‏ Acts 21:31-40

Chief captain; the Roman officer in command of the military forces at Jerusalem. Bound with two chains; a fulfilment of the prophecy, Ac 21:11. The castle; the fortress of Antonia, where the soldiers were stationed. The stairs; which led from the temple to the castle. The course which good men take to remove the prejudices and to conciliate the favor of the wicked, is sometimes the occasion of increased hostility, and more violent and deadly opposition. That Egyptian; this Egyptian is mentioned by Josephus, Antiq B 20, chap 8, sec 6; and Jewish Wars, B 2, chap 13, sec 5. Tarsus; Paul's native city. Chap Ac 9:11.

No mean city; Augustus the Roman emperor made it a free city, which released the citizens from tribute, and permitted them to be governed by their own laws. Josephus says it was the metropolis, and most renowned city of Cilicia, Antiq B 1, chap 6, sec 6; and Xenophon calls it a great and flourishing city.
The Hebrew tongue; the dialect of the Hebrew then spoken in Palestine.

‏ Acts 23:26-30

An army; a band of soldiers.

A Roman; a Roman citizen.
The persecution of peaceable citizens on account of their religion, of their reading the Bible, and judging of its meaning, is such an outrage as to be condemned even by heathen. When practised, it has ever been, and ever will be, a foul disgrace not only to the Christian, but to the civilized world.
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