Page 102 - acts_study_book3

Crying out (shouting), Men of Israel, help (boetheo: come running, aid, relieve): This is the man,
that teacheth all men (Jews and Gentiles) everywhere (Asia, Macedonia, Achai) against the
people (Jews), and the law (Mosaic) and this place (the temple): and further brought Greeks
(Gentiles) also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

The “Greeks” referred to are Trophimus (verse 29). Places are not holy and nationalities do not
pollute. This is religious and national pride, jealousy, and prejudice.

These people do not shout all their accusations in unison, but instead say one thing and
another. This verse lumps together everything that was said.

Act 21:29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom
they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

These people are jealous of Paul’s success in Ephesus. When they are in Jerusalem, they see
Paul with Trophimus and assume wrongly that Paul has taken him, a Gentile, into the temple.
They use this to incite the Jews with the belief that Paul is weakening their religion by bringing
Gentiles into their system and holy place.

These people are more zealous for tradition than they are for truth and the accompanying signs
from God (cf. 2 Peter 2:19). Here, Peter gives a description of religious teachers. They make
promises they cannot keep. They are slaves themselves. How can a slave give you liberty?
They tell you of freedom from sin when they are steeped in sin themselves. The one seeking
freedom is bound, overcome, and brought to bondage by the very one promising liberty. The
result is being brought into worse sin than what the individual began with.
A RIOT IN JERUSALEM (31-40)

As the mob attempts to kill Paul, a chief captain of the Roman army and his soldiers run toward
the rioting crowd. When the mob sees the soldiers, they stop beating Paul. The chief captain
has Paul bound in chains and sends him to prison while they try to determine who he is and
what he has done. Paul is led into the Roman fort where he explains to the chief captain who
he is and asks to speak to the people. He has granted permission.
MOB DETERMINES TO KILL PAUL

Act 21:30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged
him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.

And all the city was moved (kineo: kinetic, to stir), and the people ran together (rioted): and
they took (seized) Paul, and drew (dragged) him out of the temple: and forthwith (immediately)
the doors were shut.

In the temple, they observe the law of no killing. Outside, however, they are overlooking the
law of murder. Religion only observes the convenient laws and disregards those that slow
down its cause.