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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Acts 21:30 - 21:30
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30. καὶ ἐγένετο συνδρομὴ τοῦ λαοῦ, and the people ran together. So κεὶ ἐγένετο συνδρομὴ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ παρεμβολῇ (Jdt 10:18) of the crowding around Judith as she came into the camp of Holophernes.
What occurred is a proof that the words of James and the elders were true. The whole Jewish community had been ‘catechized’ on the doings of St Paul among the Gentiles. The least spark set the whole train on fire.
καὶ ἐπιλαβόμενοι τοῦ Παύλου εἶλκον αὐτόν, they laid hold on Paul and dragged him. Their design was probably to get him out of the Temple precincts before they proceeded to further violence. It is clear that all the ceremonies of the Apostle’s vow were not yet accomplished, and had they not laid violent hands on him he might have fled to the altar for safety. That such a murder as they contemplated was possible in Jerusalem at this period we have evidence in the case of Stephen.
ἐκλείσθησαν αἱ θύραι, the doors were shut. We need not suppose that any of the Levites, the gatekeepers of the Temple, were of the same mind with the rioters. Their action in closing the gates was only to prevent any profanation of the building by the uproar which they saw to be beginning.