Acts 21:35

When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul is being escorted by Roman soldiers to the barracks while a violent, shouting mob surrounds him. The military commander, unable to discern the truth through the uproar, has ordered this extraction.

The words — The term ἀναβαθμοῖς (anabathmois) specifies the steps or stairway where Paul arrives. The passive verb βαστάζεσθαι (bastazesthai) indicates he was physically carried by the soldiers rather than walking under his own power.

The thread — The narrative's emphasis on mob violence echoes the chaotic violence described in Genesis 6:11 and the civil strife condemned in Psalms 55:9 and Psalms 58:2.

Why it lands — The account shows how physical force becomes necessary when a crowd's frenzy overrides reason and lawful inquiry. It requires the reader to acknowledge the concrete reality of uncontrolled hostility directed at those delivering a message.

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

ὅτεhoteWhen δὲdenow ἐγένετοegenetohe came ἐπὶepito τοὺςtousthe ἀναβαθμούς,anabathmousstairs,συνέβηsunebēit happened that βαστάζεσθαιbastazesthaibeing carried αὐτὸνautonhe ὑπὸhupoby τῶνtōnthe στρατιωτῶνstratiōtōnsoldiers διὰdiabecause of τὴνtēnthe βίανbianviolence τοῦtouof the ὄχλου·ochloucrowd;

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Genesis 6:11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and full of violence.
Psalms 55:9 O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.
Psalms 58:2 No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.
Jeremiah 23:10 For the land is full of adulterers—because of the curse, the land mourns and the pastures of the wilderness have dried up—their course is evil and their power is misused.
Habakkuk 1:2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save?
Acts 21:40 Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew: