And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
ACTS 21:31KJVWhat does Acts 21:31 mean?
Acts 21:31 describes how, as a group was trying to kill Paul, news quickly reached the Roman military commander that the entire city of Jerusalem was in chaos. The verse highlights the seriousness of the situation and the rapid spread of the disturbance.
In this scene, Paul is in Jerusalem, and a mob has become violent against him. The "chief captain" refers to the Roman officer in charge of the soldiers stationed at the fortress near the temple. The report coming to this commander signals that the unrest was so widespread that it threatened public order, prompting immediate Roman intervention.
The Greek behind Acts 21:31
- ἀναταραχή (anatarachē, G4797) — "uproar": This word means a disturbance or commotion, emphasizing that the situation in Jerusalem was not just a small fight but a city-wide turmoil.
- χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos, G5506) — "chief captain": This title refers to a Roman commander of a thousand soldiers, showing the level of authority involved and the seriousness with which the Romans viewed the situation.
- φήμη (phēmē, G5334) — "tidings": This word often means a report or news, suggesting that the information about the riot spread quickly and urgently to those in charge.
Why Acts 21:31 matters
- Acts 21:31 clarifies that the threat to Paul was not hidden or minor; it was a public crisis that drew the attention of Roman authorities.
- The verse connects the events surrounding Paul to the larger political and social tensions in Jerusalem, showing why the Romans would intervene.
- Understanding the scale of the uproar helps explain the swift and forceful Roman response in the following verses, setting the stage for Paul's arrest and later defenses.