Lutzer, How You Can Be Sure That You Will Spend Eternity with God, 45)
Gospel Application…
The gospel is by nature controversial, because it calls all people to trust in and worship something other than themselves.
(Ecc. 3:11; Mat. 5:10; Luke 6:22; John 15:18; Rom. 12:14; 2 Cor. 12:10; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Peter 3:14; 4:12-14; 1 John 3:13)
Paul could have compiled a scrapbook of the riots he “caused”: Lystra (14:19), Philippi (16:22), Thessalonica (17:5), Ephesus (19:29), and, at this point, Jerusalem. If guilt came by association, Paul deserved judgment. Paul had broken no law, Jewish or Roman, but the Jesus he proclaimed did bring radical change to both individual lives and to society. And this change, as always, produced stress. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts, Kindle Location 4272)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- What two accusations are made against Paul by the angry crowd? How were these accusations both inaccurate and ironic?
- What are some ways you might develop a “filter” for times when you hear accusations made against others?
- How does the Christian faith cause Jesus’ people to stand out?
- In what ways have you seen the gospel stir up controversy in those who aren’t believers?
- Some Christians can “stand out for Jesus” in a bad way. What are some bad ways you have witnessed believers standing out? How can you be sure to stand out in a good way?
- How can you be both salt and light for those you encounter?
Quotes to note…
The quick action of Lysias and the close proximity of the garrison (the Antonia Fortress was adjacent to the temple area) were all that saved Paul’s life. The seizing of Paul by the crowd (in 21:30) was superseded by the seizing of Paul by the Roman soldiers. Paul actually was fortunate to be arrested and bound. Luke, ever the one for details, wrote that Paul was bound with two chains. The chains handcuffed him to a Roman soldier on each side. This would be normal treatment for a criminal. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 368)
False accusations are a common way that the enemy tries to make Christians look bad. We cannot keep people from distorting and twisting the facts or assuming the worst about us. Nor can we spend all our time trying to answer our critics. All we can do is live with integrity and let our true character dispel the rumors. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 367)
The strategy of Paul’s taking a vow and paying for the Nazirite offerings hardly proved successful-probably nothing could have conciliated those whose minds were already prejudiced against Paul. (Longenecker, Acts, 521)
Some commentators have seen symbolic significance in the brief statement that “immediately the doors were shut”; and such a significance may well have been intended by Luke. T. D. Bernard, for example, in his Bampton Lectures for 1864, says of this incident: ‘ “Believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets’ and ‘having committed nothing against the people or customs of [his] fathers’, he [Paul] and his creed are forced from their proper home. On it as well as him the Temple doors are shut.” For Luke himself, this may have been the moment when the Jerusalem temple ceased to fill the honorable role hitherto ascribed to it in his twofold history. The exclusion of God’s message and messenger from the house once called by his name sealed its doom: it was now ripe for the destruction which Jesus had predicted for it many years before (Luke 21:6). (F.F. Bruce, Acts, 429)
Fanaticism fired by hatred breaks laws to take the law into its own hands. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 306)
Notice the false charge against Paul. His enemies accused him of defiling the temple by bringing Gentiles there. Had anyone seen Paul take a Gentile into temple area? Of course not. But they had seen Paul walking in the city with a Greek Christian, Trophimus the Ephesian—so they assumed he must have taken Trophrmus into the temple. That’s how flimsy their evidence was. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 282)
The idea got around that because Trophimus was a Gentile and was in the city, and because Paul had gone into the temple area, where only Jews could go, somehow Paul must have brought Trophimus along. Luke makes clear that this was not the case. Nor would Paul have been foolish enough to have done it. Paul was trying to show his concern for the ceremonial laws of Judaism. He would not have violated the temple precincts by bringing in a Gentile. (Boice, Acts, 365)
