Stairs led up to the fortress from the city on its west side and from the temple courtyard on its south side. [1] Probably the stairs in Acts 21:35 were one of the two south stairways leading from the temple courtyard into the fortress. [source][source][source]
The anger of the Jews was evident in their desire to tear Paul apart immediately. Their cry recalls their words about Jesus some27 years earlier ( Luke 23:18; John 19:15; cf. Acts 22:22). Probably the Antonia Fortress was where the soldiers took Jesus for trial before Pilate. It was also the prison from which the angel had freed Peter ( Acts 12:5). [source][source][source]