Acts 21:28
What does Acts 21:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 21:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 21:28 means
The mob cries out, accusing Paul of teaching against the people, the law, and the temple, and of bringing Greeks into the temple, thereby defiling it. These are classic, inflammatory charges aimed at painting Paul as a traitor to Israel and a profaner of holy space. The accusation of Gentile intrusion targets the dividing wall in the temple precincts. The claims are false, but they fit a pattern of opposition to the gospel’s inclusion of the nations. By attacking Paul, the crowd resists the grace of God in Christ that fulfills the law and opens the way for Gentiles to worship the true God.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Crying out, Men of Israel, come to our help: this is the man who is teaching all men everywhere against the people and the law and this place: and in addition, he has taken Greeks into the Temple, and made this holy place unclean.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862crying out, `Men, Israelites, help! this is the man who, against the people, and the law, and this place, all everywhere is teaching; and further, also, Greeks he brought into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people and the law and this place; and moreover hath brought in Gentiles into the temple and hath violated this holy place.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890crying, Israelites, help! this is the man who teaches all everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place, and has brought Greeks too into the temple, and profaned this holy place.
Context
This accusation follows the seizure in verse 27 and sets the tone for the riot. Verse 29 offers the supposed basis: they had seen Trophimus with Paul elsewhere and assumed he had entered the temple. Verses 30–31 describe the immediate effect—citywide agitation and an attempt to kill Paul—drawing the attention of the Roman commander. The charges serve as the pretext for violence that will bring Roman soldiers running.
v.27And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him,
v.28This passage
v.29For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 24:18
amidst which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with tumult: but there were certain Jews from Asia—
- Acts 24:5
For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
- Jeremiah 7:4
Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, are these.
- Lamentations 1:10
The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: For she hath seen that the nations are entered into her sanctuary, Concerning whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thine assembly.
- Matthew 24:15
When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),
- Acts 6:13
and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:
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