Devine Scripture

Acts 21:29

What does Acts 21:29 mean?

A plain-English look at Acts 21:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Acts 21:29 means

Luke explains the source of the false charge: they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian with Paul in the city and supposed Paul brought him into the temple. Assumption becomes accusation. The narrative exposes how prejudice and rumor can ignite persecution. No evidence is presented, only inference fueled by hostility toward Paul’s Gentile ministry. The gospel’s breaking of barriers between Jew and Gentile offends those who cling to separation as righteousness. Paul had not transgressed the temple boundaries, yet he suffers as if he had. God will use even this injustice to open doors for witness to Israel and Rome.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For they had seen him before in the town with Trophimus of Ephesus, and had the idea that Paul had taken him with him into the Temple.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for they had seen before Trophimus, the Ephesian, in the city with him, whom they were supposing that Paul brought into the temple.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

(For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him. whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For they had before seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.

Context

This clarifying note follows the crowd’s accusations in verse 28 and shows their flimsy basis. Verses 30–31 then narrate the city’s upheaval, Paul’s violent removal from the temple, and a near-lynching. The Roman commander will respond in verses 32–34, rescuing Paul but binding him. This background helps readers see that Paul’s arrest is not due to lawlessness on his part but to misinterpretation and malice, fulfilling the prophetic warnings earlier in the chapter.

v.28crying 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.

v.29This passage

v.30And all the city was moved, and the people ran together; and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 20:4

    And there accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Beroea, the son of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.

  • Acts 18:19

    And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.

  • 2 Timothy 4:20

    Erastus remained at Corinth: but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.

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