Acts 21:38
What does Acts 21:38 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 21:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 21:38 means
The chief captain asks if Paul is the Egyptian who recently stirred up sedition and led four thousand Assassins into the wilderness. This reveals the turbulent political climate and why the officer initially viewed Paul as dangerous. It also shows how easily authorities can misidentify Christians amid unrest. Paul is neither a zealot nor a revolutionary in that sense; his mission is gospel proclamation, not armed revolt. The question sets up Paul’s clarification of his true identity. Misunderstanding is the first hurdle he must clear before he can be heard. God will turn even mistaken suspicions into a stage for truth.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Art 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?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Art 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?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Are you by chance the Egyptian who, before this, got the people worked up against the government and took four thousand men of the Assassins out into the waste land?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862art not thou, then, the Egyptian who before these days made an uprising, and did lead into the desert the four thousand men of the assassins?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Art not thou that Egyptian who before these days didst raise a tumult and didst lead forth into the desert four thousand men that were murderers?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Thou art not then that Egyptian who before these days raised a sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the assassins?
Context
This verse follows Paul’s courteous approach in verse 37 and shows the commander’s frame of reference for the disturbance. Verse 39 immediately corrects the misidentification as Paul declares his Jewish and civic credentials and requests to address the people. Verse 40 will show the commander granting permission. The false association with an Egyptian insurgent heightens the contrast with Paul’s actual message and aims.
v.37And 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?
v.38This passage
v.39But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, give me leave to speak unto the people.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 5:36
For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nought.
- 1 Corinthians 4:13
being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.
- Matthew 5:11
Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
- Matthew 24:26
If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, he is in the inner chambers; believe it not.
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