Paul Seized at the Temple
As the seven days are nearly complete, Jews from Asia see Paul in the temple and stir up the whole crowd, accusing him of teaching against the people, the law, and the place and of bringing Greeks into the temple. The whole city is stirred, Paul is seized and dragged out, and the temple gates are shut.
W27hen the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.
While the crowd tries to kill Paul, word reaches the Roman commander that Jerusalem is in turmoil, and he rushes down with soldiers and centurions so the beating stops. Paul is arrested and bound with two chains, but the uproar is so confused that the commander can learn nothing certain, and Paul must be carried up the steps while the crowd keeps shouting for him to be taken away.
31While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil. 32Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33The 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. 34Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. 35When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. 36For the crowd that followed him kept shouting, “Away with him!”