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Acts 21:33

in Acts 21

The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Then the chief captain came near, and laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had done.

KJV

Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

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This verse in Acts 21

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Arator

ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2 · Written before 544.

Nevertheless the torments that lay harshly upon his constricted arms did not tie his mind, because Paul's epistle, full of light, proclaims that the servants can be bound [but] the faith cannot be bound, and the word is not allowed to be restrained by tortures.

This site's exposition

they stopped beating Paul

on Acts 21:32-33

When the people saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. He had Paul bound with two chains before asking who he was and what he had done, the Roman way of quelling a riot.

This site's exposition

bound with two chains

Clarke explains the two chains as each of Paul's hands chained to a guard, as Peter was held in Acts 12:6. Barnes reads the order as a signal to the crowd that the commander meant to hold Paul for justice.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 46 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the tribune came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done." But the tribune having come down delivered him, and "commanded him to be bound with two chains:" hereby appeasing the anger of the people.

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

Then the chief captain came near,.... To the place where the Jews were beating Paul: and took him the Arabic version adds, "from them"; he rescued him out of their hands, as he himself says, Act 23:

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

And commanded him to be bound with two chains - Taking it for granted he was some notorious offender. And thus the prophecy of Agabus was fulfilled, though by the hands of a Roman.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

How much ado Paul had to get clear from Ephesus, intimated in the first words of the chapter, after we had gotten from them, that is, were drawn from them as by violence. It was a force put upon both sides; Paul was loth to leave them, and they were loth to part with him, and yet there was no remedy, but so it must be.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

To be bound with two chains - To show to the enraged multitude that he did not intend to rescue anyone from justice, but to keep the peace. Paul’s Being thus bound would convince them of his determination that justice should be done in the case. Probably he was bound between two soldiers, his right arm to the left arm of the one, and his left arm to the right arm of the other. See the notes on Act 12:
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

And took him - With great violence, according to Act 24:7, probably meaning an armed force. To be bound with two chains - To be bound between two soldiers; his right hand chained to the left hand of the one, and his left hand to the right of the other. See the note on Act 12:6.

The words behind it

19 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Ephesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.8 worksActs 21:11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”7 worksActs 20:23I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.7 worksActs 22:30The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.6 worksActs 12:6On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.5 worksActs 22:29Then those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.5 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Philippians 1:7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.5 worksActs 28:20So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”4 works2 Timothy 2:9for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!3 worksEphesians 3:1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...3 worksActs 26:29“Short time or long,” Paul replied, “I wish to God that not only you but all who hear me this day may become what I am, except for these chains.”3 worksJudges 15:13“No,” they answered, “we will not kill you, but we will tie you up securely and hand you over to them.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock.2 worksActs 22:24–25the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.2 works2 Timothy 1:16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.2 worksJohn 18:29–30So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”2 worksJudges 16:8So the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him up with them.2 worksJudges 16:12So Delilah took new ropes, tied him up with them, and called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But while the men were hidden in her room, he snapped the ropes off his arms like they were threads.2 worksActs 25:16I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Acts 20:23

    I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.

    it leads to

    • Acts 9:16

      I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

    • Acts 21:4

      We sought out the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

    • 1 Thessalonians 3:3

      so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.

    • Acts 14:22

      strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

  • Through

    Ephesians 6:20

    for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 5:20

      Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

    • Colossians 4:4

      Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.

    • 2 Timothy 2:9

      for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!

    • 1 Thessalonians 2:2

      As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of…

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 21 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Arator, ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 2; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 46; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and William Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen.

Read on in Acts 21 →