Acts 21:33

KJV

Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded [him] to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G5119} the chief captain {G5506} came near {G1448}, and took {G1949} him {G846}, and {G2532} commanded {G2753} him to be bound with {G1210} two {G1417} chains {G254}; and {G2532} demanded {G4441} who {G5101} he was {G302}{G1498}, and {G2532} what {G5101} he had {G2076} done {G4160}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the commander came up, arrested him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done.

Berean Standard Bible

The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

American Standard Version

Then the chief captain came near, and laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had done.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Acts 21:33 details the swift and decisive intervention of the Roman chief captain during a violent riot in the Jerusalem temple courts. Upon witnessing the chaos, the commander immediately approached and apprehended Paul, ordering him to be secured with two chains. This action was followed by an inquiry into Paul's identity and the nature of his alleged offenses, marking the beginning of a prolonged period of Roman custody and legal proceedings for the apostle.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows a tumultuous scene in the temple where Paul, having completed a purification ritual to demonstrate his adherence to Jewish customs, was recognized by Jews from Asia. These individuals incited a riot, falsely accusing Paul of desecrating the temple by bringing Gentiles into its sacred precincts and of teaching against the Law and the temple itself ([Acts 21:27-29](/acts/21-27-29 "Acts 21:27-29 - Paul Falsely Accused in the Temple")). The enraged crowd seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, intending to kill him, while the temple gates were shut to prevent further defilement. The commotion reached the ears of the Roman garrison stationed nearby, prompting the chief captain to act swiftly to quell the disturbance and prevent a lynching, as described in the preceding verse ([Acts 21:32](/acts/21-32 "Acts 21:32 - Roman Commander Intervenes")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jerusalem in the 1st century AD was a highly volatile city under Roman occupation, frequently on the brink of rebellion. The Roman authorities maintained a strong military presence, including a garrison stationed at the Antonia Fortress overlooking the Temple Mount, precisely to monitor and suppress such disturbances. Roman law dictated that order be maintained, and any riot or breach of peace was met with immediate, forceful intervention. Binding prisoners with chains, often to two guards, was a standard Roman practice for securing individuals deemed dangerous or important, ensuring they could not escape or cause further trouble. The captain's immediate inquiry into Paul's identity and actions reflects the Roman legal process of ascertaining the cause of a disturbance and identifying the responsible parties.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several key themes within the book of Acts. It powerfully illustrates **Roman Authority and Intervention**, showcasing the empire's role in maintaining order, even inadvertently protecting Paul from Jewish zealots. It highlights the theme of **False Accusation and Suffering for the Gospel**, as Paul, despite his innocence, is arrested and subjected to a series of trials, fulfilling earlier prophecies about his suffering for Christ ([Acts 9:16](/acts/9-16 "Acts 9:16 - Paul's Commission to Suffer")). Furthermore, it underscores **Divine Providence**, demonstrating how God uses even adverse circumstances, like Paul's arrest, to advance His sovereign plan for the gospel to reach Rome and beyond ([Acts 23:11](/acts/23-11 "Acts 23:11 - The Lord Stands by Paul")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Chief captain (Greek, _chilíarchos'_):** This term (G5506) refers to a "commander of a thousand soldiers," a significant Roman military rank equivalent to a colonel. It emphasizes the high authority and immediate power wielded by Lysias, the officer responsible for restoring order. His presence signifies a serious military response to a major public disturbance.
* **Bound (Greek, _déō'_):** This primary verb (G1210) means "to bind" in various applications, literally or figuratively, including to be in bonds, knit, tie, or wind. In this context, it denotes a physical restraint, signifying Paul's official arrest and the intention to secure him as a prisoner. The act of binding with chains was a common and effective method for preventing escape and asserting control over a detainee.
* **Demanded (Greek, _pynthánomai'_):** This middle voice verb (G4441) means "to question, i.e., ascertain by inquiry." It implies a process of gathering information, differing from a mere request or demand. The chief captain's action was not a casual inquiry but a formal investigation to understand the cause of the riot and Paul's role in it, reflecting the Roman legal procedure for such situations.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the chief captain came near, and took him":** This clause describes the immediate and direct action of Claudius Lysias, the Roman commander. "Came near" (G1448, _engízō_) indicates his swift approach to the epicenter of the disturbance, while "took him" (G1949, _epilambánomai_) signifies his forceful apprehension of Paul, seizing him from the mob. This action demonstrates his authority and intent to control the situation.
* **"and commanded [him] to be bound with two chains":** The chief captain's command (G2753, _keleúō_) to bind Paul with "two chains" (G1417, _dýo_ and G254, _hálysis_) highlights the severity of the arrest. Being bound with two chains was a common Roman practice for securing important or dangerous prisoners, often by attaching them to two separate guards, one on each side, ensuring maximum restraint and preventing escape. It signifies that Paul was perceived as a significant figure in the disturbance.
* **"and demanded who he was, and what he had done":** This final clause reveals the chief captain's immediate objective: to ascertain the identity of the individual at the center of the riot and the nature of his alleged wrongdoing. His "demanded" (G4441, _pynthánomai_) implies a formal inquiry, indicating the start of the Roman investigation into the cause of the public unrest. This was a crucial step in Roman legal procedure, aimed at identifying the culprit and the specific charges.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as Paul, who is innocent of the charges and merely seeking to demonstrate his Jewish piety, is treated as a dangerous criminal and the instigator of the riot. This stands in stark contrast to his actual mission and character. The act of binding with **chains** serves as **Symbolism**, representing not only Paul's physical restraint but also the broader theme of suffering and imprisonment for the sake of the gospel, a recurring motif in Acts and Paul's epistles. Furthermore, this immediate arrest acts as **Foreshadowing**, setting in motion the chain of events that will lead Paul through various trials, imprisonments, and ultimately to Rome, fulfilling God's plan for him to bear witness to Christ before emperors and Gentiles.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Acts 21:33 powerfully illustrates the intersection of human authority and divine sovereignty. While the Roman chief captain acts purely out of a mandate to maintain civil order, his intervention inadvertently serves God's larger purposes. Paul's arrest, though unjust from a human perspective, becomes the means by which he is protected from the murderous mob and positioned to bear witness to Christ before Roman officials, governors, and even Caesar himself. This event underscores the theological truth that God can use unexpected and even adverse circumstances—including false accusations and imprisonment—as instruments for the advancement of His kingdom. It demonstrates that God's plan is not thwarted by human opposition but can incorporate it, turning what seems like a setback into a strategic step forward for the gospel's spread.

* [Acts 9:15-16](/acts/9-15-16 "Acts 9:15-16 - Paul's Divine Commission")
* [Acts 23:11](/acts/23-11 "Acts 23:11 - The Lord's Encouragement to Paul")
* [Philippians 1:12-14](/philippians/1-12-14 "Philippians 1:12-14 - The Gospel Advances Through Paul's Imprisonment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Acts 21:33 offers a profound lesson on how God's purposes can unfold through challenging and seemingly contradictory circumstances. Paul, a faithful servant of God, finds himself unjustly arrested and bound, yet this very confinement becomes the pathway to fulfilling his divine mission to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and even to Caesar. For believers today, this passage serves as a powerful reminder that our perception of "success" or "progress" may not align with God's. Difficulties, opposition, false accusations, or even physical limitations do not necessarily indicate that we are outside of God's will; rather, they may be the very means He uses to open new doors for ministry and to display His power. Our call is to remain faithful, trusting that God is sovereign over all circumstances and can redeem any situation for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Paul's unjust arrest in Acts 21:33 challenge my understanding of God's providence in difficult situations?**
* **In what ways might God be using seemingly negative circumstances in my life to advance His purposes, even if I cannot see it clearly now?**
* **What does Paul's response to this arrest (as seen in subsequent chapters) teach me about maintaining faith and witness in the face of adversity?**

### FAQ
**Why did the chief captain bind Paul with two chains, and what was his motivation?**

Answer: The chief captain, Claudius Lysias, bound Paul with two chains as a standard Roman military procedure for securing a significant prisoner and controlling a volatile situation. The motivation was purely pragmatic: to quell the riot, prevent Paul from being lynched by the mob, and ascertain the cause of the disturbance. Being bound with two chains (G1210, _déō_ and G254, _hálysis_) was a common and effective method for securing important or dangerous individuals, often by attaching them to two guards, one on each side, ensuring maximum restraint and preventing escape. Lysias did not initially know Paul's identity or the specific charges against him; his actions were driven by the immediate need to restore order and begin an investigation, as he "demanded who he was, and what he had done" ([Acts 21:33](/acts/21-33 "Acts 21:33 - Paul's Arrest and Inquiry")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Acts 21:33, depicting Paul's unjust arrest and binding, resonates deeply with the Christ-centered narrative of suffering and ultimate triumph. Just as Jesus was seized by a mob, falsely accused, and handed over to Roman authority to be bound and tried ([Matthew 26:50](/matthew/26-50 "Matthew 26:50 - Jesus Arrested") and [John 18:12](/john/18-12 "John 18:12 - Jesus Seized")), so too is Paul, an apostle of Christ, subjected to similar indignities. Paul's chains, though seemingly a symbol of defeat, become a powerful testament to the gospel's unstoppable advance, mirroring how Christ's crucifixion, the ultimate act of binding and suffering, became the means of salvation for all humanity ([Philippians 2:8-11](/philippians/2-8-11 "Philippians 2:8-11 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")). Through Paul's imprisonment, the message of Christ is not silenced but amplified, reaching Roman officials and eventually the imperial capital, demonstrating that God's redemptive plan is fulfilled even through the suffering of His servants, who are called to "fill up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church" ([Colossians 1:24](/colossians/1-24 "Colossians 1:24 - Paul's Suffering for the Church")). Paul's journey in chains ultimately becomes a powerful witness to the liberating power of the one who was himself bound for our freedom.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ephesians 6:20

For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Acts 21:11

And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles.

Acts 20:23

Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Acts 12:6

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

Acts 22:29

Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Acts 28:20

For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see [you], and to speak with [you]: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.

2 Timothy 2:9

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, [even] unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.