Acts 21:40Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"When he had given permission, Paul, standing on the stairs." The place was very favorable for him, because he spoke from a height and because he was bound. What can compare with this sight, Paul speaking while bound with two chains? How was he not troubled or confused when he saw so great a crowd risen against him and the commander standing there? But he first allowed their fury to subside, and then began to speak. See how wisely he acted. As he did in the Epistle to the Hebrews, so also here. First of all, he disposes them favorably toward himself by their native language, and then by his meekness.

"Standing on the steps." The place itself helped him greatly, namely, that he spoke while standing high and while bound. To see Paul, bound with two chains, speaking to the people, what sight could equal this? How was he not afraid, looking upon such a multitude of excited people? See also Acts 22:2.

The Apostle was seized, and the enraged crowd would have torn him apart if the tribune, Lysias (Acts 23:26), commander of the Jerusalem garrison, had not heard of the popular disturbance and come to the scene with part of the troops entrusted to him. Thinking Paul truly guilty of something, the tribune approached, took him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then, unable to learn what the prisoner was accused of because of the disorderly shouting of the people, he ordered him to be brought into the fortress.

"No," Paul answered, "I am a Jew, a man of Tarsus, a citizen of no obscure city of Cilicia. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people." Such boldness from a man who had just been saved from imminent death at the hands of this very people struck Lysias. He allowed him to address the people with an explanation. The Apostle boldly stepped forward, motioned with his hand that he wished to speak, and when silence fell, addressed the people at length in the Hebrew language.

Having been disabused of his former supposition, and having become convinced that the Egyptian rebel was not before him, the tribune permits Paul to make a speech. He probably hopes thereby to clarify the matter further and quiet the popular disturbance.

“Having motioned with his hand”; see Acts 13:16. “There was a deep silence.” Such sudden transitions from noise to silence, and back again, usually occur in an agitated crowd.

Standing on the stairs; cf. v. 35. “The place also greatly favored him, since he spoke from above, as did the fact that he was bound.

What can compare with this sight, when Paul spoke bound with two chains?” (Chrysostom). “In the Hebrew language,” that is, in the Syro-Chaldean dialect of that time.

“First of all he disposes them toward himself by their native language” (Chrysostom). This had to arouse still greater attention and help establish deep silence (Acts 22:2).

Having said who he was, the Apostle Paul obtained from the commander permission to address the people. Since he was accustomed to speaking with crowds, the apostle made such a sign from the top of the terrace that all understood he wished to speak.

Therefore all fell silent, desiring to hear this unfortunate man whom many had recently beaten so mercilessly. Saint John Chrysostom, noting how Paul testified about himself before the commander, says:

“See how Paul, when he addresses outsiders, the Gentiles, does not refuse to make use of their laws. Here he points to his city, Tarsus of Cilicia.