Atos 21
Alexander Maclaren · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 21
Maclaren wrote, “It is always easier to rouse men to fight for their ‘religion’ than to live by it.” G. Butler wrote, “It needs to be noted that the culprits were religious people, in fact, very devoutly religious. To come all the way from the province of Asia to Jerusalem for special religious days indicates considerable devotion to religion. But as history verifies again and again, some of the worst persecution for believers has come from very religious people. Catholics have shed the blood of multitudes of believers over the centuries. The same is true of devout Muslims and their hostilities toward believers. All enemies of God’s people are not atheists or non-religious. Religions that do not exalt Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind will greatly oppose those who do. Satan delights to persecute through religion, for it is a most effective disguise of evil.” Biblical Illustrator - Unity of action does not always indicate unity of purpose. Men often work together when they have little in common. In a mob, there will be some who want to gain concessions from those in power; others who seek revenge for real or fancied injuries; others, again, who would merely overthrow the established order of things; and yet others who look alone for opportunities of plunder. And this confusion of purpose is the weakness of a mob. Men must have a common object of pursuit to be strong in a common effort. They must be united in heart, as well as in endeavour, to carry everything before them. As Bishop Hall quaintly says, "The multitude is a beast of many heads; every head hath a several mouth, every mouth a several tongue, and every tongue a several accent; every head hath a several brains, and every brain thoughts of their own; so it is hard to find a multitude without some division." This account is similar to the riot in Ephesus in Acts 19:29+ where Luke recorded that "The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia." Andrews notes that "The people didn’t passively hear the accusations against Paul, but they aggressively responded to the accusations. Their anger was aroused against Paul." (Ibid) Provoked (moved, stirred up)(2795)(kineo) means to move, put in motion (Mt 23:4) (English cinema, kinetics) Kineo has several senses - (a) of wagging the head, Mt. 27:39; Mk 15:29; Lxx = 2 Ki 19:21; Job 16:4; (b) of the general activity of the human being, Acts 17:28; (c) of the "moving" of mountains, Rev. 6:14, in the sense of removing, as in Rev. 2:5, of removing a lampstand (there figuratively of causing a local church to be discontinued); (d) figuratively, of exciting, stirring up feelings and passions, Acts 21:30 (Passive Voice); Acts 24:5, "a mover;" (e) of "moving burdens," Matt. 23:4." Here in Acts 21:30 kineo means to be moved, put into commotion or tumult. (Jos., Ant. 3, 13) Friberg - (1) as putting something in motion; (a) literally move; of moving the head as a sign of contempt shake, wag the head (Mt 27.39 ); (b) figuratively, of a mental or spiritual impression that stimulates to action move, arouse, stir up (Acts 21.30); politically instigate, stir up, cause (Acts 24.5); (2) as moving something away remove (Mt 23.4); (3) passive move about, come and go, carry on (Acts 17.28) Gilbrant - In classical Greek kineō means “to set something in motion, to propel forward.” When used figuratively of the mental or spiritual realm it means “to disturb, move, cause” (cf. Bauer). In matters of politics and law kineō usually means “to instigate” or “employ action against.” It is also a sign of contempt in the sense of “call into question.” In the Septuagint kineō frequently translates the Hebrew nûa‛ which means “to shake one’s head as a sign of derision or scorn” (Job 16:4; Lamentations 2:15). In the New Testament kineō expresses the hypocrisy of the Pharisees’ behavior in relationship to the Law. Jesus accused the Pharisees of putting heavy burdens on other men and yet they would not “move” even “one of their fingers” to help (Matthew 23:4). Luke used kineō when he recorded Paul’s address to the men of Athens; in a figurative sense it referred to the omnipresent spiritual realm of God in whom “we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Kineō also means “removal” or “rejection,” as in the case of the church at Ephesus whose punishment was removal of their lampstand if they did not repent (Revelation 2:5). It also means “to excite, to arouse passion, to incite to riot, to disturb,” or “to throw into commotion,” as was the case when the whole city of Jerusalem was set in motion against Paul (Acts 21:30). Finally, the New Testament also uses kineō to denote an expression of derision, revulsion, or contempt. When the people passed Jesus while He was on the cross, they “wagged” their heads, which was an expression of the contempt they felt for Him (Matthew 27:39). (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) Kineo - 8x in 8v - move(2), moved(1), provoked(1), remove(1), stirs(1), wagging(2). Matt. 23:4; Matt. 27:39; Mk. 15:29; Acts 17:28+; Acts 21:30; Acts 24:5+; Rev. 2:5; Rev. 6:14 Kineo in the Septuagint - Gen. 7:14; Gen. 7:21; Gen. 8:17; Gen. 8:19; Gen. 9:2; Gen. 11:2; Gen. 20:1; Lev. 11:44; Lev. 11:46; Num. 14:44; Jdg. 6:18; Jdg. 9:9; Jdg. 9:11; Jdg. 9:13; Jdg. 20:37; 1 Sam. 1:13; 2 Sam. 15:20; 2 Ki. 19:21; 2 Ki. 23:18; 2 Chr. 35:15; Job 13:25; Job 16:4; Ps. 22:7; Prov. 17:13; Cant. 2:17; Cant. 4:6; Isa. 22:25; Isa. 33:20; Isa. 37:22; Isa. 41:7; Isa. 46:7; Jer. 10:4; Jer. 14:10; Jer. 18:16; Jer. 48:17; Lam. 2:15; Dan. 2:3; Dan. 4:19; Dan. 11:38; Zeph. 2:15; And the people rushed together - Literally, “there was a running together”. Forget about due process! It was a tumultuous concourse, where concourse describes the process of coming together and merging. You can almost picture the narrow streets of the Old City with people running down them like rushing rivers! Rushed together (4890)(sundrome from suntrecho = run together; English - syndrome = complex of things coming together) is a noun used only here in the NT and means running together, forming a mob. And it describes people coming together quickly to form the mob. Gilbrant adds "Sundromē can be found in classical Greek from the Fourth Century B.C. in reference to a “tumultuous concourse” of people (cf. Liddell-Scott). It can also be found in the apocryphal books of the Septuagint with the same meaning (e.g., Judith 10:18). In other Greek writings sundromē means “tumultuously,” and specifically it refers to a “determination” of blood, “concurrence” of symptoms, or even a “provisional concession” of an adversary’s position (ibid.). And taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple - They had already laid their hands on him, seizing him, but not Luke uses another verb to emphasize that they had him in their grasp. Their hypocrisy is glaring -- they drag him out so they can "do him in" but not inside the Temple lest it be "defiled" by his corpse! In their blind prejudice and hypocrisy they could not even begin to comprehend that their murder of this innocent man would make them guilty of far worse than "ritual defilement!" Dragged is in the imperfect tense depicting their dragging him along again and again. Robertson somewhat sarcastically says "They were saving the temple by dragging Paul outside." Religion does funny things to people's minds! Taking hold (seizing) (1949)(epilambano from epi = upon + lambano = take hold of) means to lay hold of, get a good grip on, take possession of. While this verb sometimes meant a trustful holding of one's hand, that was definitely not the sense here where it depicts a violent seizure of Paul by the mob, a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of this rabble rouser. Epilambano in the NT - catch(2), give help(1), gives help(1), seized(2), take hold(2), taking(1), taking hold(1), took(4), took hold(5). Matt. 14:31; Mk. 8:23; Lk. 9:47; Lk. 14:4; Lk. 20:20; Lk. 20:26; Lk. 23:26; Acts 9:27+; Acts 16:19+; Acts 17:19+; Acts 18:17+; Acts 21:3; Acts 21:33; Acts 23:19; 1 Tim. 6:12; 1 Tim. 6:19; Heb. 2:16; Heb. 8:9 And immediately the doors were shut - "With a bang and at once." (Robertson) Don't you love Luke's details? These wicked men are going to make absolutely sure the inner Temple was "protected" from the spillage of Paul's blood! How blind "religion" can be when it veers from God's truth! Apparently the doors refers to "The doors between the inner court and the court of the Gentiles." (See picture) Jack Andrews makes an interesting observation - The closing of the doors also spoke of rejection—Paul was expelled, not welcomed, and would be taken care of. John
Atos 21
Maclaren wrote, “Though bruised and hustled, and having but a minute or two beforehand looked death in the face, he is ready to seize the opportunity to speak a word for his Master... There is nothing more striking in Paul’s character than his self-command and composure in all circumstances. This ship could rise to any wave, and ride in any storm... It is not easy to disturb a man who counts not his life dear if only he may complete his course... If God is our rock and our high tower we shall not be moved.” And I beg you, allow me to speak to the people - Paul is asking to speak to a mob that a few minutes earlier had sought to kill him. His polite approach reminds me of Daniel in Daniel 1:9+ when "Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself." Beg (beseech, implore) (present tense)(1189)(deomai from deo = to bind) means to ask for something with a sense of pleading, beseeching or begging, and often with a sense of urgency regarding a presumed need. Thus deomai is a strong way to ask for something. The following uses give you a sense of the earnestness of Paul's plea -- The leper seeing Jesus "fell on his face and implored (deomai) Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Lk 5:12). The desperate father cries out to Jesus to cast a demon out of his son “Teacher, I beg (deomai) You to look at my son, for he is my only boy." (Lk 9:38). Luke's uses of deomai - Lk. 5:12; Lk. 8:28; Lk. 8:38; Lk. 9:38; Lk. 9:40; Lk. 10:2; Lk. 21:36; Lk. 22:32; Acts 4:31; Acts 8:22; Acts 8:24; Acts 8:34; Acts 10:2; Acts 21:39; Acts 26:3; Allow (give me permission)(2010)(epitrepo from epi = upon + trepo = to turn) means to turn to, entrust, hence to permit and to to allow someone to do something. Jack Andrews - Paul took advantage of every opportunity to share Jesus! Statistics: According to Ken Hemphill in his book “The Antioch Effect: 8 Characteristics of Highly Effective Churches” only 28% of American adults believe they have a responsibility to share their religious beliefs. 25% feel strongly that they have no such responsibility. In addition, 64% of American adults believe all religions pray to the same God. Evangelism is in a deeper recession than then economy. Thank God someone that shared Jesus Christ with us took advantage of their opportunity to share their faith! Billy Graham once said, “Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation, and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one; but we do have our generation. God will hold us responsible as to how well we fulfill our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities.” Are we taking advantage of every opportunity? Are we easily intimidated and discouraged away from sharing the message of the gospel with others? Do we seize every opportunity to show the love of Jesus to others? Do we take advantage of every opportunity to share the message of Jesus with others? Paul was faithful to his Lord no matter what the circumstances were. He sought to honor the Lord and share the message of salvation. (Ibid) Acts 21:40 When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned to the people with his hand; and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect, saying, KJV 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, NET Acts 21:40 When the commanding officer had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and gestured to the people with his hand. When they had become silent, he addressed them in Aramaic, NLT Acts 21:40 The commander agreed, so Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet. Soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them in their own language, Aramaic. NIV Acts 21:40 Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic: Young's Literal Acts 21:40 And he having given him leave, Paul having stood upon the stairs, did beckon with the hand to the people, and there having been a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew dialect, saying: Paul, standing on the stairs Acts 21:35; 2 Kings 9:13 motioned to the people with his hand Acts 12:17; 13:16; 19:33 he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect Acts 6:1; 26:14; Luke 23:38; John 5:2; 19:13,17,20; Rev 9:11; 16:16 Watch video of Paul's arrest and speech before the crowd Acts 21 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PAUL TAKES CENTER STAGE The idiomatic phrase "take center stage" means to become the main focus, to become the most significant or noticeable person in the scene. That is an apt description of Paul standing and preparing to speak with all eyes focused on him (and undoubtedly "shooting daggers!" so to speak = glaring at him very angrily, spitefully, and disdainfully!) No pressure Paul! Jack Andrews - Paul was more concerned about the spiritual condition of the people than he was about the physical condition of himself. Are we concerned about the spiritual condition of those in the world? Are we concerned about the lost who hate us, persecute us, and would seek to harm us? (Ibid)