27 When the seven days [required to complete the ritual] were almost over, [some] Jews from [the province of] Asia [Minor], caught sight of him in the temple, and began to stir up the crowd, and they seized him, 28 shouting, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul, and they assumed that he had brought the man into the temple [beyond the court of the Gentiles]. 

30 Then the whole city was provoked and confused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were closed. 31 Now while they were trying to kill him, word came to the commander of the [Roman] garrison that all Jerusalem was in a state of upheaval. 32 So he immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down among them. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 

Romans rescue

33 Then the commander came up and arrested Paul, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 But some in the crowd were shouting one thing and others something else; and since he could not determine the facts because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken to the barracks [in the tower of Antonia].

35 When Paul got to the steps, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob; 36 for the majority of the people kept following them, shouting, “Away with him! [Kill him!]”

Acts 21:27-36 (AMP) 中文

Back in Jerusalem

The 3rd missionary journey is over. Paul and his team are back now in Jerusalem sharing what God has done among the Gentiles. In Tyre and Caesarea, people with the gift of prophecy said Paul will be persecuted in Jerusalem. He’s just been told by James and the other leaders that some Jews who follow the law are out to get him. But they implement a plan to counter it.

Best laid plans

Well, the plan didn’t work. “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Some Jews from Asia recognized Paul and stirred up the crowd against him. On all his missionary journeys, Paul was usually persecuted in each city and kicked out of town by jealous Jews. They didn’t like his preaching, especially regarding the law.

Such violence!

The reaction to Paul here is very much like the other cities he had been to where the jealous Jews were just as violent. In some cases, they even tried to stone him to death (Acts 14:5, 19). Others made plans to kidnap and kill him (Acts 20:1-6), but the plans were thwarted by God’s grace. 

Rescued by Romans

Thank God for governments! But it is sad that they were needed to protect Paul, a Jew, from Jews! The commander quickly found the source of the problem (Paul), arrested him, then asked what his offense was. But there were conflicting answers so he brought him to the barracks. “Two chains means Paul was handcuffed to a soldier on either side. Paul must have immediately remembered the prophecy of Agabus (Acts 21:11)”. (enduringword.com)

RЯeflection

• Paul had been preparing himself for this. God had prepared him through prophecies. Did he expect it to happen so quickly after his arrival? But he was mentally and spiritually prepared to suffer as His savior had. Are we prepared to suffer? It may not be as Paul, but the Bible tells us we will suffer (cf 2 Cor 1:5 ).
• We should remember to pray for our government leaders – as Paul himself wrote in 1 Timothy 2:1-4. Thank God for them and, respect and obey them (Romans 13).