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,

And {G1161} when he had given {G2010} him {G846} licence {G2010}, Paul {G3972} stood {G2476} on {G1909} the stairs {G304}, and beckoned {G2678} with the hand {G5495} unto the people {G2992}. And {G1161} when there was made {G1096} a great {G4183} silence {G4602}, he spake {G4377} unto them in the Hebrew {G1446} tongue {G1258}, saying {G3004},

Having received permission, Sha’ul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people. When they finally became still, he addressed them in Hebrew:

Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:

And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying,

Commentary

Acts 21:40 captures a dramatic moment in the Apostle Paul's ministry in Jerusalem. After being rescued by Roman soldiers from a furious Jewish mob at the Temple, Paul, demonstrating remarkable composure, receives permission from the Roman tribune to address the very crowd that sought to kill him. Standing on the temple stairs, he silences the agitated multitude with a simple beckoning gesture, then begins to speak in their native tongue, setting the stage for his powerful defense.

Context

This verse follows a tumultuous series of events. Paul had returned to Jerusalem, seeking to minister to his Jewish brethren and deliver an offering from Gentile churches (Acts 21:17). However, false accusations spread that he was defiling the Temple by bringing Gentiles into forbidden areas (Acts 21:28). This ignited a riot, and the mob dragged Paul out of the Temple, intending to kill him. The Roman tribune, Claudius Lysias, intervened with his soldiers to save Paul from being lynched (Acts 21:31-32). Mistaken initially for an Egyptian insurgent, Paul reveals his identity as a citizen of Tarsus and requests permission to speak to the crowd, a testament to his courage and unwavering commitment to the Gospel.

Key Themes

  • Paul's Composure Under Pressure: Despite being severely beaten and nearly killed, Paul remains remarkably calm and strategic. He doesn't flee but seizes the opportunity to speak, demonstrating his faith and dedication to his mission, even in the face of extreme hostility.
  • Strategic Communication: Paul's decision to speak in the "Hebrew tongue" (Aramaic) was a masterstroke. It immediately captured the attention and silence of the hostile Jewish crowd, showing respect for their culture and heritage and disarming some of their initial rage.
  • Divine Providence and Opportunity: What started as a violent attempt on Paul's life is transformed by God's providence into a platform for Paul to deliver his personal testimony and share the message of Christ. God can use even the most adverse circumstances to further His purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Hebrew tongue" (KJV) translates from the Greek Hebrais dialektos (Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ). This refers to Aramaic, the common Semitic language spoken by Jews in Judea during the first century A.D., which was closely related to biblical Hebrew. While Paul could speak Greek fluently (as seen in his earlier conversation with the tribune), choosing to address the crowd in Aramaic was profoundly significant. It demonstrated his solidarity with them as a Jew, surprised them into silence, and signaled that he was not a foreign agitator but one of their own, making them more receptive to his upcoming defense, which begins in Acts 22:1.

Practical Application

  • Maintain Composure in Crisis: Paul's example teaches us the importance of remaining calm and clear-headed even when facing intense opposition, false accusations, or personal danger. Our composure can often disarm hostility and open doors for communication.
  • Contextualized Communication: Paul wisely adapted his communication to his audience, choosing the "Hebrew tongue" to connect with them on a deeper level. This highlights the value of understanding our audience and tailoring our message to be most effective and relatable, whether in evangelism or conflict resolution.
  • Seize Opportunities for Witness: Even in moments of great difficulty, God can provide unexpected platforms for us to share our faith or clarify misunderstandings. We should be prepared, like Paul, to courageously speak God's truth when such opportunities arise.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 12:17

    But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

  • Acts 26:14

    And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

  • Acts 22:2

    (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)

  • John 5:2

    Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

  • Acts 21:35

    And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.

  • Acts 19:33

    And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

  • John 19:17

    And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called [the place] of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
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