Paul Is Arrested in the Temple

Back in Jerusalem. In our last lesson Paul was in Ephesus. Now he was back in Jerusalem. He joined four men who were finishing a vow, a special promise to God, and went into the temple with them (21:26). Some Jews from Asia. “The Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him” (21:27). Asia was the Roman province around Ephesus. The charge. They cried, “Men of Israel, help!” They said Paul taught against the people, the law and the temple, and that he had “brought Greeks into the temple” (21:28). A guess. “For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple” (21:29). Supposed means they guessed. Why it mattered. Gentiles, people who were not Jewish, could visit the outer court of the temple, but a low wall kept them out of the inner courts. A whole city. “And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple” (21:30). Jesus knows. People told untrue things about Jesus at His trial too, and He went to the cross for the very people who accused Him. What we learn. A guess passed from person to person stirred up a whole city. Find out what is true before you repeat a story. When people say untrue things about you, Jesus knows how that feels, and He is with you.

The vow (21:26). “Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification.” Paul joined four men, most likely Jewish believers, who were finishing a vow, and he honored the temple customs with them. The accusers (21:27). “The Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him.” These were Jewish men from the province of Asia, where Paul had preached for years, and they knew him by sight. Four charges (21:28). “This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” Defiled means made unclean, unfit for worship. Supposed (21:29). “For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.” Two men walking together in the street became, in their minds, a crime inside the temple. The barrier. Gentiles could enter the temple’s outer court, but a low stone barrier kept them from the inner courts. Warning signs stood along it. Bringing a Gentile past it was a serious crime, so the charge set the crowd on fire. Shut doors (21:30). “And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.” Like his Lord. At Jesus’ trial many brought false testimony against Him too. The servant was misjudged as his Master had been, and the Master answered with the cross. Application. A rumor grows when people speak before they know. Refuse to pass on what you have not checked, and when others misjudge you, entrust yourself to the God who knows the truth.

In our last lesson, Paul was in the city of Ephesus. Now he was back at God’s Temple in Jerusalem. Some men from Asia had seen him in the city with Trophimus. Trophimus came from Ephesus, and he was not Jewish. The men guessed that Paul took Trophimus into the Temple. They did not check their guess. They shouted it to everyone instead. A wrong guess can hurt a person very much. Before you believe a story about someone, find out what is true. People said untrue things about Jesus too. But Jesus still loved them, and He died for them.

Some men guessed wrong about Paul. They told others, and the crowd got angry. Always find out what is true.

Rescued. News came to the commander “that all Jerusalem was in an uproar” (21:31). He ran down with soldiers, “and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul” (21:32). God used Roman soldiers to save Paul’s life. Two chains. The commander “commanded him to be bound with two chains” (21:33). Before Paul reached Jerusalem, the prophet Agabus had said Paul would be bound there (21:11). Paul knew, and he came anyway. No one could say. “Some among the multitude cried one thing and some another” (21:34), so the commander had Paul taken to the barracks, the soldiers’ building. Away with him! The crowd followed, “crying out, ‘Away with him!’” (21:36). Many Christians see this cry as an echo of the crowd that shouted about Jesus, “Away with this Man” (Luke 23:18). A polite question. Paul asked, “May I speak to you?” (21:37). The commander had thought Paul was “the Egyptian” who led a rebellion (21:38). Paul said he was “a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city” (21:39), which means an important city. On the stairs. “Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people” (21:40). Then he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, which most likely means Aramaic, the everyday language of the Jewish people. What we learn. God was in control even when Paul was in chains. Paul used the moment to speak about Jesus. A hard day can become a chance to tell others about Him.

The garrison (21:31-32). “News came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them.” The Roman troops were most likely in the fortress joined to the temple’s outer court. Bound (21:33). The commander “commanded him to be bound with two chains.” Days earlier Agabus had tied his own hands and feet with Paul’s belt and said Paul would be bound in Jerusalem (21:11). Paul walked into that word with his eyes open. Thorybos (21:34). “So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks.” Tumult is thorybos (say: THOR-oo-bos), the noise and confusion of a crowd. The noise buried the truth. Carried (21:35-36). “He had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, ‘Away with him!’” The same cry. Many Christians see this as an echo of the cry against Jesus, “Away with this Man” (Luke 23:18). The Egyptian (21:37-38). When Paul spoke Greek, the commander asked, “Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” No mean city (21:39). “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city.” Tarsus was a well-known city of learning. A great silence (21:40). He “motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language.” Most likely this means Aramaic, the language most Jews in the land spoke at home. Application. Chains did not silence Paul; they gave him a crowd to speak to. God can turn the worst moment of your week into a chance to speak of Christ.

God used Roman soldiers to save Paul’s life. The army leader did not even know who Paul was. He put two chains on Paul. A prophet named Agabus had said this would happen. Paul knew about the chains, and he came to Jerusalem anyway. Then Paul asked to speak to the people. These were the same people who had just beaten him! Paul wanted them to hear about Jesus. You can tell people about Jesus on hard days too.

Soldiers put two chains on Paul. Paul asked if he could speak. God was with Paul on that hard day.

Brethren and fathers. Paul began, “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now” (22:1). A defense is an answer to people who accuse you. When they heard their own language, “they kept all the more silent” (22:2). His past. Paul was “brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel” (22:3), a famous teacher of God’s law. He “was zealous toward God as you all are today.” Zealous means full of eager energy. Zeal for the wrong thing. “I persecuted this Way to the death” (22:4). Paul was sincere, but he was fighting against God’s own Son. The road. Near Damascus “a great light from heaven shone around me” (22:6). The voice said, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting” (22:8). Paul asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” (22:10). Ananias. Ananias was “a devout man according to the law” (22:12). He said, “Brother Saul, receive your sight” (22:13). God had chosen Paul to “see the Just One” (22:14), Jesus, who is completely right and good. Paul would be His witness to all men (22:15), our memory verse. Baptized. Ananias told Paul to be baptized and to call on the name of the Lord. Baptism does not save anyone. It is an outward picture of an inward change. Jesus is the One who saves. What we learn. Being serious about God is not enough if we do not know Jesus. Jesus can change anyone, and He gives every believer something true to tell.

A defense (22:1). “Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” A defense here is a reasoned answer, the kind of reply given in court. It does not mean saying sorry. Their own language (22:2). “When they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.” Zelotes (22:3). “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.” Zealous is zelotes (say: zay-loh-TACE), burning with eager devotion. Gamaliel was a respected teacher of the law. Paul told the crowd he had once been just like them. To the death (22:4-5). “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.” Noon (22:6-8). “Suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.” Then came the question, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” and the answer, “I am Jesus of Nazareth.” Ananias (22:12-14). Paul described him as “a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,” most likely because this crowd would respect such a man. Ananias said God had chosen Paul to “see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.” A witness (22:15). “For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.” Paul’s calling was to tell what he had seen and heard of the risen Jesus. Baptism. Ananias urged Paul to be baptized and to call on the name of the Lord. Baptism follows faith as an outward picture of an inward change. It does not save; only Jesus saves, by grace through faith. Application. Sincere zeal without Christ can do great harm. What changed Paul was not more effort but meeting Jesus. The same Lord still turns enemies into witnesses.

Paul told the angry crowd what Jesus had done for him. He wanted them to know Jesus too. Paul once worked very hard to serve God. But he did not know Jesus yet. So he hurt the people who followed Jesus. Trying hard is not the same as knowing Jesus. Then Jesus stopped Paul on the road. Jesus did not give up on Paul. He forgave Paul and gave him a new job. Ananias even called him “Brother Saul.” Paul was now part of God’s family. God chose Paul to tell everyone about Jesus. Jesus can change anyone’s heart, even a person who hurt His people.

Paul used to hurt people who loved Jesus. Then Jesus met Paul and changed his heart. Jesus can change anyone!

In the temple. Back in Jerusalem, Paul had been praying in the temple when he fell into a trance, a vision from God (22:17). The Lord said, “Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me” (22:18). Paul’s answer. Paul reminded the Lord that he had imprisoned and beaten believers, and that he had stood by when Stephen died (22:19-20). He most likely thought his changed life would convince them. Sent far away. “Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles” (22:21). Gentiles are people who are not Jewish. The uproar. At that word they shouted, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” (22:22). A citizen. The commander planned to question Paul under scourging, which means whipping (22:24). Paul asked, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?” (22:25). Uncondemned means not found guilty. The commander said, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” Paul answered, “But I was born a citizen” (22:28). In Philippi, Paul and Silas had spoken of their citizenship too (16:37). Afraid. The commander “was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman” (22:29). What we learn. God protected Paul through Roman law. No one can buy a place in God’s family. It is a free gift from Jesus to everyone who trusts Him.

In the temple (22:17-18). “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’” An honest objection (22:19-20). “Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death.” Paul most likely reasoned that his old allies would listen to a changed man. The word that ended the speech (22:21-22). “Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.” At this “they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!’” They had listened until God’s mercy reached the Gentiles. Scourging (22:24-25). The commander ordered Paul “examined under scourging,” a whipping to make him tell why the crowd shouted against him. Paul asked the centurion, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?” Bought and born (22:27-28). “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen.” Roman law forbade binding and beating a citizen who had not been condemned. Paul had used the same right in Philippi (16:37). Withdrawn (22:29). “Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.” Application. Christians may use the protections of the law with honesty and calm, as Paul did. And a deeper truth stands beside it: no one enters God’s kingdom by paying a large sum. Entrance is given by grace to all who trust Christ.

Paul told the crowd about a time he prayed in the Temple. The Lord told Paul to leave Jerusalem quickly. He would send Paul to people far away who were not Jewish. When the crowd heard this, they began shouting again. Many Christians see this as being like the crowd against Jesus. Then Paul told an officer that he was a Roman citizen. God used Roman law to protect Paul. The army leader had paid much money to be a citizen. But Paul was born a citizen. Nobody can buy a place in God’s family. Jesus gives it as a free gift to all who trust Him.

The crowd shouted, but God kept Paul safe. Paul was born a Roman citizen. God takes care of His people.

Paul Is Arrested in the Temple

🎉 All Matched!