Acts 21:30-37
‘The Jews…stirred up all the people…. The people ran together…. They took Paul and drew him out of the temple…. They went about, to kill him!… But when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left off beating Paul…. The chief captain…took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains…. He commanded him to be carried into the castle.” Acts 21:27-34.
Calvin comments: “‘(The Jews) who were from Asia (stirred up all the people).’ It was not to be wondered at, that the city was in an uproar…. It was a sign of perverted zeal and insane rashness that the people rose up against Paul, without examination of his case….
“It is certainly a bitter situation that the whole world may suddenly be stirred up against us!… Let each one of us prepare himself by this and similar examples, to endure all disturbances!…
“‘They were seeking to kill him’…. The power of Satan is apparent, in driving the people on to such a pitch of fury…. Not being content with a moderate punishment, they plot together for the death of Paul. We ought to keep this thought before us, that the enemies of godliness are being urged on by Satan – so that their raging may not disturb us, no matter how furious and turbulen it may be!
“On the other side, the wonderful goodness of God shines out — when He suddenly brings out the tribune to save Paul’s life…. He himself had no such thought in his head, but ran up to stop the tumult of the people…..
“Paul’s life was snatched out of such immediate danger, without any human plan! Thus He allows the faithful not only to be afflicted but almost to be overwhelmed, so that He might deliver them…from the midst of death….
“‘When they saw the tribune (and the soldiers, they left off beating Paul)!’ The men, whose fury neither the majesty of God not the sanctity of the temple (of the Jews) was able to restrain, are now quietened by fear of an unbeliever!…. The tribune makes it plain enough, by binding him with chains, that he did not come in order to set him free. Unbelievers would have put this down to fortune. But the Spirit has…painted us a picture of the providence of God ruling in the midst of men’s confusions and disturbances…. Praise will have to be given to the tribune’s fairness, if he is compared with the Jews. He does put chains on him, as if he were a vicious criminal. Yet he has the patience to hear the fettered man, whom they were flogging to death…. There were at one in demanding the death of a man, who had been convicted of no crime. There is no doubt…that they were blinded…. Violence betrays a diabolical madness.
“(‘He commanded him to be carried into the castle’)…. A ‘fortress’ is mentioned…. (The) soldiers who were posted for the defence of the city, had a place which was walled and fortified all round which they could defend like a stronghold….. The more the ferocity of the persecutors burned, the clearer did God show His favour to His servant in sparing his life!” So God again saved Paul — when the Ephesian Jews threatened him with much bodily harm!
