Focused Passage

Acts 21:37-40

Paul Goes to Jerusalem and Is Seized in the Temple

Paul travels resolutely toward Jerusalem despite warnings, submits to the Lord’s will, reports Gentile mission fruit to the Jerusalem leaders, participates in a temple-related purification plan, is falsely accused and seized, and receives Roman protection before addressing the crowd.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

37 As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.

38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the Assassins into the wilderness?”

39 But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”

40 Having received permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. A great hush came over the crowd, and he addressed them in Hebrew:

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 37

Original words

[As] τε G5037 Conjunction they were about Μέλλων G3195 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to take εἰσάγεσθαι G1521 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλος G3972 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular barracks παρεμβολὴν G3925 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular he asked λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular commander χιλιάρχῳ G5506 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular vvv Εἰ G1487 Conjunction May ἔξεστίν G1832 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular I μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular say εἰπεῖν G2036 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active something τι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition you σέ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular Do you speak γινώσκεις G1097 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Greek Ἑλληνιστὶ G1676 Adverb [he] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction replied ἔφη G5346 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 38

Original words

- ἄρα G686 Conjunction Aren’t εἶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular . . . οὐκ G3756 Adverb you σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Egyptian Αἰγύπτιος G124 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular incited a rebellion ἀναστατώσας G387 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular some time ago πρὸ G4253 Preposition . . . τούτων G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Plural . . . τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Plural . . . ἡμερῶν G2250 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction led ἐξαγαγὼν G1806 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural four thousand τετρακισχιλίους G5070 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural members ἄνδρας G435 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Assassins Σικαρίων G4607 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular wilderness ἔρημον G2048 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 39

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλος G3972 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular answered Εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular I Ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am εἰμι G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular - μέν G3303 Conjunction a Jew Ἰουδαῖος G2453 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular from Tarsus Ταρσεὺς G5018 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular in Cilicia Κιλικίας G2791 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular a citizen [of] πολίτης G4177 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular no οὐκ G3756 Adverb ordinary ἀσήμου G767 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular city πόλεως G4172 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Now δέ G1161 Conjunction I beg δέομαι G1189 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular you σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular to allow ἐπίτρεψόν G2010 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular to speak λαλῆσαι G2980 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active to πρὸς G4314 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular people λαόν G2992 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 40

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction vvv αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular Having received permission ἐπιτρέψαντος G2010 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Paul Παῦλος G3972 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular stood ἑστὼς G2476 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural steps ἀναβαθμῶν G304 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural [and] motioned κατέσεισεν G2678 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular crowd λαῷ G2992 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular - χειρὶ G5495 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction A great πολλῆς G4183 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular hush σιγῆς G4602 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular came over [the crowd] γενομένης G1096 Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Genitive Feminine Singular [and] he addressed [them] προσεφώνησεν G4377 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular in τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular Hebrew Ἑβραΐδι G1446 Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular . . . διαλέκτῳ G1258 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular . . . λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Or in Aramaic; literally in the Hebrew language

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.