Atos 21:31

31 E, procurando eles matá-lo, chegou ao comandante da coorte o aviso de que Jerusalém estava toda em confusão;

Atos 21:31 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 21:31

And as they went about to kill him
In the manner as zealots did, without bringing him before any court of judicature, without any charge, trial, and condemnation:

tidings came unto the chief captain of the band;
the Roman band of soldiers, who were placed near the temple, to keep the peace of the city, and persons in order; and who were more especially needful, at such a time as the feast of Pentecost, when there was such a great concourse of people in the city, and indeed always were in arms at such times ^F2; this chief captain was Claudius Lysias, as appears from ( Acts 23:26 ) to him the report of the disturbance was brought; or as it is in the Greek text, the "fame ascended" to him; who very likely might be in the tower of Antonia, which joined to the temple:

that all Jerusalem was in an uproar;
or in confusion, and therefore it became him, as a Roman officer, to take care to quell it, lest it should issue in sedition and rebellion.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Joseph. de Bello Jud. l. 2. c. 12. sect. 1. & l. 5. c. 5. sect. 8.

Atos 21:31 In-Context

29 Porque tinham visto com ele na cidade a Trófimo de Éfeso, e pensavam que Paulo o introduzira no templo.

30 Alvoroçou-se toda a cidade, e houve ajuntamento do povo; e agarrando a Paulo, arrastaram-no para fora do templo, e logo as portas se fecharam.

31 E, procurando eles matá-lo, chegou ao comandante da coorte o aviso de que Jerusalém estava toda em confusão;

32 o qual, tomando logo consigo soldados e centuriões, correu para eles; e quando viram o comandante e os soldados, cessaram de espancar a Paulo.

33 Então aproximando-se o comandante, prendeu-o e mandou que fosse acorrentado com duas cadeias, e perguntou quem era e o que tinha feito.