Topical Bible: Temple: Herod the Great's Temple: Paul is Apprehended In

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Herod the Great's Temple, often referred to as the Second Temple, was a grand reconstruction of the original temple built by Zerubbabel. Herod's ambitious project began around 20-19 BC and was not fully completed until long after his death, around AD 63. This temple stood as a central place of worship and a symbol of Jewish identity until its destruction in AD 70 by the Romans.

The Temple was not only a religious center but also a focal point of Jewish cultural and social life. It was here that significant events in the New Testament unfolded, including the apprehension of the Apostle Paul, a pivotal moment in early Christian history.

Paul's Apprehension in the Temple

The Apostle Paul, a devout Jew and a Roman citizen, was a key figure in the spread of Christianity in the first century. His missionary journeys and epistles form a substantial part of the New Testament. Paul's apprehension in the Temple is a significant event recorded in the Book of Acts, highlighting the tensions between early Christians and Jewish authorities.

In Acts 21:27-36 , the narrative describes how Paul, upon returning to Jerusalem, went to the Temple to fulfill a vow. However, some Jews from Asia, who had previously opposed him, saw him in the Temple and stirred up the crowd against him. They accused Paul of teaching against the Jewish people, the Law, and the Temple itself, and of bringing Greeks into the Temple, thereby defiling it.

The passage states: "When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, 'Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.'" (Acts 21:27-28).

The uproar led to a violent reaction from the crowd, who dragged Paul out of the Temple and attempted to kill him. The commotion reached the Roman commander, who intervened with soldiers to stop the beating and arrest Paul. The commander ordered Paul to be bound with two chains, fulfilling the prophecy of Agabus, who had earlier warned Paul of his impending imprisonment (Acts 21:10-11).

Paul's arrest in the Temple set off a series of trials and defenses, during which he testified about his faith and mission. This event marked the beginning of his journey to Rome, where he would continue to witness for Christ despite being a prisoner.

Significance

Paul's apprehension in Herod's Temple underscores the early Christian struggle for acceptance within the Jewish community and the broader Roman world. It highlights the fulfillment of prophecies and the sovereign plan of God in using Paul's imprisonment to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. The event also illustrates the volatile atmosphere in Jerusalem during this period, where religious, cultural, and political tensions frequently erupted into violence.

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Acts 21:33
Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
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Library

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of ...
... his, which revived the fallacies of Paul of Samosata ... remind Constantius very broadly
that great interests were ... Faith which we confessed and apprehended at our ...
/.../introduction chapter i the life and.htm