The Meaning of Acts 21:28 Explained

Acts 21:28

KJV: Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

YLT: crying out, 'Men, Israelites, help! this is the man who, against the people, and the law, and this place, all everywhere is teaching; and further, also, Greeks he brought into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place;'

Darby: crying, Israelites, help! this is the man who teaches all everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place, and has brought Greeks too into the temple, and profaned this holy place.

ASV: crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Crying out,  Men  of Israel,  help:  This  is  the man,  that teacheth  all  [men] every where  against  the people,  and  the law,  and  this  place:  and  further  brought  Greeks  also  into  the temple,  and  hath polluted  this  holy  place. 

What does Acts 21:28 Mean?

Context Summary

Acts 21:27-40 - Facing A Bigoted Mob
Four days passed and there seemed a hope that, as the number of pilgrims grew less, Paul might escape recognition till his vow was fulfilled. In fulfilling it he was required to live with four paupers in a chamber of the Temple, to pay for sixteen sacrificial animals and the accompanying meat offerings on their behalf, and to stand with them while the priest offered lambs and rams on their behalf.
But as the ceremonies were approaching completion, he was recognized by Jews from Ephesus and other cities of Asia-perhaps Alexander the coppersmith was one of them-and a cry of hatred and horror was raised. They had seen the Ephesian Trophimus walking with him in the streets of Jerusalem, and supposed that Paul had taken him into the holy precincts. The punishment for that crime was death. They therefore seized him and forced him through the Beautiful Gate and down the fifteen steps, that they might kill him outside the Temple. This outburst attracted the notice of the Roman garrison in the neighboring Castle of Antonia, and Lysias with his soldiers forced his way through the throng, rescued Paul from his would-be murderers, and bore him beyond their reach. God had other work for the Apostle yet to do. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 21

1  Paul calls at the house of Philip, whose daughters prophesy
10  Agabus, foretelling what should befall him at Jerusalem,
13  he will not be dissuaded from going thither
17  He comes to Jerusalem;
27  where he is apprehended, and in great danger, but by the chief captain is rescued;
37  and requests, and is permitted to speak to the people

Greek Commentary for Acts 21:28

Help [βοητειτε]
Present active imperative of βοητεω — boētheō to run (τεω — theō) at a cry (βοη — boē), as if an outrage had been committed like murder or assault. [source]
All men everywhere [παντα πανταχηι]
Alliterative. Πανταχηι — Pantachēi is a variation in MSS., often πανταχου — pantachou and here only in the N.T. The charges against Paul remind one of those against Stephen (Acts 6:13) in which Paul had participated according to his confession (Acts 22:20). Like the charges against Stephen and Jesus before him truth and falsehood are mixed. Paul had said that being a Jew would not save a man. He had taught the law of Moses was not binding on Gentiles. He did hold, like Jesus and Stephen, that the temple was not the only place to worship God. But Paul gloried himself in being a Jew, considered the Mosaic law righteous for Jews, and was honouring the temple at this very moment. And moreover also he brought Greeks also into the temple (ετι τε και ελληνας εισηγαγεν εις το ιερον — eti te kai Hellēnas eisēgagen eis to hieron). Note the three particles (ετι τε και — eti te kai), and (τε — te) still more (ετι — eti) also or even (και — kai). Worse than his teaching (διδασκων — didaskōn) is his dreadful deed: he actually brought (εισηγαγεν — eisēgagen second aorist active indicative of εισαγω — eisagō). This he had a right to do if they only went into the court of the Gentiles. But these Jews mean to imply that Paul had brought Greeks beyond this court into the court of Israel. An inscription was found by Clermont-Ganneau in Greek built into the walls of a mosque on the Via Dolorosa that was on the wall dividing the court of Israel from the court of the Gentiles. Death was the penalty to any Gentile who crossed over into the Court of Israel (The Athenaeum, July, 1871). Hath defiled this holy place Present perfect active of κοινοω — Koinoō to make common (See note on Acts 10:14). Note vivid change of tense, the defilement lasts (state of completion). All this is the substance of the call of these shrewd conspirators from Ephesus, Jews (not Jewish Christians, not even Judaizers) who hated him for his work there and who probably “spoke evil of the Way before the multitude” there so that Paul had to separate the disciples from the synagogue and go to the School of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9.). These enemies of Paul had now raised the cry of “fire” and vanish from the scene completely (Acts 24:19). This charge was absolutely false as we shall see, made out of inferences of hate and suspicion. [source]
And moreover also he brought Greeks also into the temple [ετι τε και ελληνας εισηγαγεν εις το ιερον]
Note the three particles Worse than his teaching This he had a right to do if they only went into the court of the Gentiles. But these Jews mean to imply that Paul had brought Greeks beyond this court into the court of Israel. An inscription was found by Clermont-Ganneau in Greek built into the walls of a mosque on the Via Dolorosa that was on the wall dividing the court of Israel from the court of the Gentiles. Death was the penalty to any Gentile who crossed over into the Court of Israel (The Athenaeum, July, 1871). [source]
Hath defiled this holy place [κεκοινωκεν τον αγιον τοπον τουτον]
Present perfect active of κοινοω — Koinoō to make common (See note on Acts 10:14). Note vivid change of tense, the defilement lasts (state of completion). All this is the substance of the call of these shrewd conspirators from Ephesus, Jews (not Jewish Christians, not even Judaizers) who hated him for his work there and who probably “spoke evil of the Way before the multitude” there so that Paul had to separate the disciples from the synagogue and go to the School of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9.). These enemies of Paul had now raised the cry of “fire” and vanish from the scene completely (Acts 24:19). This charge was absolutely false as we shall see, made out of inferences of hate and suspicion. [source]
This place []
The temple. Compare the charge against Stephen, Acts 6:13. [source]
Greeks []
See on Acts 6:1. [source]
Temple [ἱερὸν]
See on Matthew 4:5. The Jews evidently meant to create the impression that Paul had introduced Gentiles into the inner court, which was restricted to the Jews. The temple proper was on the highest of a series of terraces which rose from the outer court, or Court of the Gentiles. In this outer court any stranger might worship. Between this and the terraces was a balustrade of stone, with columns at intervals, on which Greek and Latin inscriptions warned all Gentiles against advancing farther on pain of death. Beyond this balustrade rose a flight of fourteen steps to the first platform, on which was the Court of the Women, surrounded by a wall. In this court were the treasury, and various chambers, in one of which the Nazarites performed their vows. It was here that the Asiatic Jews discovered Paul. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 21:28

Matthew 15:11 This defileth the man [τουτο κοινοι τον αντρωπον]
This word is from κοινος — koinos which is used in two senses, either what is “common” to all and general like the Koiné Greek, or what is unclean and “common” either ceremonially or in reality. The ceremonial “commonness” disturbed Peter on the housetop in Joppa (Acts 10:14). See also Acts 21:28; Hebrews 9:13. One who is thus religiously common or unclean is cut off from doing his religious acts. “Defilement” was a grave issue with the rabbinical ceremonialists. Jesus appeals to the crowd here: [source]
Luke 14:26 And his own life also [ετι τε και την πσυχην εαυτου]
Note τε και — te kai both - and. “The τε — te (B L) binds all the particulars into one bundle of renuncianda ” (Bruce). Note this same triple group of conjunctions (ετι τε και — eti te kai) in Acts 21:28, “And moreover also,” “even going as far as his own life.” Martyrdom should be an ever-present possibility to the Christian, not to be courted, but not to be shunned. Love for Christ takes precedence “over even the elemental instinct of self-preservation” (Ragg). [source]
John 11:48 Place and nation [τὸν τόπον καὶ τὸ ἔθνος]
Place, the temple and city (Acts 6:13; Acts 21:28; Matthew 24:15). Nation, the civil organization. See on 1 Peter 2:9; see on Luke 2:32. In the Sanhedrim were many devoted adherents of Rome, and the rest were well aware of the weakness of the national power. [source]
Acts 17:6 They dragged [εσυρον]
Imperfect active, vivid picture, they were dragging (literally). See note on Acts 8:3; and note on Acts 16:19. If they could not find Paul, they could drag Jason his host and some other Christians whom we do not know. Before the rulers of the city (επι τους πολιταρχας — epi tous politarchas). This word does not occur in Greek literature and used to be cited as an example of Luke‘s blunders. But now it is found in an inscription on an arch in the modern city preserved in the British Museum. It is also found in seventeen inscriptions (five from Thessalonica) where the word or the verb πολιταρχεω — politarcheō occurs. It is a fine illustration of the historical accuracy of Luke in matters of detail. This title for city officers in Thessalonica, a free city, is correct. They were burgomasters or “rulers of the city.” Crying Yelling as if the house was on fire like the mob in Jerusalem (Acts 21:28). These that have turned the world upside down (οι την οικουμενην αναστατωσαντες — hoi tēn oikoumenēn anastatōsantes). The use of οικουμενην — oikoumenēn (supply γεν — genō or χωραν — chōran the inhabited earth, present passive participle of οικεω — oikeō) means the Roman Empire, since it is a political charge, a natural hyperbole in their excitement, but the phrase occurs for the Roman Empire in Luke 2:1. It is possible that news had come to Thessalonica of the expulsion of the Jews from Rome by Claudius. There is truth in the accusation, for Christianity is revolutionary, but on this particular occasion the uproar (Acts 17:5) was created by the rabbis and the hired loafers. The verb αναστατοω — anastatoō (here first aorist active participle) does not occur in the ancient writers, but is in lxx and in Acts 17:6; Acts 21:38; Galatians 5:12. It occurs also in Harpocration (a.d. 4th cent.) and about 100 b.c. εχαναστατοω — exanastatoō is found in a fragment of papyrus (Tebtunis no. 2) and in a Paris Magical Papyrus l. 2243f. But in an Egyptian letter of Aug. 4, 41 a.d. (Oxyrhynchus Pap. no. 119, 10) “the bad boy” uses it = “he upsets me” or “ he drives me out of my senses” (αναστατοι με — anastatoi me). See Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, pp. 84f. It is not a “Biblical word” at all, but belongs to the current Koiné. It is a vigorous and graphic term. [source]
Acts 17:6 Crying [βοωντες]
Yelling as if the house was on fire like the mob in Jerusalem (Acts 21:28). These that have turned the world upside down (οι την οικουμενην αναστατωσαντες — hoi tēn oikoumenēn anastatōsantes). The use of οικουμενην — oikoumenēn (supply γεν — genō or χωραν — chōran the inhabited earth, present passive participle of οικεω — oikeō) means the Roman Empire, since it is a political charge, a natural hyperbole in their excitement, but the phrase occurs for the Roman Empire in Luke 2:1. It is possible that news had come to Thessalonica of the expulsion of the Jews from Rome by Claudius. There is truth in the accusation, for Christianity is revolutionary, but on this particular occasion the uproar (Acts 17:5) was created by the rabbis and the hired loafers. The verb αναστατοω — anastatoō (here first aorist active participle) does not occur in the ancient writers, but is in lxx and in Acts 17:6; Acts 21:38; Galatians 5:12. It occurs also in Harpocration (a.d. 4th cent.) and about 100 b.c. εχαναστατοω — exanastatoō is found in a fragment of papyrus (Tebtunis no. 2) and in a Paris Magical Papyrus l. 2243f. But in an Egyptian letter of Aug. 4, 41 a.d. (Oxyrhynchus Pap. no. 119, 10) “the bad boy” uses it = “he upsets me” or “ he drives me out of my senses” (αναστατοι με — anastatoi me). See Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, pp. 84f. It is not a “Biblical word” at all, but belongs to the current Koiné. It is a vigorous and graphic term. [source]
Acts 21:29 They had before seen [ησαν προεωρακοτες]
Periphrastic past perfect of προοραω — prooraō old verb to see before, whether time or place. Only twice in the N.T., here and Acts 2:25 quoted from Psalm 16:8. Note the double reduplication in εω — ̇eō̇ as in Attic (Robertson, Grammar, p. 364). With him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian (Τροπιμον τον Επεσιον εν τηι πολει συν αυτωι — Trophimon ton Ephesion en tēi polei sun autōi). The Jews from Asia (Ephesus) knew Trophimus by sight as well as Paul. One day they saw both of them together (συν — sun) in the city. That was a fact. They had just seized Paul in the temple (ιερον — hieron). That was another fact. They supposed Imperfect active of νομιζω — nomizō common to think or suppose. Perfectly harmless word, but they did, as so many people do, put their supposed inference on the same basis with the facts. They did not see Trophimus with Paul now in the temple, nor had they ever seen him there. They simply argued that, if Paul was willing to be seen down street with a Greek Christian, he would not hesitate to bring him (therefore, did bring him, εισηγαγεν — eisēgagen as in Acts 21:28) into the temple, that is into the court of Israel and therefore both Paul and Trophimus were entitled to death, especially Paul who had brought him in (if he had) and, besides, they now had Paul. This is the way of the mob-mind in all ages. Many an innocent man has been rushed to his death by the fury of a lynching party. [source]
Acts 24:6 Assayed to profane [επειρασεν βεβηλωσαι]
A flat untruth, but the charge of the Asian Jews (Acts 21:28-30). Verbum optum ad calumnian (Bengel). [source]
Acts 24:6 We seized [εκρατησαμεν]
As if the Sanhedrin had arrested Paul, Tertullus identifying himself with his clients. But it was the mob (Acts 21:28-31) that attacked Paul and Lysias who rescued him (Acts 21:32.). [source]
Acts 8:40 He preached the gospel [ευηγγελιζετο]
Imperfect middle describing the evangelistic tour of Philip “till he came to Caesarea” (εως του ελτειν αυτον — heōs tou elthein auton genitive articular infinitive with the preposition εως — heōs and the accusative of general reference) where he made his home and headquarters thereafter (Acts 21:28) and was known as the Evangelist. [source]
Acts 21:29 They supposed [ενομιζον]
Imperfect active of νομιζω — nomizō common to think or suppose. Perfectly harmless word, but they did, as so many people do, put their supposed inference on the same basis with the facts. They did not see Trophimus with Paul now in the temple, nor had they ever seen him there. They simply argued that, if Paul was willing to be seen down street with a Greek Christian, he would not hesitate to bring him (therefore, did bring him, εισηγαγεν — eisēgagen as in Acts 21:28) into the temple, that is into the court of Israel and therefore both Paul and Trophimus were entitled to death, especially Paul who had brought him in (if he had) and, besides, they now had Paul. This is the way of the mob-mind in all ages. Many an innocent man has been rushed to his death by the fury of a lynching party. [source]
Ephesians 2:14 Both one [τα αμποτερα εν]
“The both” (Jew and Gentile). Jesus had said “other sheep I have which are not of this fold” (John 10:16). One (εν — hen) is neuter singular (oneness, unity, identity) as in Galatians 3:28. Race and national distinctions vanish in Christ. If all men were really in Christ, war would disappear. Brake down the middle wall of partition “Having loosened (first aorist active participle of λυω — luō see note on John 2:19) the middle-wall (late word, only here in N.T., and very rare anywhere, one in papyri, and one inscription) of partition See the uproar when Paul was accused of taking Trophimus beyond this wall (Acts 21:28). [source]
Ephesians 2:14 Brake down the middle wall of partition [το μεσοτοιχον του πραγμου λυσας]
“Having loosened (first aorist active participle of λυω — luō see note on John 2:19) the middle-wall (late word, only here in N.T., and very rare anywhere, one in papyri, and one inscription) of partition See the uproar when Paul was accused of taking Trophimus beyond this wall (Acts 21:28). [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 21:28 mean?

crying out Men Israelites help This is the man who against the people and law place this all those everywhere teaching besides and also Greeks he has brought into the temple defiled the holy place this
κράζοντες Ἄνδρες Ἰσραηλῖται βοηθεῖτε οὗτός ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος κατὰ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ νόμου τόπου τούτου πάντας πανταχῇ διδάσκων ἔτι τε καὶ Ἕλληνας εἰσήγαγεν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν κεκοίνωκεν τὸν ἅγιον τόπον τοῦτον

κράζοντες  crying  out 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κράζω  
Sense: to croak.
Ἄνδρες  Men 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
Ἰσραηλῖται  Israelites 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Plural
Root: Ἰσραηλίτης  
Sense: an Israelite, one of the race of Israel, a name to be held in honour.
βοηθεῖτε  help 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: βοηθέω  
Sense: to help, succour, bring aid.
οὗτός  This 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ἄνθρωπος  man 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
κατὰ  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
λαοῦ  people 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: λαός  
Sense: a people, people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language.
νόμου  law 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: νόμος  
Sense: anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a law, a command.
τόπου  place 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: τόπος 
Sense: place, any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space.
τούτου  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
πάντας  all  those 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
πανταχῇ  everywhere 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πανταχῇ 
Sense: everywhere.
διδάσκων  teaching 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: διδάσκω  
Sense: to teach.
ἔτι  besides 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
Ἕλληνας  Greeks 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: Ἕλλην  
Sense: a Greek either by nationality, whether a native of the main land or of the Greek islands or colonies.
εἰσήγαγεν  he  has  brought 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰσάγω  
Sense: to lead in.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
ἱερὸν  temple 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἱερόν  
Sense: a sacred place, temple.
κεκοίνωκεν  defiled 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: κοινόω  
Sense: to make common.
ἅγιον  holy 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἅγιος  
Sense: most holy thing, a saint.
τόπον  place 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: τόπος 
Sense: place, any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space.
τοῦτον  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.