Acts 21:34
What does Acts 21:34 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 21:34 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 21:34 means
The crowd’s shouts are chaotic—some say one thing, some another—so the commander cannot determine the facts. He orders Paul taken into the castle. The scene exposes the volatility of mob accusations; truth is drowned by volume. The Roman solution is to remove the man at the center of the turmoil to a secure place for examination. Paul is no longer at the mercy of the crowd, yet he is not yet free. This move, though pragmatic, will open an unexpected door for Paul to address the very people who sought his death, turning crisis into a platform for witness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd: and when he could not know the certainty for the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd: and when he could not know the certainty for the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And some said one thing and some another, among the people: and as he was not able to get a knowledge of the facts because of the noise, he gave orders for Paul to be taken into the army building.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and some were crying out one thing, and some another, among the multitude, and not being able to know the certainty because of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried to the castle,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude. And when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And different persons cried some different thing in the crowd. But he, not being able to know the certainty on account of the uproar, commanded him to be brought into the fortress.
Context
This verse continues the Roman response begun in verse 33. With no clarity from the crowd, the commander opts for custody in the castle. Verses 35–36 show the danger still present, requiring soldiers to carry Paul as the mob cries for his removal. Verses 37–39 then introduce a striking exchange: Paul speaks Greek, corrects a mistaken identity, and requests permission to address the crowd. The transfer to the castle thus becomes the setting for a public defense.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 21:37
And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith unto the chief captain, May I say something unto thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek?
- Acts 23:10
And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.
- Acts 23:32
But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
- Acts 23:16
But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.
- Acts 22:30
But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.
- Acts 22:24
the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him.
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