independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
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The voyage to Tyre — the Spirit's warning and the beach farewell 21:1–6
vv. 1–3 — the island-hopping run: Cos, Rhodes, Patara, the Phoenicia ship, Tyre
1
Now when we set sail, having torn ourselves away from them, we ran a straight course and came to Cos,independent — the we-narrative resumes — temporal ὡς-frame and two participles (ἀποσπασθέντας, the wrench of parting; εὐθυδρομήσαντες, the fair-wind run) carried in one sweep to ἤλθομεν
and the next day to Rhodes,phrase modifier — elliptical itinerary entry — ἤλθομεν carried forward
and from there to Patara.phrase modifier — third hop — Patara, the deep-sea transfer port of Lycia
2
And finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,participial — preposed — leans on ἀνήχθημεν; a cargo ship making the open-sea crossing
we went aboard and set sail.independent — find → board → sail: three actions compressed to one forward motion
3
And having sighted Cyprus and left it on our left,participial — preposed pair — leans on ἐπλέομεν; the port-side bearing is eyewitness seamanship
we were sailing on to Syria,independent — progressive imperfect — the long run under way
and we put in at Tyre,independent — landfall — the aorist closes the leg
for there the ship was to unload its cargo.cause — γάρ — the stop is the ship's commercial itinerary, not Paul's plan; periphrastic ἦν ἀποφορτιζόμενον
vv. 4–6 — the seven days at Tyre: the Spirit-warning and the beach farewell
4
And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there seven days;independent — ἀνευρόντες — the community had to be searched out; a full week's stay
and they kept telling Paul through the Spiritrelative — qualitative οἵτινες; iterative imperfect — the warning repeated through the week
not to set foot in Jerusalem.content — the crux — the Spirit discloses the danger, the disciples draw the inference; Paul, 'bound in the Spirit' (20:22), goes anyway
5
And when it came time for us to complete the days,comparative — temporal ὅτε with ἐγένετο + infinitive — leans on ἐπορευόμεθα
we departed and went on our way,independent — progressive imperfect — the journey resumes
while all of them, with wives and children, escorted us until we were outside the city;participial — genitive absolute — the whole congregation, families and all, walks them out
and kneeling down on the beach and praying,participial — preposed pair — leans across the verse-break on ἀπησπασάμεθα; the kneeling echoes Miletus (20:36)
6
we said farewell to one another;independent — reciprocal ἀλλήλους — both parties part
then we went aboard the ship,independent — the party boards
and they returned to their own homes.independent — contrastive ἐκεῖνοι δέ — the scene closes symmetrically, εἰς τὰ ἴδια (cf. Jn 19:27)
Ptolemais and Caesarea — Philip, Agabus, and the will of the Lord 21:7–14
vv. 7–9 — Ptolemais, then Caesarea: Philip and his prophesying daughters
7
And we, having completed the voyage from Tyre, arrived at Ptolemais;independent — emphatic Ἡμεῖς with the participle folded in — the sea-leg ends at Acco
and greeting the brothers,participial — preposed — leans on ἐμείναμεν; a church already there, unexplained
we stayed one day with them.independent — one day against Tyre's seven — the narrative presses toward Jerusalem
8
On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea,independent — the last leg — overland or coasting to the Roman capital of the province
and entering the house of Philip the evangelist,participial — preposed — leans on ἐμείναμεν; 'the evangelist' distinguishes him from the apostle
who was one of the Seven,participial — identifying participle — the Seven of Acts 6; last seen arriving at Caesarea (8:40)
we stayed with him.independent — Philip's house the base for the days that follow
9
Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.independent — parenthetical note — dative of possession; daughters prophesying per Joel 2:28 / Acts 2:17, recorded without a word quoted
vv. 10–11 — Agabus and the belt: the sign-act and its oracle
10
And as we were staying on for a number of days,participial — genitive absolute — leans on κατῆλθεν; the temporal backdrop
a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.independent — Agabus returns — the famine-prophet of 11:28, down from the hill country
11
And coming to us and taking Paul's belt,participial — preposed pair — leans on εἶπεν; the prophet picks up his prop
he bound his own feet and handsparticipial — the sign-act itself — OT prophetic theatre (Isa 20; Jer 13; Ezek 4–5); δήσας seeds the oracle's δήσουσιν
and said:independent — the speech-frame for the oracle
'Thus says the Holy Spirit:content — τάδε λέγει — the LXX messenger formula ('thus says YHWH') with the Spirit as speaker
So shall the Jews in Jerusalem bind the man to whom this belt belongs,content — fronted Τὸν ἄνδρα with its relative kept in line; οὕτως ties sign to fulfillment (v. 33: two chains)
and they will hand him over into the hands of the Gentiles.'content — παραδίδωμι — the passion-prediction verb (Lk 9:44; 18:32); Paul's way now runs Jesus' way
vv. 12–14 — the weeping entreaty, Paul's readiness, the submission
12
And when we heard these things,comparative — temporal ὡς — leans on παρεκαλοῦμεν
both we and the local people kept begging himindependent — iterative imperfect — even the narrator joins the pleading; οἱ ἐντόπιοι a NT hapax
not to go up to Jerusalem.content — articular τοῦ μή + infinitive — the content of the entreaty
13
Then Paul answered:independent — the resolve against the tears
'What are you doing,content — grieved rhetorical question, not rebuke
weeping and breaking my heart?participial — συνθρύπτω — a NT hapax, 'shattering'; their tears assault his resolve
For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.'content — οὐ μόνον … ἀλλὰ καί escalates δεθῆναι (accepting Agabus' word) to ἀποθανεῖν — suffering for the Name (9:16)
14
And since he would not be persuaded,participial — genitive absolute, causal — leans on ἡσυχάσαμεν; persuasion exhausted
we fell silent,independent — the silence is itself submission
saying:participial — the last word given to the community
'The will of the Lord be done.'content — the chapter's theological pivot — the Lord's Prayer and Gethsemane (Mt 6:10; Lk 22:42) in the church's mouth; fronted Τοῦ κυρίου
Jerusalem — James's counsel and the vow 21:15–26
vv. 15–17 — up to Jerusalem: Mnason's lodging, the glad welcome
15
Now after these days, having made our preparations, we were going up to Jerusalem.independent — the ascent begins — ἐπισκευασάμενοι a NT hapax for packing up; progressive imperfect
16
And some of the disciples from Caesarea also came along with us,independent — partitive τῶν μαθητῶν as subject — a Caesarean escort
bringing us to the man with whom we were to lodge,participial — compressed idiom — the relative's antecedent drawn into its own clause (= to Mnason, with whom …)
Mnason, a certain Cypriot, an early disciple.phrase modifier — dative apposition unpacking ᾧ — a Cypriot like Barnabas; ἀρχαῖος μαθητής, a believer from the beginning
17
And when we had arrived in Jerusalem,participial — genitive absolute — leans on ἀπεδέξαντο; the goal of the whole journey reached
the brothers welcomed us gladly.independent — ἀσμένως (NT hapax) — warmth first, before any rumor is named
vv. 18–20a — the report to James: God's deeds among the Gentiles
18
On the following day Paul went in with us to James,independent — processional imperfect εἰσῄει — the formal call on the Lord's brother
and all the elders were present.independent — a full leadership consultation; Peter unmentioned — James now presides
19
And after greeting them,participial — preposed — leans on ἐξηγεῖτο
he began relating one by oneindependent — imperfect ἐξηγεῖτο — an extended, point-by-point report (cf. 14:27)
the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.relative — attracted ὧν — God the agent, Paul's διακονία the mere instrument
20
And when they heard it, they began glorifying God,independent — doxology first — the standard Acts response to mission news
and they said to him:independent — the speech-frame — the whole counsel of vv. 20b–25 hangs beneath this εἶπόν
vv. 20b–25 — the elders' counsel: the myriads, the rumor, the four men, the decree
'You see, brother,content — fraternal vocative — a shared problem, not an accusation
how many tens of thousands there are among the Jews who have believed,content — indirect question — μυριάδες, hyperbolic scale; perfect πεπιστευκότων, settled believers
and all of them are zealots for the law;content — coordinate content — Torah-zeal (objective genitive), not the political movement
21
and they have been informed about youcontent — κατηχέω — a standing report drilled in, the rumor as received instruction
that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles apostasy from Moses,content — the charge — fronted ἀποστασίαν; Luke frames it as false inference from Paul's Gentile policy
telling themparticipial — the alleged manner of the teaching
not to circumcise their childrencontent — first specification — the covenant sign abandoned
nor to walk by the customs.content — second specification — περιπατεῖν, the Semitic walk-metaphor for a whole way of life
22
What then is to be done?content — deliberative question — the pastoral dilemma posed
They will certainly hearcontent — emphatic πάντως — the news cannot be contained
that you have come.content — perfect ἐλήλυθας — Paul is here, a present fact
23
Therefore do thiscontent — the counsel proper — decisive aorist imperative
that we tell you:relative — the relative unpacking the anticipatory τοῦτο
we have four mencontent — dative of possession — the plan's raw material
who have a vow upon themselves.participial — the Nazirite idiom (Num 6; cf. 18:18) — a vow awaiting its costly completion
24
Taking these men along,participial — preposed — leans on ἁγνίσθητι; Paul to sponsor them personally
purify yourself with themcontent — first imperative — ritual purification alongside the four
and pay their expenses,content — second imperative — funding the closing offerings, a recognized act of piety
so that they may shave their heads,purpose — ἵνα with future indicative — the vow's public completion (Num 6:18)
and all will knowpurpose — the plan's real goal — public knowledge against the rumor
that there is nothing to what they have been told about you,content — attracted ὧν again picking up κατηχήθησαν (v. 21) — the rumor has no substance
but that you yourself also walk in line,content — στοιχέω — Paul's own conformity, not just his tolerance of others'
keeping the law.participial — manner participle — pastoral demonstration, not soteriology (cf. 1 Cor 9:20)
25
But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we sent a letter,content — the reassurance — the decree of Acts 15 stands; nothing new is asked of Gentiles
having judgedparticipial — the Council's formal decision (15:19–20)
that they keep themselves from what is sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.'content — the four abstentions of 15:29 verbatim in substance — the table-fellowship charter
v. 26 — Paul complies
26
Then Paul took the men along,participial — preposed — leans on εἰσῄει; immediate, unprotesting compliance
and the next day, having purified himself with them,participial — the first imperative obeyed to the letter
he was going into the temple,independent — imperfect — repeated entries through the purification week; the setting of the coming riot
giving notice of the completion of the days of purification —participial — the official notification to the priests of the offering-date
until the offering should be presented for each one of them.comparative — temporal ἕως οὗ — the terminus: one offering per man (Num 6:14–15)
The temple riot and the arrest 21:27–36
vv. 27–29 — the seizure: the cry and the Trophimus misapprehension
27
Now as the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, having seen him in the temple, began stirring up the whole crowd,independent — the ironic timing carried in one sweep — the act of law-keeping almost done when Ephesian opponents (cf. 20:19) sight him; inceptive imperfect συνέχεον
and they laid hands on him,independent — the arrest-idiom — mob seizure, not lawful custody
28
crying out:participial — the manner of the seizure — clamor; everything shouted hangs beneath this participle
'Men of Israel, help!content — the covenant-address weaponized (cf. 2:22) — a cry to defend the holy place
This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place;content — charge one — people, law, temple: Stephen's indictment (6:13) returned on Paul; hyperbolic πάντας πανταχῇ
moreover he has even brought Greeks into the templecontent — charge two — past the soreg, a capital offense (the warning inscription survives); plural Ἕλληνας inflates one man
and has defiled this holy place.'content — perfect κεκοίνωκεν — a standing defilement alleged
29
— for they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him,cause — narrator's γάρ-aside hung under the shout it unmasks — pluperfect periphrastic: the sighting was in the city, before and elsewhere
whom they supposedrelative — ἐνόμιζον — assumption, not knowledge; the riot rests on an inference
that Paul had brought into the temple.content — proleptic ὃν … ὅτι — the false premise stated in full
vv. 30–32 — the city aroused, the dragging, the tribune's rescue
30
And the whole city was stirred,independent — the riot escapes the temple courts
and there was a rush of the people together,independent — συνδρομή — the mob-surge, vivid and rare
and seizing Paul,participial — preposed — leans on εἷλκον
they began dragging him outside the temple,independent — inceptive imperfect — sustained, forcible dragging
and immediately the doors were shut.independent — the gates closed behind him — the precinct sealed against the violence, and the temple closed on Paul in Acts
31
And while they were seeking to kill him,participial — genitive absolute — leans on ἀνέβη; lynching under way as the counter-plot starts
a report went up to the tribune of the cohortindependent — φάσις (NT hapax) — intelligence climbs to the Antonia, literally above the courts
that all Jerusalem was in confusion;content — retained present συγχύννεται — the report quoted live
32
who at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down upon them;relative — continuative relative carrying the mainline — ἐξαυτῆς, military immediacy; plural centurions = a large detachment
and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers,participial — preposed causal — leans on ἐπαύσαντο; the sight of Rome stops the blows
they stoppedindependent — the turning point of the rescue
beating Paul.participial — supplementary participle with παύομαι — the beating had been continuous
vv. 33–36 — two chains, the confused shouts, Αἶρε αὐτόν
33
Then the tribune came near,participial — preposed — leans on ἐπελάβετο
took hold of himindependent — the same verb as the mob's seizure (v. 30) — custody transfers from crowd to Rome
and orderedindependent — formal military command
that he be bound with two chains,content — Agabus fulfilled to the letter (v. 11 δήσουσιν) — a soldier on each wrist
and he began inquiringindependent — iterative imperfect — questioning bystander after bystander
who he might becontent — indirect question with oblique optative — Luke's literary register
and what he had done.content — perfect periphrastic — what standing offense is alleged
34
But some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another;independent — ἄλλοι ἄλλο — the same cacophony as the Artemis riot (19:32): a mob that cannot state its own charge
and since he could not learn the certain truth because of the uproar,participial — preposed causal — leans on ἐκέλευσεν; τὸ ἀσφαλές, the tribune's recurring quest (22:30; 25:26)
he orderedindependent — authority substitutes for inquiry
him to be brought into the barracks.content — the Antonia — Paul's custody begins; he will not walk free again in Acts
35
And when he came upon the steps,comparative — temporal ὅτε — the stairs up into the fortress, the platform of v. 40
it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd,independent — συνέβη + infinitive — the press so lethal the soldiers lift him bodily
36
for the multitude of the people kept following,cause — γάρ grounding the βία — the imperfect pictures the mob pressing behind
crying out:participial — constructio ad sensum — plural participle for the collective πλῆθος
'Away with him!'content — the passion-echo — the crowd's cry against Jesus before Pilate (Lk 23:18; Jn 19:15)
On the stairs — the request to speak and the great hush 21:37–40
vv. 37–38 — the Greek surprise and the Egyptian mistake
37
And as he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul says to the tribune:independent — historic present λέγει at the threshold — the temporal Μέλλων-phrase folded in; Paul seizes the moment
'May I say something to you?'content — polite εἰ-question of permission (cf. 22:25) — and it is asked in Greek
And he said:independent — the tribune's double-take
'Do you know Greek?content — the linguistic surprise — educated Greek from the supposed insurgent
38
Are you not then the Egyptiancontent — the mistaken identity — inferential ἄρα: the tribune's working theory named aloud
who before these days stirred up a revoltparticipial — the failed messianic rising under Felix (Josephus, J.W. 2.261–263; Ant. 20.169–172)
and led the four thousand men of the Sicarii out into the wilderness?'participial — σικάριοι — the dagger-men; Acts' four thousand against Josephus' thirty thousand
vv. 39–40 — Ταρσεύς of no insignificant city; the hush on the stairs
39
And Paul said:independent — the correction, calmly given
'I am a Jew, a man of Tarsus in Cilicia,content — emphatic Ἐγώ with solitary μέν — Jew, not Egyptian; Ταρσεύς, the provincial capital
a citizen of no insignificant city;phrase modifier — the litotes — οὐκ ἀσήμου, understated civic pride; πολίτης, a man of standing, not a vagrant
and I beg you,content — the petition — urgent but courteous
permit me to speak to the people.content — the hinge to the defense speech — the prisoner asks for the crowd that wanted him dead
40
And when he had given permission,participial — genitive absolute — leans on κατέσεισε; the arrested man is granted the platform
Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people;independent — ἑστώς on the stairs above the crowd — the orator's hand-wave for silence (12:17; 13:16)
and when a great silence fell,participial — genitive absolute — leans on προσεφώνησεν; the mob that howled Αἶρε αὐτόν goes still
he addressed them in the Hebrew language,independent — Ἑβραΐς here Aramaic, the vernacular — the choice that will deepen the hush (22:2)
saying —participial — the chapter ends suspended on λέγων: the defense speech of ch. 22 begins here
Analysis. The we-narrative sails this whole chapter, and the layout shows it as a flush-left column of first-person-plural itinerary aorists — ἤλθομεν, ἀνήχθημεν, κατήλθομεν, κατηντήσαμεν, ἀνεβαίνομεν — each verse loading its clause with forward-leaning aorist participles and genitive absolutes (εὑρόντες, ἀναφάναντες, ἐπιμενόντων ἡμερῶν, μὴ πειθομένου αὐτοῦ, πολλῆς σιγῆς γενομένης) before the verb strikes: Luke's travel-diary rhythm made visible. Against that column the speeches hang blue: Agabus' oracle steps down twice — εἶπεν, then the messenger-formula Τάδε λέγει τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον, then the two futures δήσουσιν/παραδώσουσιν that vv. 33 and 11 bind together — and James's whole counsel (vv. 20b–25) hangs at one indent under εἶπόν, so the myriads-report, the rumor, the four-men plan with its ἵνα-chain, and the as-for-the-Gentiles decree read as a single sustained address. Cruxes the layout takes a side on: διὰ τοῦ πνεύματος in v. 4 is kept as the content of the disciples' ἔλεγον — a prophetic disclosure Paul may weigh, not a veto he defies (so 20:22 and the τοῦ κυρίου τὸ θέλημα γινέσθω of v. 14, Gethsemane's own grammar, stand uncontradicted); the narrator's γάρ-aside of v. 29 is hung directly under the rioters' κράζοντες to show it unmasking their Trophimus charge as inference (ἐνόμιζον) the moment it is shouted; Αἶρε αὐτόν in v. 36 is tagged as the passion-echo it is (Lk 23:18); and the temporal ὡς/ὅτε/ἕως clauses are typed cmp and named temporal in their tags. The historic present λέγει lands at v. 37 just as Paul turns on the stairs, and the chapter ends suspended on λέγων — the hush holding for the defense speech of ch. 22.