Acts 21:31

“And while they were seeking to kill him, a report went up to the commander of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.”

Acts 21:31 · direct translation from the Greek
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With the Greek beneath

31

Acts 21:31, word by word

while they were seekingζητούντωνzētountōn

try

To try for something; to be after someone's life is to plan to kill them.

Where else “zētountōn” appears
to killἀποκτεῖναιapokteinai

kill

Kill.

Where else “apokteinai” appears
a reportφάσιςphasis

news, report

News, report, information given to someone.

Where else “phasis” appears
went upἀνέβηanebē

go up

To go upward: up a mountain, to Jerusalem or to heaven.

Where else “anebē” appears
to the commanderχιλιάρχῳchiliarchōi

commander

Commander: an officer over a thousand soldiers.

Where else “chiliarchōi” appears
of the cohortσπείρηςspeirēs

cohort

Cohort, a body of about six hundred soldiers.

Where else “speirēs” appears
allὅληholē

whole, all

Whole, entire, all.

Where else “holē” appears
JerusalemἸερουσαλήμIerousalēm

Jerusalem

See it on the mapWhere else “Ierousalēm” appears
was in confusionσυγχύννεταιsynchynnetai

stir up

Agitate a crowd; be in tumult.

Where else “synchynnetai” appears

Translation note

The Roman cohort was quartered in the Antonia fortress, beside the temple, connected with its courts by steps.

Places in this verse

Jerusalem
Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.
  • Jerusalem

    Today: Old City of Jerusalem

    A city in the hills of Judea, about 22 miles (35 km) west of the Dead Sea and 35 miles (55 km) east of the Mediterranean.

    David took it and made it his city (2 Sam 5:7); Solomon built the temple there (1 Kgs 8:1). Jesus was presented there, and the apostles' witness began from it (Luke 2:22; Acts 1:8).

    2 Samuel 5:61 Kings 8:1Luke 2:22Acts 1:8

The context

30And the whole city was stirred up, and the people came running together; and seizing Paul, they were dragging him out of the temple, and at once the doors were shut.

31 · This verse (above)

32He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

Read all of Acts 21

To study Acts 21 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What does the prophet Agabus do, and what do the believers who hear him ask of Paul? (vv. 10-12)

  2. 2. What it means

    What does Paul answer those who weep to keep him from going up to Jerusalem, and how do they react? (vv. 13-14)

  3. 3. How I live it

    Paul's friends wanted to protect him, but in the end said "The Lord's will be done" (v. 14). When is it hard for you to let someone you love go?

How to use it