Acts 21:37 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?— St. Paul's addressing himself in Greek to the chief captain surprised him a good deal, as he took him for an Egyptian impostor; upon which he said to him with some astonishment, "What then! can you speak Greek? Are not you that Egyptian, who some time ago made a disturbance in this country, and, under the pretence of being a mighty prophet, led out into the wilderness four thousand of the sicarii?" (σικαριων) a kind of assassins, so called from the daggers or small crooked swords which they hid under their coats: for the Latin word sica, signifies a short sword or small dagger. These Sicarii, or assassins, came to Jerusalem, under a pretence of worshipping God at the temple, but they were so audacious, as to murder men in the day-time, in the middle of the city; and at the festivals moreespecially, when multitudes came thither from all parts, they would mix with the crowd, and with their private daggers stab their enemies:andthen, to conceal their wickedness, they would seem as full of indignation against the authors of such crimes as any of the people; by which means they continued for some time unsuspected: but being employed by the governor Felix to murder Jonathan the high-priest, and consequently escaping with impunity for so notorious a crime, they became more bold and insolent, and slew great numbers at every festival; some out of private revenge, but others as hired to it. And these slaughters theycommitted, not only in the city, but also in the temple itself, making no scruple of violating that holy place. Four thousand of these men the Egyptian impostor here spoken of led out from Jerusalem; and going into the country, and having raised his reputation amongthe people, he gathered together a great multitude, which amounted at least to thirty thousand men. It is probable, that before he left the city, he had so concerted matters with some friends whom he left behind him, as to entertain hopes, that, upon his return, his design would be favoured by great numbers of the Jews in Jerusalem, and that he should have no opposition from any but the Romans. Having assembled a sufficient number, he brought them round out of the wilderness up to the mount of Olives, whence he intended to force his way into Jerusalem; for, when he came thither, he promised his deluded followers that they should see the walls of the city fall down at his command. However, he hoped, by surprise, to have attacked and beaten the Roman guards, and then designed to bring the people into subjection, and govern them bythe help of his armed associates. Upon his arrival at the mount of Olives, Felix came suddenly out upon him, with a large body of the Roman soldiers, both horse and foot, and the citizens in general prepared also to defend themselves against him. This speedy and general opposition so surprised him, that he dared not venture an engagement; but presently fled away with a body of his most trusty friends, as is usual in such cases. The Roman soldiers were ordered to engage with those in particular, neglecting the rest, who were only a confused multitude, and who immediately made off as they could by different ways. All accounts agree that the Egyptian himself escaped, though his attempt came to nothing. Upon a review of this account, which is taken from Josephus, &c. the reader will remark the great accuracy with which St. Luke has represented Lysias speaking of this matter. The men were led into the wilderness; the impostor's name was unknown, he being only called that Egyptian: he had escaped alive, and most of his followers had deserted him; so that the tumult of the Jews about him would have been no unnatural circumstance, since he had long ceased to be their idol.