And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?
And {G5037} as Paul {G3972} was to be {G3195} led {G1521} into {G1519} the castle {G3925}, he said {G3004} unto the chief captain {G5506}, May {G1487}{G1832} I {G3427} speak {G2036}{G5100} unto {G4314} thee {G4571}?{G1161} Who {G3588} said {G5346}, Canst thou speak {G1097} Greek {G1676}?
As Sha’ul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “Is it all right if I say something to you?” The commander said, “You know Greek!
As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.
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?
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Acts 21:34
And 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. -
Matthew 10:18
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. -
Matthew 10:20
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. -
Acts 21:19
And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. -
Luke 21:15
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. -
Acts 19:30
And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
Acts 21:37 captures a pivotal moment in the Apostle Paul's arrest in Jerusalem, highlighting his composure and the surprising turn of events that would allow him to address a hostile crowd. After being seized by a mob in the Temple courts and rescued by Roman soldiers, Paul was being led into the barracks (the "castle") when he calmly requested to speak to the chief captain.
Historical and Cultural Context
This verse immediately follows Paul's near-lynching by an angry Jewish mob in Jerusalem, who falsely accused him of defiling the Temple by bringing Gentiles into forbidden areas (Acts 21:28). The "castle" refers to the Antonia Fortress, a Roman military barracks adjacent to the Temple Mount, from which soldiers could quickly intervene in disturbances. The chief captain, Claudius Lysias (named later in Acts 23:26), had just rescued Paul from the riot. His surprise at Paul's request, "Canst thou speak Greek?", reveals his initial assumption. He likely mistook Paul for the Egyptian terrorist mentioned in Acts 21:38, or simply an uneducated Jewish zealot who would only speak Aramaic.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The chief captain's question, "Canst thou speak Greek?", refers to Koine Greek, the common language of the Roman Empire, especially in the eastern provinces. While many Jews in Jerusalem spoke Aramaic (a Semitic language), the ability to speak Greek indicated a broader education, travel, and engagement with the Hellenistic world. It suggested Paul was not merely a local agitator but someone of a different caliber. This surprise recognition paved the way for Paul to address the crowd in their native Aramaic (referred to as the "Hebrew tongue" in Acts 22:2), demonstrating his versatility and readiness to communicate across cultural and linguistic divides.
Practical Application
This verse encourages believers to be ready to speak for Christ in unexpected and challenging situations. Paul's composure and initiative remind us that God can open doors for ministry even when we are in vulnerable positions or facing opposition. Our skills, education, or even our very presence can be used by God in surprising ways to create opportunities for the Gospel to be heard. It underscores the importance of being prepared, both spiritually and practically, to share our faith, trusting that the Lord orchestrates circumstances for His glory.