Acts 21:38

“Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the Assassins into the wilderness?”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Roman tribune addresses Paul during his escort to the barracks, asking if Paul is a known rebel leader. This question follows the tribune’s confirmation that Paul speaks Greek and precedes Paul’s declaration of his Jewish identity and citizenship.

The words — The Greek οὐκ ἄρα (ouk ara) operates as a rhetorical confirmation, literally meaning "are you not then?" or "surely you are?" The noun Αἰγὺπτιος (Aiguptios) explicitly identifies the accused as an Egyptian.

The thread — The tribune’s mention of leading followers into the wilderness parallels the false leader Theudas in Acts 5:36 and the wilderness deception warnings in Matthew 24:26. These passages collectively document how popular movements are frequently categorized by Roman authorities as insurrections.

Why it lands — The text records a direct accusation based on prior intelligence rather than current evidence. It asks a reader to separate factual identity from political labeling and to respond with clear, grounded truth.

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

Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?

Cross-references

Matthew 24:26 So if they tell you, ‘There He is, in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Here He is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
Acts 5:36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
1 Corinthians 4:13 when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.