Keraia
Acts 21

Acts 21:38

Paul Addresses the Crowd · Acts 21:37–40
Read Acts 21

Translations

Modern
“Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the Assassins into the wilderness?”
Traditional
Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
Literal
Are you not, then, the Egyptian, the one before these days having led a revolt and having led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?”
Latin
…nonne tu es Ægyptius, qui ante hos dies tumultum concitasti, et eduxisti in desertum quatuor millia virorum sicariorum?

Original

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

Notes

Acts 21:37–40

The commander had mistaken Paul for an Egyptian false messiah who had planned to seize power from the Romans around AD 54 (roughly three years earlier; see Josephus, War 2.13.5). Paul corrected the mistake, gained permission to speak to the people, and addressed the crowd in Aramaic, the common language of Judea. He gave a strong statement of his faith in Jesus as the Messiah (Acts 22:1–21).

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul)

Events

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Book of the Acts of the Apostles Paul the Apostle Temple The Egyptian Zealot

Topics

Christian Minister: Persecution: Paul Citizens: Wicked: An Egyptian Claudius Lysius: A Roman Military officer Deserts: The Disaffected Fled To Egyptians: An Enthusiastic Egyptian Instigated Rebellion Against Roman Government Paul: His Defense Prisoners: Paul