Acts 21:27

¶ And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

And {G1161} when {G5613} the seven {G2033} days {G2250} were almost {G3195} ended {G4931}, the Jews {G2453} which were of {G575} Asia {G773}, when they saw {G2300} him {G846} in {G1722} the temple {G2411}, stirred up {G4797} all {G3956} the people {G3793}, and {G2532} laid {G1911} hands {G5495} on {G1909} him {G846},

The seven days were almost up when some unbelieving Jews from the province of Asia saw him in the Temple, stirred up all the crowd and grabbed him.

When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,

And 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,

Acts 21:27 (KJV): And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

Context

This verse marks a pivotal moment in the life of the Apostle Paul. Having returned to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey, Paul sought to demonstrate his respect for Jewish customs and counter false accusations that he taught Jews to abandon the Law of Moses (Acts 21:21). He joined four men in completing a purification rite associated with a Nazirite vow, entering the temple to signify the completion of the period (Acts 21:26). The "seven days" refers to the duration of this purification process within the temple precincts. Just as this period was concluding, the situation escalated dramatically.

Key Themes

  • Opposition to Paul: This verse highlights the intense hostility Paul faced, particularly from Jews who opposed his message about Jesus Christ.
  • False Accusations: While not stated in this specific verse, the actions described here are a direct result of previous false claims made against Paul regarding his teaching on the Law and Gentiles.
  • Religious Zeal and Jealousy: The Jews from Asia were likely individuals Paul had encountered during his missionary work, who followed him to Jerusalem, motivated by religious fervor and possibly jealousy over his success.
  • Mob Mentality: The ease with which they "stirred up all the people" demonstrates how quickly a crowd can be incited by passionate, albeit misinformed, leaders.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the Jews which were of Asia" specifically refers to Jews from the Roman province of Asia, a region where Paul had spent considerable time ministering, notably in Ephesus (Acts 19:10). These were not local Jerusalem Jews initially, but those who recognized Paul from elsewhere and brought their existing animosity to the temple. The term "stirred up" (Greek: syncheo) implies causing confusion and commotion, leading to a riotous atmosphere.

Related Scriptures

Understanding the context requires looking back at the counsel Paul received from James and the elders in Jerusalem (Acts 21:20-25). The opposition he faced in Asia is well documented, for instance, the riot in Ephesus instigated by those whose livelihoods were threatened by the spread of the gospel (Acts 19:28-29).

Practical Application

This verse serves as a stark reminder that following Christ and proclaiming His message can lead to intense opposition, even from unexpected sources or in places of worship. It illustrates the danger of false accusations and the power of a crowd swayed by misinformation. Believers today may face similar hostility or misunderstanding when their actions or beliefs are misrepresented, highlighting the need for discernment and steadfastness in the face of adversity.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Acts 26:21

    For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill [me].

  • Acts 24:18

    Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.

  • Acts 13:50

    But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

  • Acts 17:5

    But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

  • Acts 17:6

    And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

  • Acts 14:5

    And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use [them] despitefully, and to stone them,

  • 1 Kings 21:25

    But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.

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