Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

21:27 Paul was the one undergoing purification for seven days (see v. 26). Nazirites were purified at the beginning of their vow, but Jews often underwent formal purification (e.g., Num. 19:11-12) on other occasions, such as when returning from Gentile territory, as in Paul's case. The Jews from Asia were probably from Ephesus (cf. Acts 21:29) and knew Paul from his three years in their city.

21:28 defiled this holy place. The Jews from Asia (v. 27) charged Paul with defiling the temple by taking a Gentile ("Trophimus the Ephesian," v. 29) beyond the stone barrier that divided the outer courtyard (Court of the Gentiles) from the inner sanctuary, which was off-limits to Gentiles, under penalty of death. But their accusation was a lie. Paul, knowing of the death penalty, would not have brought a Gentile into the forbidden area.

21:30 The temple grounds were the largest open area of Jerusalem, and crowds often gathered there. The shutting of the gates was probably to ward off any further desecration of the sanctuary.

21:31-32 A Roman tribune was the commander of a cohort, here consisting of up to 1,000 soldiers, under the command of several centurions (see note on 10:1). at once. The Roman response could have come very quickly. Roman soldiers were quartered in the Herodian fortress known as the Tower of Antonia on the northwest corner of the temple wall (see note on 12:4). Its high tower provided a full view of the temple area, and it had two flights of stairs leading down into the grounds, so that soldiers could run down to the crowd almost immediately. A lookout person on the tower would have observed the mob below.

21:33 Bound with two chains probably means bound with a soldier on each side.

21:36 Away with him! This shout echoes the shout of the crowd that had demanded Jesus' crucifixion several years earlier (see Luke 23:18; John 19:15).

21:38 Josephus also mentions the revolt led by an Egyptian Jew. It had been put down by the Roman governor Felix, with the Egyptian fleeing and his movement scattered. Josephus also spoke of the Assassins, or "dagger men" (Gk. sikarios) who terrorized Roman sympathizers by stabbing them under the cover of crowds. The tribune must have thought the Egyptian had returned to stir up another revolt.

21:39 Tarsus in Cilicia. See note on 9:30.