Acts 21:27

Paul Arrested in the Temple Courts

27 But when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia who had seen him in the temple [courts] stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,

Acts 21:27 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 21:27

And when the seven days were almost ended
The Syriac version renders it, "when the seventh day was come"; from the time that Paul came to Jerusalem: some understand this of the seven weeks from the passover to Pentecost, and that it was when they were almost ended, and the day of Pentecost was at hand, for which Paul came up to Jerusalem; but rather, the seven days of purification of the Nazarites are meant:

the Jews which were of Asia;
and it may be chiefly of Ephesus, the metropolis of Asia; who knew Paul there, and were his implacable enemies; for this is to be understood of the unbelieving Jews, who were come up to the feast of Pentecost:

when they saw him in the temple;
where he was come to bring his offering, on account of his vow:

stirred up all the people;
against the apostle; incensed them with stories about him, how that he was an opposer of Moses and his laws, and was now defiling the temple, by bringing in Heathens into it:

and laid hands on him;
in a violent manner, and dragged him out of the temple.

Acts 21:27 In-Context

25 But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter [after] deciding they should avoid food sacrificed to idols and blood and [what has been] strangled and sexual immorality."
26 Then Paul took along the men on the next day, [and] [after he] had purified himself together with them, he entered into the temple [courts], announcing the completion of the days of purification until {the time} the offering would be presented on behalf of each one of them.
27 But when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia who had seen him in the temple [courts] stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,
28 shouting, "Israelite men, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place! And furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!"
29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they thought that Paul had brought into the temple.)

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
  • [b]. *Here "[courts]" is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.