Lexical Summary katatrechó: To run down, to run against, to pursue Original Word: κατατρέχω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance run down. From kata and trecho; to run down, i.e. Hasten from a tower -- run down. see GREEK kata see GREEK trecho NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and trechó Definition to run down NASB Translation ran down (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2701: κατατρέχωκατατρέχω: 2 aorist κατέδραμον; to run down, hasten down: ἐπί τινας, to quell a tumult, Acts 21:32. (Herodotus on.) STRONGS NT 2701a: καταυγάζω [καταυγάζω: 1 aorist infinitive καταυγασαι; to beam down upon; to shine forth, shine brightly: 2 Corinthians 4:4 L marginal reading Tr marginal reading, where others αὐγάσαι which see; cf. φωτισμός, b.; (transitive, Wis. 17:5, etc.; intransitive, 1 Macc. 6:39; Heliodorus 5, 31).] Strong’s Greek 2701 appears once in the New Testament, Acts 21:32: “Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul” (Berean Standard Bible). The verb paints the picture of a rapid, decisive descent by the Roman chiliarch from the nearby Antonia Fortress onto the Temple platform, interrupting the mob’s violence against the apostle. Historical Background The Antonia Fortress adjoined the northwest corner of the Temple complex, connected by stairways that allowed troops to intervene in disturbances among worshipers. Josephus recounts frequent Roman surveillance during feast days to quell unrest. The commander’s swift “running down” underscores Rome’s determination to preserve public order during the volatile Pentecost season, when thousands of pilgrims filled Jerusalem. Literary Setting in Acts Luke has been showing Paul moving inexorably toward Jerusalem (Acts 19:21; 20:22). Acts 21:27–36 forms the narrative hinge that propels Paul from free-ranging missionary to Roman prisoner-ambassador. The chiliarch’s sudden descent (κατέδραμεν) becomes the providential means God employs to spare Paul’s life so that the promise of Acts 23:11—“you must testify in Rome also”—can be fulfilled. Luke’s vocabulary of speed and urgency matches the heightened tension of the scene and marks a turning point from Jewish hostility to Roman custody. Divine Providence through Civil Authority Although the Empire will later chain him, here the Empire rescues him. Scripture consistently affirms God’s sovereignty over rulers (Proverbs 21:1; Romans 13:1). The lone use of 2701 quietly illustrates how human governments, even pagan ones, can be instruments of divine protection for God’s servants when their mission aligns with His redemptive plan. Protection of Gospel Witnesses Paul had just offered a personal testimony on the Temple steps (Acts 21:37–40) and will deliver further defenses before the Sanhedrin, governors, and a king. The chiliarch’s rapid descent preserves the witness. Throughout Acts, God ensures the continuity of proclamation: jailbreak in Philippi (Acts 16), earthquake-free release in Corinth (Acts 18:10), angelic rescue for Peter (Acts 12), and now military intervention for Paul. The pattern teaches that gospel advance may encounter violent opposition, yet nothing can thwart the sovereign intention to bring the message “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Vigilance and Responsiveness: The chiliarch illustrates decisive leadership in volatile moments. Christian leaders similarly must move quickly to protect God’s flock (Acts 20:28). Typological Echoes The dramatic descent foreshadows a greater “descent” when the Lord Himself will intervene for His people (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Just as the chiliarch’s arrival halted the mob, Christ’s return will finally end all persecution against His saints. Summary Strong’s 2701, though used only once, captures a critical moment in redemptive history: God’s swift, unexpected preservation of His apostle through secular power, ensuring the gospel’s march from Jerusalem to Rome. The term reminds believers that the Lord of missions commands every step—sometimes by sending angels, other times by sending soldiers. |
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