Confusion spread through the whole city is literally “the whole city was stirred up” (see New English Bible “the whole city was in a turmoil” and An American Translation* “the whole city was thrown into confusion”). In some languages, however, one cannot speak of “confusion spreading.” One must say that “throughout the whole city people were being stirred up” or “people were beginning to riot throughout the whole city.”

Luke is very picturesque in his description of the events. Dragged translates a verb tense which describes progressive action in past time, whereas all the other verb tenses in this verse describe punctiliar action in past time. It is interesting to note how this lynch mob was particular in the way in which it went about trying to kill Paul: the people would not kill him within the temple precincts for this would have defiled the temple; rather, they dragged him outside and closed the door so he could not run back in for refuge. The passive expression, the temple doors were closed, may be rendered as “they closed the doors of the temple.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .