And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
And {G1161} when {G3753} he came {G1096} upon {G1909} the stairs {G304}, so it was {G4819}, that he was borne {G941} of {G5259} the soldiers {G4757} for {G1223} the violence {G970} of the people {G3793}.
When Sha’ul got to the steps, he actually had to be carried by the soldiers, because the mob was so wild —
When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.
And when he came upon the stairs, so it was that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the crowd;
-
Acts 21:40
And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto [them] in the Hebrew tongue, saying, -
Habakkuk 1:2
O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! [even] cry out unto thee [of] violence, and thou wilt not save! -
Habakkuk 1:3
Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause [me] to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence [are] before me: and there are [that] raise up strife and contention. -
Psalms 55:9
¶ Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. -
Genesis 6:11
¶ The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. -
Genesis 6:12
And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. -
Psalms 58:2
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
Acts 21:35 captures a dramatic and perilous moment in the Apostle Paul's ministry, illustrating the intense opposition he faced in Jerusalem and the providential intervention that saved him from a murderous mob.
Context
This verse follows a chaotic scene in the Temple courts where Jewish zealots from Asia falsely accused Paul of defiling the Temple by bringing Gentiles into it (Acts 21:28). A violent riot erupted, and the crowd seized Paul, dragging him out of the Temple with the intent to kill him. The Roman chief captain of the cohort stationed at the nearby Antonia Fortress, hearing of the commotion, quickly dispatched soldiers to quell the disturbance. As Paul was being apprehended and led away, the sheer force and fury of the mob were so great that the soldiers had to physically lift and carry him up the stairs to ensure his safety from being trampled or torn apart by the enraged populace.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "borne of the soldiers" powerfully conveys the necessity of their action; Paul was not merely escorted but literally carried, indicating the overwhelming pressure and physical danger posed by the "violence of the people." The Greek word for "violence" here (bia) denotes forceful, physical coercion or assault, emphasizing the intense, unrestrained aggression of the crowd.
Practical Application
Acts 21:35 reminds believers that following Christ can sometimes lead to intense opposition, even physical danger. However, it also offers profound assurance that God is always at work, often using surprising means or unexpected allies (like the Roman soldiers) to protect His people and advance His kingdom. When facing hostility or overwhelming pressure for our faith, we can trust in God's sovereign care and His ability to preserve us for His purposes, just as He did for Paul. It encourages steadfastness and reliance on divine intervention in times of crisis.