Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
All the city was shaken (ekinhqh h poliv olh). First aorist passive of kinew, common verb for violent motion and emotion. See also Acts 24:5 where the word is used by Tertullus of Paul as the stirrer up of riots!
The people ran together (egeneto sundromh tou laou). Rather, There came a running together (sun-dromh from sun-trexw) of the people. The cry spread like wildfire over the city and there was a pell-mell scramble or rush to get to the place of the disturbance.
They laid hold on Paul (epilabomenoi tou Paulou). Second aorist middle participle of epilambanomai with the genitive (cf. epebalan in verse Acts 21:27).
Dragged (eilkon). Imperfect active of elkw (and also elkuw), old verb to drag or draw. Imperfect tense vividly pictures the act as going on. They were saving the temple by dragging Paul outside. Curiously enough both epilabomenoi and eilkusan occur in Acts 16:19 about the arrest of Paul and Silas in Philippi.
Straightway the doors were shut (euqewv ekleisqhsan ai qurai). With a bang and at once. First aorist (effective) passive of kleiw. The doors between the inner court and the court of the Gentiles. But this was only the beginning, the preparation for the real work of the mob. They did not wish to defile the holy place with blood. The doors were shut by the Levites.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 21:30:
Acts 7:57
Acts 16:19
Acts 21:18
Acts 21:20
Acts 21:33
Acts 22:22
Acts 24:6
Acts 24:6
James 2:6
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