Using the Bible Study Guide For Acts 21, you’ll learn how Paul arrives in Jerusalem, how he’s arrested, and how he speaks to the crowd.
Acts 21:1-16 On to Jerusalem
During the “home stretch” of the book of Acts, the apostle Paul takes his last trip to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit has revealed to Paul that he will be arrested in Jerusalem. Paul had prepared his itinerary to reach Jerusalem before Pentecost. He had decided to travel with Gentile representatives from the congregation.
When Paul reaches Jerusalem, he will be arrested by the Roman authorities. The chief captain of the band was either the governor of the castle or the public peace. He was very jealous of the tumultuous Jews in Jerusalem. He brought the news of the mob to the commander-in-chief of Roman forces in Jerusalem.
When Paul is arrested, he is bound in chains by Roman soldiers. He is allowed to speak to the tribune. He explains that he is not a killer or assassin, but simply a Jew from Tarsus.
The tribune, who is confused, confirms that Paul is not a revolutionary. Agabus, who had traveled down from Judea, confirms that Paul is about to be arrested. Agabus says that his belt will be a symbol for the Jewish leaders of Jerusalem to hand Paul over to the Gentiles.
Acts 21:17-26 Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem
During his ministry, the apostle Paul came to Jerusalem. His journey began on foot and ended at the temple. He was greeted by a group of brethren who welcomed him with open arms.
The apostle had been on his way to Jerusalem for months. He had been writing letters and strengthening churches in Asia Minor. He wished to unify the church in the world. He also planned to give money to poor saints.
One thing that Paul wanted to do was to introduce the Jews to the Gentile Christians. But he had a problem. There were no Gentiles present in the temple. And it was not only Jews that were upset.
The kinsman of the apostle, who was a Jew, had divulged to the chiliarch a secret that Paul had already told him. The chiliarch had a lot of power. He commanded the chief priests and all the council to appear.
The chiliarch then ordered a scourging of the apostle. He also ordered him to be taken to the Antonia Fortress, which was located on the northwest corner of the temple mount.
Acts 21:27-36 Paul Arrested
During Paul’s third missionary journey, he traveled through Galatia in central modern-day Turkey. He also visited Philip in Caesarea Maritima, a city in the Roman province of Asia. While he was there, the Jews of Ephesus falsely accused Paul of bringing a Gentile into the temple. This was an extreme accusation, as the Gentiles had no right to enter the temple. However, they were still unconvinced by Paul’s claims of conversion and commission by God.
Upon returning to Jerusalem, Paul heard rumors that the Jewish leaders were abandoning the Mosaic law. Since Paul had been a faithful Jew, the elders of the church wanted to prove that he was still a faithful Jew.
Paul’s mission appears to be a massive failure. He is accused of three things. The first is the rumored “defiling of the temple.” However, the truth is that the temple was actually a symbol of God’s laws.
The second accusation is that Paul is a slanderer. The tribune will write a letter to the Roman governor, Felix, that Paul has been “rescued” from an angry mob. The tribune will also write that he has “rescued” Paul from the Jews.
Acts 21:37-40 Paul Speaks to the Crowd
Having been in Jerusalem for seven days, Paul was ready to speak to the crowd. Paul wanted to tell the crowd how he knew Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. He had also been told by the Holy Spirit that he would be arrested.
The Jews believed that Paul was promoting a false messiah. They saw an opportunity for vengeance. They also believed that Paul was a terrorist. They were afraid that Paul would bring in Gentiles into the temple.
The crowd was enraged because Paul preached against them. They were screaming, “Away with such a fellow.” They threw handfuls of dust into the air. Paul gestured with his hand to the crowd to be quiet. The crowd stopped beating Paul when they saw the approaching soldiers. They knew that this riot was unlawful.
The Roman commander was concerned that Paul was a troublemaker. He was surprised to learn that Paul was educated and spoke Greek. He hoped that Paul’s speech would quiet the crowd.
