Page 105 - acts_study_book3

Act 21:38 Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four
thousand assassins out into the wilderness?"

Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar (revolution), and leddest
out into the wilderness (desert) four thousand men (his syndicate organization) that were
murderers (sikarios: assassin)?

Paul appears to be a common criminal, and the officer thinks he is an Egyptian crime figure of a
syndicate called the Sikari, the name taken from their weapon of choice, a dagger called a
sikari. This leader was from Egypt and had baffled Roman law for some time. In 54 A.D., this
gangster had organized a revolution by calling himself a prophet and swaying many of the Jews
to follow him. He had actually been hired by Jewish leaders to draw followers against the
government and had managed to arouse 30,000 people in Jerusalem to revolt and overthrow
Rome. The Romans had attacked the mob, killed 400, and taken many prisoners. But the
Egyptian criminal escaped with 4000 men into the Negev and operated from there for the next
40 years. They were still in operation when Rome destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Once the officer discovers Paul is not this Egyptian criminal, he gives him great protection.
Act 21:39 But Paul said, "I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I
implore you, permit me to speak to the people."

But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean
(insignificant) city: and, I beseech thee, suffer (allow) me to speak unto the people.
Paul is telling him, “I’m not an Egyptian. I am from Tarsus.”

Tarsus has been made a free city by Rome. It has a mountain range nearby: called the Tarsus
range, which had one pass running through it called the Cilician Gates. Alexander used it in his
conquests. The pass runs into Cilicia where Tarsus is located. Tarsus is a university city, which
immediately explains Paul’s education to the officer. Since Tarsus is a free city, they are
considered Roman citizens. Paul was born a Roman citizen. He is submissive to the Roman
leader and asks for permission to speak.

This leader (Claudius Lucius [23:26]), born an aristocrat who purchased his citizenship,
represents all that is great in Rome. Felix, the leader in Caesarea, will later represent all that is
rotten.

Act 21:40 So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with
his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew
language, saying,

Paul is now speaking under the protection of the Roman Empire. He will use this protection to
teach the Jews and give his testimony.