27 When the seven days were almost over , the Jews from Asia , upon seeing him in the temple , began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, "Men of Israel , come to our aid ! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place ; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place ." 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple . 30 Then all the city was provoked , and the people rushed together , and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple , and immediately the doors were shut . 31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion . 32 At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers , they stopped beating Paul . 33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains ; and he began asking who he was and what he had done . 34 But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another , and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar , he ordered him to be brought into the barracks . 35 When he got to the stairs , he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob ; 36 for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting , " Away with him!"
37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks , he said to the commander , "May I say something to you?" And he said , "Do you know Greek ? 38 "Then you are not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness ?" 39 But Paul said , " I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia , a citizen of no insignificant city ; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people ." 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 ,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 21:27-40
Commentary on Acts 21:27-40
(Read Acts 21:27-40)
In the temple, where Paul should have been protected as in a place of safety, he was violently set upon. They falsely charged him with ill doctrine and ill practice against the Mosaic ceremonies. It is no new thing for those who mean honestly and act regularly, to have things laid to their charge which they know not and never thought of. It is common for the wise and good to have that charged against them by malicious people, with which they thought to have obliged them. God often makes those a protection to his people, who have no affection to them, but only have compassion for sufferers, and regard to the public peace. And here see what false, mistaken notions of good people and good ministers, many run away with. But God seasonably interposes for the safety of his servants, from wicked and unreasonable men; and gives them opportunities to speak for themselves, to plead for the Redeemer, and to spread abroad his glorious gospel.