Bible Strands
Acts 21:30
The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative places the event in Jerusalem immediately after false witnesses claim Paul brought a Gentile into the temple courts. The text describes the crowd's immediate physical reaction before the Roman commander arrives.
The words — ἐκινήθη (ekinēthē) literally means "was thrown into commotion," describing the city's sudden agitation. συνδρομή (sundromē) denotes the crowd's "rushing together" to seize Paul.
The thread — The text records this violent seizure in the temple courts, which parallels the apostle's later testimony in Acts 26:21 and his catalog of dangers in 2 Corinthians 11:26. The pattern of mob violence against him also echoes the earlier arrest in Acts 16:19.
Why it lands — The text states that a false accusation instantly mobilizes a crowd into physical violence and institutional exclusion. It requires the reader to track how manufactured charges trigger systematic opposition against the apostle.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
Cross-references
- Acts 26:21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.
- 2 Corinthians 11:26 In my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers and from bandits, in danger from my countrymen and from the Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the country, in danger on the sea and among false brothers,
- Acts 16:19 When the girl’s owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the marketplace.
- 2 Kings 11:15 And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”
- Matthew 2:3 When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
- Matthew 21:10 When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
- Luke 4:29 They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff.
- Acts 7:57 At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
- Acts 19:29 Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.