What does Acts 21:33 mean?
Paul is in the temple, in part trying to disprove lies that he has abandoned the Jewish faith. He is helping a group of men complete their Nazirite vow. Jews from modern-day Turkey spot him and assume he has brought a Gentile from their district into the temple. The accusers cry out that Paul "brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place" (Acts 21:28). The crowd responds by dragging Paul out of the temple so they can beat him to death without spilling his blood inside (Acts 21:29–31).On the northwest corner of the temple mount sits the Antonia Fortress. This is the barracks for the Roman military outpost in Jerusalem. Word of the disturbance reaches the tribune, and he runs down with officers and soldiers to break up the riot (Acts 21:31–32). As often happens in such an event, there is more noise than knowledge; even though the tribune asks what is happening, everyone tells him something different. He chains Paul and has him carried to the barracks to interrogate him (Acts 21:34–36).
Maybe two weeks before, Paul had been visiting Philip the Evangelist in Caesarea Maritima on the coast of Judea. Philip has four daughters who apparently prophesied what the Holy Spirit had already warned Paul: when he reaches Jerusalem, he will be arrested. The famous prophet Agabus then came down from the hills of Judea to say the same thing with a little more flair. He took Paul's belt, wrapped it around his own feet and hands, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles'" (Acts 21:8–11).
Some question the accuracy of the Bible because the specific actions taken by Agabus don't perfectly match every detail of Paul's experience. The Jews didn't voluntarily give Paul to the Romans. There's no indication that they tied Paul's hands and feet with his belt; the Romans bound him in chains. That was not the point of the prophecy, however. The Jews "bind" Paul by containing him and restricting his movements. Despite being forced, they do hand him over to the soldiers. And his wrists are literally bound.
The prophecy the Holy Spirit gave Paul, Philip's daughters, and Agabus is fulfilled.
