John Calvin Commentary Acts 21:34

"And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd: and when he could not know the certainty for the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle." — Acts 21:34 (ASV)

Some cried one thing, and some another. The madness of the raging people betrays itself on all sides. They make horrible outcries, some of which contradicted others. Nevertheless, with one accord, they desire to have him, who was convicted of no offense, put to death. Meanwhile, we need not doubt that they were blinded by an appearance of holy zeal.

But the well-known truth of the cause makes men truly zealous, just as it makes them true martyrs of God; however, rage betrays devilish madness.

Since mention is made here of the camp or fortress, we must know that the soldiers, who were placed to guard the city, had a place that was trenched and fortified on all sides. This place they could defend as if it were a castle, and from it, they could repel all assaults if any sedition arose.

For it would not have been good for them to be dispersed here and there in various inns, since the people were treacherous and the city troublesome. And from this we gather that the place was high, because Luke says that when they came to the steps, Paul was carried by the soldiers.

And whether the soldiers lifted Paul up high so that they might bring him safely to the station or camp, or he was tossed about by the violence of the crowd, this was no act of favor. But the greater the cruelty of those who followed him, the more plainly God declared that He was favorable to His servant in sparing his life, lest, if he had been murdered in the tumult, his death would have lacked its proper fruit.