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Acts 21:33

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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.

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}.

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.

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.

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

This verse describes the immediate action taken by the Roman military commander during a severe disturbance in the temple courts in Jerusalem. The chief captain, seeing the chaos and realizing a life was in danger (Paul's), intervened forcefully to restore order.

Context

The scene unfolds after Paul's return to Jerusalem and his participation in a purification ritual in the temple, intended to demonstrate his respect for Jewish customs (see Acts 21:26). However, Jews from Asia who recognized Paul stirred up the crowd, falsely accusing him of bringing Gentiles into the sacred temple area and teaching against Jewish law and the temple itself (Acts 21:28). A violent riot ensued, with the mob attempting to kill Paul. The Roman garrison stationed nearby, specifically the chief captain (χιλίαρχος - chiliarchos, commander of a thousand men), heard the commotion and quickly dispatched soldiers. This verse details the captain's direct action upon arriving.

Key Themes

  • Roman Authority and Intervention: The verse highlights the swift and decisive role of the Roman military in maintaining peace and order in a volatile region like Jerusalem.
  • Arrest and Restraint: Paul's immediate binding with two chains signifies a secure and official arrest, treating him as a dangerous individual or the cause of the disturbance.
  • Inquiry: The captain's demand for Paul's identity and actions shows the initial phase of the Roman investigation into the cause of the riot.
  • False Accusation Leading to Suffering: Although innocent of the charges inciting the riot, Paul is arrested, marking a turning point that leads to years of imprisonment and trials, fulfilling earlier prophecies about his suffering for Christ (see Acts 9:16).

Linguistic Insight

The term "chief captain" translates the Greek word chiliarchos, meaning a commander of a thousand soldiers, a significant Roman military rank. Being "bound with two chains" was a common Roman practice for securing important prisoners, often attaching them to two guards, one on each side. This detail emphasizes the seriousness of the arrest from the Roman perspective.

Significance and Application

This moment is pivotal in the book of Acts. Paul's arrest here initiates a long series of trials, imprisonments, and journeys under Roman custody, ultimately leading him to Rome (Acts 28:16). Though arrested under false pretenses, this event becomes the means by which Paul fulfills his mission to bear witness to Christ before Gentiles, kings, and the people of Israel, even in the heart of the Roman Empire (Acts 9:15). It demonstrates that God's purposes can be advanced even through challenging circumstances, false accusations, and physical restraint. For believers today, it is a reminder that difficulty and opposition do not necessarily mean being outside of God's will; sometimes, they are the very path He uses to accomplish His plan.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Ephesians 6:20 (8 votes)

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

  • Acts 21:11 (7 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

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

  • Acts 12:6 (5 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

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