Paul is Apprehended; Acts 21:27-36 Part 4

Church History: Date: A.D.57 - 59

They drew Paul out of the temple, and shut the doors between the outer and inner court of the temple, or perhaps the doors of the outer court. In dragging him furiously out of the temple. They showed a real detestation of him as one not fit to be allowed in the temple, or to worship there, or to be looked upon as a member of the Jewish nation; as if his sacrifice had been an abomination. They set out to kill him, resolving to beat him to death by blows without number, a punishment which the Jewish doctors allowed in some cases (not at all to the credit of their nation), and called the beating of the rebels. Here was Paul, like a lamb, thrown into a den of lions, and made an easy prey to them, and, no doubt, he was still of the same mind as when he said, I am ready not only to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem, to die so great a death.

Paul was rescued out of the hands of his Jewish enemies by a Roman enemy. News was brought of the turmoil, and that the mob was enraged, to the chief captain of the band, the governor of the castle, or, whoever he was, the now commander-in-chief of the Roman forces that were quartered in Jerusalem. This was somebody that was concerned not for Paul, but for the public peace and safety, who gave this information to the colonel. This was someone who had always a jealous and watchful eye upon these tumultuous Jews, and he is the man that must be instrumental to save Paul's life, when never a friend he had was capable of doing him any service.