Acts 21:31
What does Acts 21:31 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 21:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 21:31 means
As the mob seeks to kill Paul, news reaches the chief captain that all Jerusalem is in confusion. The Roman authority’s mandate is to maintain order; riots threaten imperial peace. Humanly speaking, the commander’s alertness becomes God’s means to spare Paul’s life. The gospel’s advance often intersects with civil structures—sometimes opposed, sometimes protective. Here, the state intervenes not out of sympathy but duty. Yet in the Lord’s providence, this delivers Paul from lynching and positions him to give testimony he could not have given if dead. God rides upon headlines and alarms to fulfill His purposes.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And while they were attempting to put him to death, news came to the chief captain of the band that all Jerusalem was out of control.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they seeking to kill him, a rumour came to the chief captain of the band that all Jerusalem hath been thrown into confusion,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And as they went about to kill him, it was told the tribune of the band that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And as they were seeking to kill him, a representation came to the chiliarch of the band that the whole of Jerusalem was in a tumult;
Context
The verse follows the violent expulsion from the temple (verse 30) and precedes the commander’s rapid deployment of troops in verse 32. The widening chaos brings Roman forces into direct contact with Paul, fulfilling Agabus’s word about being delivered into Gentile hands (verse 11). Verses 32–34 will recount the rescue, confusion, and decision to remove Paul to the castle for examination, setting up his later defenses.
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.
v.31This passage
v.32And forthwith he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them: and they, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Kings 1:41
And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?
- Acts 23:17
And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.
- Acts 21:38
Art thou not then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?
- Acts 17:5
But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people.
- Matthew 26:5
But they said, Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among the people.
- Acts 24:6
who moreover assayed to profane the temple: on whom also we laid hold:
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