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Acts 22:22--23:30

Context

The Roman Commander Questions Paul

22:22 The crowd¹ was listening to him until he said this.² Then³ they raised their voices and shouted,⁴ “Away with this man⁵ from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!”⁶ 22:23 While they were screaming⁷ and throwing off their cloaks⁸ and tossing dust⁹ in the air, 22:24 the commanding officer¹⁰ ordered Paul¹¹ to be brought back into the barracks.¹² He told them¹³ to interrogate Paul¹⁴ by beating him with a lash¹⁵ so that he could find out the reason the crowd¹⁶ was shouting at Paul¹⁷ in this way. 22:25 When they had stretched him out for the lash,¹⁸ Paul said to the centurion¹⁹ standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen²⁰ without a proper trial?”²¹ 22:26 When the centurion²² heard this,²³ he went to the commanding officer²⁴ and reported it,²⁵ saying, “What are you about to do?²⁶ For this man is a Roman citizen.”²⁷ 22:27 So the commanding officer²⁸ came and asked²⁹ Paul,³⁰ “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”³¹ He replied,³² “Yes.” 22:28 The commanding officer³³ answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”³⁴ “But I was even³⁵ born a citizen,”³⁶ Paul replied.³⁷ 22:29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away³⁸ from him, and the commanding officer³⁹ was frightened when he realized that Paul⁴⁰ was⁴¹ a Roman citizen⁴² and that he had had him tied up.⁴³

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

22:30 The next day, because the commanding officer⁴⁴ wanted to know the true reason⁴⁵ Paul⁴⁶ was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council⁴⁷ to assemble. He then brought⁴⁸ Paul down and had him stand before them.

23:1 Paul looked directly⁴⁹ at the council⁵⁰ and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience⁵¹ before God to this day.” 23:2 At that⁵² the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near⁵³ Paul⁵⁴ to strike⁵⁵ him on the mouth. 23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!⁵⁶ Do⁵⁷ you sit there judging me according to the law,⁵⁸ and in violation of the law⁵⁹ you order me to be struck?” 23:4 Those standing near him⁶⁰ said, “Do you dare insult⁶¹ God’s high priest?” 23:5 Paul replied,⁶² “I did not realize,⁶³ brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”⁶⁴

23:6 Then when Paul noticed⁶⁵ that part of them were Sadducees⁶⁶ and the others Pharisees,⁶⁷ he shouted out in the council,⁶⁸ “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection⁶⁹ of the dead!” 23:7 When he said this,⁷⁰ an argument⁷¹ began⁷² between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 23:8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)⁷³ 23:9 There was a great commotion,⁷⁴ and some experts in the law⁷⁵ from the party of the Pharisees stood up⁷⁶ and protested strongly,⁷⁷ “We find nothing wrong⁷⁸ with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 23:10 When the argument became⁷⁹ so great the commanding officer⁸⁰ feared that they would tear Paul to pieces,⁸¹ he ordered the detachment⁸² to go down, take him away from them by force,⁸³ and bring him into the barracks.⁸⁴

23:11 The following night the Lord⁸⁵ stood near⁸⁶ Paul⁸⁷ and said, “Have courage,⁸⁸ for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem,⁸⁹ so you must also testify in Rome.”⁹⁰

The Plot to Kill Paul

23:12 When morning came,⁹¹ the Jews formed⁹² a conspiracy⁹³ and bound themselves with an oath⁹⁴ not to eat or drink anything⁹⁵ until they had killed Paul. 23:13 There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy.⁹⁶ 23:14 They⁹⁷ went⁹⁸ to the chief priests⁹⁹ and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath¹⁰⁰ not to partake¹⁰¹ of anything until we have killed Paul. 23:15 So now you and the council¹⁰² request the commanding officer¹⁰³ to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine¹⁰⁴ his case¹⁰⁵ by conducting a more thorough inquiry.¹⁰⁶ We are ready to kill him¹⁰⁷ before he comes near this place.”¹⁰⁸

23:16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush,¹⁰⁹ he came and entered¹¹⁰ the barracks¹¹¹ and told Paul. 23:17 Paul called¹¹² one of the centurions¹¹³ and said, “Take this young man to the commanding officer,¹¹⁴ for he has something to report to him.” 23:18 So the centurion¹¹⁵ took him and brought him to the commanding officer¹¹⁶ and said, “The prisoner Paul called¹¹⁷ me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 23:19 The commanding officer¹¹⁸ took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want¹¹⁹ to report to me?” 23:20 He replied,¹²⁰ “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council¹²¹ tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him. 23:21 So do not let them persuade you to do this,¹²² because more than forty of them¹²³ are lying in ambush¹²⁴ for him. They¹²⁵ have bound themselves with an oath¹²⁶ not to eat or drink anything¹²⁷ until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.”¹²⁸ 23:22 Then the commanding officer¹²⁹ sent the young man away, directing him,¹³⁰ “Tell no one that you have reported¹³¹ these things to me.” 23:23 Then¹³² he summoned¹³³ two of the centurions¹³⁴ and said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea¹³⁵ along with seventy horsemen¹³⁶ and two hundred spearmen¹³⁷ by¹³⁸ nine o’clock tonight,¹³⁹ 23:24 and provide mounts for Paul to ride¹⁴⁰ so that he may be brought safely to Felix¹⁴¹ the governor.”¹⁴² 23:25 He wrote¹⁴³ a letter that went like this:¹⁴⁴

23:26 Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor¹⁴⁵ Felix,¹⁴⁶ greetings. 23:27 This man was seized¹⁴⁷ by the Jews and they were about to kill him,¹⁴⁸ when I came up¹⁴⁹ with the detachment¹⁵⁰ and rescued him, because I had learned that he was¹⁵¹ a Roman citizen.¹⁵² 23:28 Since I wanted to know¹⁵³ what charge they were accusing him of,¹⁵⁴ I brought him down to their council.¹⁵⁵ 23:29 I found he¹⁵⁶ was accused with reference to controversial questions¹⁵⁷ about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.¹⁵⁸ 23:30 When I was informed¹⁵⁹ there would be a plot¹⁶⁰ against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges¹⁶¹ against him before you.

[22:22] ¹tn Grk “They were listening”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:22] ²tn Grk “until this word.”

[22:22] ³tn Grk “And.” To indicate the logical sequence, καί (kai) has been translated as “then” here.

[22:22] ⁴tn Grk “and said.”

[22:22] ⁵tn Grk “this one.”

[22:22] ⁶tn BDAG 491 s.v. καθήκω has “to be appropriate, come/reach to, be proper/fitting…Usu. impers. καθήκει it comes (to someone)…foll. by acc. and inf….οὐ καθῆκεν αὐτὸν ζῆν he should not be allowed to live Ac 22:22.”

[22:23] ⁷tn The participle κραυγαζόντων (kraugazontwn) has been translated temporally.

[22:23] ⁸tn Or “outer garments.”

[22:23] ⁹sn The crowd’s act of tossing dust in the air indicated they had heard something disturbing and offensive. This may have been a symbolic gesture, indicating Paul’s words deserved to be thrown to the wind, or it may have simply resulted from the fact they had nothing else to throw at him at the moment.

[22:24] ¹⁰tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (ciliarco") literally described the “commander of a thousand,” but it was used as the standard translation for the Latin tribunus militum or tribunus militare, the military tribune who commanded a cohort of 600 men.

[22:24] ¹¹tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:24] ¹²tn Or “the headquarters.” BDAG 775 s.v. παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”

[22:24] ¹³tn Grk “into the barracks, saying.” This is a continuation of the same sentence in Greek using the participle εἴπας (eipas), but due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence a new sentence was begun in the translation here. The direct object “them” has been supplied; it is understood in Greek.

[22:24] ¹⁴tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:24] ¹⁵sn To interrogate Paul by beating him with a lash. Under the Roman legal system it was customary to use physical torture to extract confessions or other information from prisoners who were not Roman citizens and who were charged with various crimes, especially treason or sedition. The lashing would be done with a whip of leather thongs with pieces of metal or bone attached to the ends.

[22:24] ¹⁶tn Grk “they”; the referent (the crowd) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:24] ¹⁷tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:25] ¹⁸tn Grk “for the thongs” (of which the lash was made). Although often translated as a dative of means (“with thongs”), referring to thongs used to tie the victim to the whipping post, BDAG 474-75 s.v. ἱμάς states that it “is better taken as a dat. of purpose for the thongs, in which case οἱ ἱμάντες = whips (Posidonius: 87 fgm. 5 Jac.; POxy. 1186, 2 τὴν διὰ τῶν ἱμάντων αἰκείαν. – Antiphanes 74, 8, Demosth. 19, 197 and Artem. 1, 70 use the sing. in this way).”

[22:25] ¹⁹sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[22:25] ²⁰tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[22:25] ²¹tn Or “a Roman citizen and uncondemned.” BDAG 35 s.v. ἀκατάκριτος has “uncondemned, without due process” for this usage.

[22:26] ²²sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[22:26] ²³tn The word “this” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[22:26] ²⁴tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.

[22:26] ²⁵tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[22:26] ²⁶tn Or perhaps, “What do you intend to do?” Although BDAG 627 s.v. μέλλω 1.c.α lists this phrase under the category “be about to, be on the point of,” it is possible it belongs under 1.c.γ, “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind…τί μέλλεις ποιεῖν; what do you intend to do?”

[22:26] ²⁷tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[22:27] ²⁸tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.

[22:27] ²⁹tn Grk “and said to.”

[22:27] ³⁰tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:27] ³¹tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[22:27] ³²tn Grk “He said.”

[22:28] ³³tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.

[22:28] ³⁴sn Sometimes Roman citizenship was purchased through a bribe (Dio Cassius, Roman History 60.17.4-9). That may well have been the case here.

[22:28] ³⁵tn BDAG 495-96 s.v. καί 2.b has “intensive: even…Ac 5:39; 22:28.”

[22:28] ³⁶tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[22:28] ³⁷tn Grk “Paul said.” This phrase has been placed at the end of the sentence in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[22:29] ³⁸tn BDAG 158 s.v. ἀφίστημι 2.b has “keep away…ἀπό τινος… Lk 4:13; Ac 5:38; 2 Cor 12:8…cp. Ac 22:29.” In context, the point would seem to be not that the interrogators departed or withdrew, but that they held back from continuing the flogging.

[22:29] ³⁹tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.

[22:29] ⁴⁰tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:29] ⁴¹tn This is a present tense (ἐστιν, estin) retained in indirect discourse. It must be translated as a past tense in contemporary English.

[22:29] ⁴²tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[22:29] ⁴³sn Had him tied up. Perhaps a reference to the chains in Acts 21:33, or the preparations for the lashing in Acts 22:25. A trial would now be needed to resolve the matter. The Roman authorities’ hesitation to render a judgment in the case occurs repeatedly: Acts 22:30; 23:28-29; 24:22; 25:20, 26-27. The legal process begun here would take the rest of Acts and will be unresolved at the end. The process itself took four years of Paul’s life.

[22:30] ⁴⁴tn Grk “he”; the referent (the commanding officer) has been supplied here in the translation for clarity.

[22:30] ⁴⁵tn Grk “the certainty, why.” BDAG 147 s.v. ἀσφαλής 2 has “τὸ ἀ. the certainty = the truth (in ref. to ferreting out the facts…ἵνα τὸ ἀ. ἐπιγνῶ) γνῶναι 21:34; 22:30.”

[22:30] ⁴⁶tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:30] ⁴⁷tn Grk “the whole Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[22:30] ⁴⁸tn Grk “and bringing.” The participle καταγαγών (katagagwn) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun in the translation, and καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to clarify the logical sequence.

[23:1] ⁴⁹tn Grk “Paul, looking directly at the council, said.” The participle ἀτενίσας (atenisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:1] ⁵⁰tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[23:1] ⁵¹tn BDAG 846 s.v. πολιτεύομαι 3 has “W. a double dat. συνειδήσει ἀγαθῇ πεπολίτευμαι τῷ θεῷ I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God Ac 23:1.”

[23:2] ⁵²tn Grk “and” (δέ, de); the phrase “at that” has been used in the translation to clarify the cause and effect relationship.

[23:2] ⁵³tn BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 2.b.α has “οἱ παρεστῶτες αὐτῷ those standing near him Ac 23:2.”

[23:2] ⁵⁴tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[23:2] ⁵⁵tn Or “hit” (‘strike’ maintains the wordplay with the following verse). The action was probably designed to indicate a rejection of Paul’s claim to a clear conscience in the previous verse.

[23:3] ⁵⁶sn You whitewashed wall. This was an idiom for hypocrisy – just as the wall was painted on the outside but something different on the inside, so this person was not what he appeared or pretended to be (L&N 88.234; see also BDAG 1010 s.v. τοῖχος). Paul was claiming that the man’s response was two-faced (Ezek 13:10-16; Matt 23:27-28). See also Deut 28:22.

[23:3] ⁵⁷tn Grk “And do.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[23:3] ⁵⁸tn The law refers to the law of Moses.

[23:3] ⁵⁹tn BDAG 769 s.v. παρανομέω has “παρανομῶν κελεύεις in violation of the law you order Ac 23:3.”

[23:4] ⁶⁰tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

[23:4] ⁶¹tn L&N 33.393 has for λοιδορέω (loidorew) “to speak in a highly insulting manner – ‘to slander, to insult strongly, slander, insult.’”

[23:5] ⁶²tn Grk “said.”

[23:5] ⁶³tn Or “know.”

[23:5] ⁶⁴sn A quotation from Exod 22:28. This text defines a form of blasphemy. Paul, aware of the fact that he came close to crossing the line, backed off out of respect for the law.

[23:6] ⁶⁵tn BDAG 200 s.v. γινώσκω 4 has “to be aware of someth., perceive, notice, realize”; this is further clarified by section 4.c: “w. ὅτι foll….Ac 23:6.”

[23:6] ⁶⁶sn See the note on Sadducees in 4:1.

[23:6] ⁶⁷sn See the note on Pharisee in 5:34.

[23:6] ⁶⁸tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[23:6] ⁶⁹tn That is, concerning the hope that the dead will be resurrected. Grk “concerning the hope and resurrection.” BDAG 320 s.v. ἐλπίς 1.b.α states, “Of Israel’s messianic hope Ac 23:6 (ἐ. καὶ ἀνάστασις for ἐ. τῆς ἀν. [obj. gen] as 2 Macc 3:29 ἐ. καὶ σωτηρία).” With an objective genitive construction, the resurrection of the dead would be the “object” of the hope.

[23:7] ⁷⁰tn The participle εἰπόντος (eiponto") has been translated temporally.

[23:7] ⁷¹tn Or “a dispute” (BDAG 940 s.v. στάσις 3).

[23:7] ⁷²tn Grk “there came about an argument.” This has been simplified to “an argument began”

[23:8] ⁷³tn BDAG 55 s.v. ἀμφότεροι 2 has “all, even when more than two are involved…Φαρισαῖοι ὁμολογοῦσιν τὰ ἀ. believe in them all 23:8.” On this belief see Josephus, J. W. 2.8.14 (2.163); Ant. 18.1.3 (18.14).

[23:9] ⁷⁴tn Or “clamor” (cf. BDAG 565 s.v. κραυγή 1.a, which has “there arose a loud outcry” here, and Exod 12:30).

[23:9] ⁷⁵tn Or “and some scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 4:5.

[23:9] ⁷⁶tn Grk “standing up.” The participle ἀναστάντες (anastante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:9] ⁷⁷tn Grk “protested strongly, saying.” L&N 39.27 has “διαμάχομαι: to fight or contend with, involving severity and thoroughness – ‘to protest strongly, to contend with.’…‘some scribes from the party of the Pharisees protested strongly’ Ac 23:9.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant and has not been translated.

[23:9] ⁷⁸sn “We find nothing wrong with this man.” Here is another declaration of innocence. These leaders recognized the possibility that Paul might have the right to make his claim.

[23:10] ⁷⁹tn This genitive absolute construction with the participle γινομένης (ginomenhs) has been taken temporally (it could also be translated as causal).

[23:10] ⁸⁰tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (ciliarco") literally described the “commander of a thousand,” but it was used as the standard translation for the Latin tribunus militum or tribunus militare, the military tribune who commanded a cohort of 600 men.

[23:10] ⁸¹tn Grk “that Paul would be torn to pieces by them.” BDAG 236 s.v. διασπάω has “of an angry mob μὴ διασπασθῇ ὁ Παῦλος ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν that Paul would be torn in pieces by them Ac 23:10.” The passive construction is somewhat awkward in English and has been converted to an equivalent active construction in the translation.

[23:10] ⁸²tn Normally this term means “army,” but according to BDAG 947 s.v. στράτευμα, “Of a smaller detachment of soldiers, sing. Ac 23:10, 27.” In the plural it can be translated “troops,” but it is singular here.

[23:10] ⁸³tn Or “to go down, grab him out of their midst.”

[23:10] ⁸⁴tn Or “the headquarters.” BDAG 775 s.v. παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”

[23:11] ⁸⁵sn The presence of the Lord indicated the vindicating presence and direction of God.

[23:11] ⁸⁶tn Grk “standing near Paul, said.” The participle ἐπιστάς (epistas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:11] ⁸⁷tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[23:11] ⁸⁸tn Or “Do not be afraid.”

[23:11] ⁸⁹map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[23:11] ⁹⁰sn Like Jesus went to Jerusalem, Paul would now go to Rome. This trip forms the concluding backdrop to Acts. This is the second notice about going to Rome (see Acts 19:21 for the first).

[23:12] ⁹¹tn Grk “when it was day.”

[23:12] ⁹²tn Grk “forming a conspiracy, bound.” The participle ποιήσαντες (poihsantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:12] ⁹³tn L&N 30.72 has ‘some Jews formed a conspiracy’ Ac 23:12”; BDAG 979 s.v. συστροφή 1 has “Judeans came together in a mob 23:12. But in the last pass. the word may also mean – 2. the product of a clandestine gathering, plot, conspiracy” (see also Amos 7:10; Ps 63:3).

[23:12] ⁹⁴tn Or “bound themselves under a curse.” BDAG 63 s.v. ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “trans. put under a curse τινά someone…pleonastically ἀναθέματι ἀ. ἑαυτόν Ac 23:14…ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.” On such oaths see m. Shevi’it 3:1-5. The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

[23:12] ⁹⁵tn The word “anything” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[23:13] ⁹⁶tn L&N 30.73 defines συνωμοσία (sunwmosia) as “a plan for taking secret action someone or some institution, with the implication of an oath binding the conspirators – ‘conspiracy, plot.’ …‘there were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy’ Ac 23:13.”

[23:14] ⁹⁷tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was translated by the third person plural pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.

[23:14] ⁹⁸tn Grk “going.” The participle προσελθόντες (proselqonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:14] ⁹⁹sn They went to the chief priests. The fact that the high priest knew of this plot and did nothing shows the Jewish leadership would even become accomplices to murder to stop Paul. They would not allow Roman justice to take its course. Paul’s charge in v. 3 of superficially following the law is thus shown to be true.

[23:14] ¹⁰⁰tn Or “bound ourselves under a curse.” BDAG 63 s.v. ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “trans. put under a curse τινά someone…pleonastically ἀναθέματι ἀ. ἑαυτόν Ac 23:14…ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.” The pleonastic use ἀναθέματι ἀνεθεματίσαμεν (literally “we have cursed ourselves with a curse”) probably serves as an intensifier following Semitic usage, and is represented in the translation by the word “solemn.” On such oaths see m. Nedarim 3:1, 3.

[23:14] ¹⁰¹tn This included both food and drink (γεύομαι [geuomai] is used of water turned to wine in John 2:9).

[23:15] ¹⁰²tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[23:15] ¹⁰³tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.

[23:15] ¹⁰⁴tn Or “decide.” BDAG 227 s.v. διαγινώσκω has “ἀκριβέστερον τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ to make a more thorough examination of his case Ac 23:15.”

[23:15] ¹⁰⁵tn Grk “determine the things about him.”

[23:15] ¹⁰⁶tn The expression “more thorough inquiry” reflects the comparative form of ἀκριβέστερον (akribesteron).

[23:15] ¹⁰⁷sn “We are ready to kill him.” Now those Jews involved in the conspiracy, along with the leaders as accomplices, are going to break one of the ten commandments.

[23:15] ¹⁰⁸tn The words “this place” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[23:16] ¹⁰⁹tn Or “plot” (BDAG 334 s.v. ἐνέδρα).

[23:16] ¹¹⁰tn Grk “coming and entering…, he told.” The participles παραγενόμενος (paragenomeno") and εἰσελθών (eiselqwn) have been translated as finite verbs due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:16] ¹¹¹tn Or “the headquarters.” BDAG 775 s.v. παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”

[23:17] ¹¹²tn Grk “calling…Paul said.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:17] ¹¹³sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[23:17] ¹¹⁴tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.

[23:18] ¹¹⁵tn Grk “he”; the referent (the centurion) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[23:18] ¹¹⁶tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.

[23:18] ¹¹⁷tn Grk “calling.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:19] ¹¹⁸tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.

[23:19] ¹¹⁹tn Grk “you have,” but the expression “have to report” in English could be understood to mean “must report” rather than “possess to report.” For this reason the nearly equivalent expression “want to report,” which is not subject to misunderstanding, was used in the translation.

[23:20] ¹²⁰tn Grk “He said.”

[23:20] ¹²¹tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[23:21] ¹²²tn Grk “do not be persuaded by them.” The passive construction μὴ πεισθῇς αὐτοῖς (mh peisqh" autoi") has been converted to an active construction in the translation, and the phrase “to do this” supplied to indicate more clearly the object of their persuasion.

[23:21] ¹²³tn Grk “forty men of them.” In the expression ἐξ αὐτῶν ἄνδρες (ex autwn andre") “men” is somewhat redundant and has not been included in the English translation.

[23:21] ¹²⁴tn Grk “are lying in wait for him” (BDAG 334 s.v. ἐνεδρεύω); see also v. 16.

[23:21] ¹²⁵tn Grk “for him, who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“who”) was translated by the third person plural pronoun (“they”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.

[23:21] ¹²⁶tn Or “bound themselves under a curse.” BDAG 63 s.v. ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “trans. put under a curse τινά someone… ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.”

[23:21] ¹²⁷tn The word “anything” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[23:21] ¹²⁸tn Grk “waiting for your approval,” “waiting for your agreement.” Since it would be possible to misunderstand the literal translation “waiting for your approval” to mean that the Jews were waiting for the commander’s approval to carry out their plot or to kill Paul (as if he were to be an accomplice to their plot), the object of the commander’s approval (their request to bring Paul to the council) has been specified in the translation as “their request.”

[23:22] ¹²⁹tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.

[23:22] ¹³⁰tn BDAG 760 s.v. παραγγέλλω has “to make an announcement about someth. that must be done, give orders, command, instruct, direct of all kinds of persons in authority, worldly rulers, Jesus, the apostles…παραγγέλλειν w. an inf. and μή comes to mean forbid to do someth.: π. τινί w. aor. inf. Lk 5:14; 8:56; without the dat., which is easily supplied fr. the context Ac 23:22.” However, if the direct discourse which follows is to be retained in the translation, a different translation must be used since it is awkward to introduce direct discourse with the verb to forbid. Thus the alternative to direct was used.

[23:22] ¹³¹tn On this verb, see BDAG 325-26 s.v. ἐμφανίζω 2. The term was frequently used of an official report to authorities. In modern terms, this was a police tip.

[23:23] ¹³²tn Grk “And.” Since this represents a response to the reported ambush, καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the logical sequence.

[23:23] ¹³³tn Grk “summoning…he said.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:23] ¹³⁴sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[23:23] ¹³⁵sn Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in Acts 10:1. This was a journey of about 65 mi (just over 100 km).

[23:23] ¹³⁶tn Or “cavalrymen.”

[23:23] ¹³⁷tn A military technical term of uncertain meaning. BDAG 217 s.v. δεξιολάβος states, “a word of uncertain mng., military t.t., acc. to Joannes Lydus…and Theophyl. Sim., Hist. 4, 1 a light-armed soldier, perh. bowman, slinger; acc. to a scholion in CMatthaei p. 342 body-guard….Spearman Goodspd., NRSV; ‘security officer’, GDKilpatrick, JTS 14, ’63, 393f.”

[23:23] ¹³⁸tn Grk “from.”

[23:23] ¹³⁹tn Grk “from the third hour of the night.”

[23:24] ¹⁴⁰tn Grk “provide mounts to put Paul on.”

[23:24] ¹⁴¹sn Felix the governor was Antonius Felix, a freedman of Antonia, mother of the Emperor Claudius. He was the brother of Pallas and became procurator of Palestine in a.d. 52/53. His administration was notorious for its corruption, cynicism, and cruelty. According to the historian Tacitus (History 5.9) Felix “reveled in cruelty and lust, and wielded the power of a king with the mind of a slave.”

[23:24] ¹⁴²tn Grk “Felix the procurator.” The official Roman title has been translated as “governor” (BDAG 433 s.v. ἡγεμών 2).

[23:25] ¹⁴³tn Grk “writing.” Due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun here in the translation, supplying “he” (referring to the commanding officer, Claudius Lysias) as subject. The participle γράψας (grayas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:25] ¹⁴⁴tn Grk “having this form,” “having this content.” L&N 33.48 has “γράψσς ἐπιστολὴν ἔχουσαν τὸν τύπον τοῦτον ‘then he wrote a letter that went like this’ Ac 23:25. It is also possible to understand ἐπιστολή in Ac 23:25 not as a content or message, but as an object (see 6.63).”

[23:26] ¹⁴⁵tn Grk “Procurator.” The official Roman title has been translated as “governor” (BDAG 433 s.v. ἡγεμών 2).

[23:26] ¹⁴⁶sn Governor Felix. See the note on Felix in v. 24.

[23:27] ¹⁴⁷tn The participle συλλημφθέντα (sullhmfqenta) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. The remark reviews events of Acts 21:27-40.

[23:27] ¹⁴⁸tn Grk “and was about to be killed by them.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[23:27] ¹⁴⁹tn Or “approached.”

[23:27] ¹⁵⁰tn Normally this term means “army,” but according to BDAG 947 s.v. στράτευμα, “Of a smaller detachment of soldiers, sing. Ac 23:10, 27.” In the plural it can be translated “troops,” but it is singular here.

[23:27] ¹⁵¹tn In Greek this is a present tense retained in indirect discourse.

[23:27] ¹⁵²tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[23:28] ¹⁵³tn Or “determine.”

[23:28] ¹⁵⁴tn Grk “to know the charge on account of which they were accusing him.” This has been simplified to eliminate the prepositional phrase and relative pronoun δι᾿ ἣν (di’ }hn) similar to L&N 27.8 which has “‘I wanted to find out what they were accusing him of, so I took him down to their Council’ Ac 23:28.”

[23:28] ¹⁵⁵tn Grk “their Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[23:29] ¹⁵⁶tn Grk “whom I found.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been changed to a personal pronoun (“he”) and a new sentence begun in the translation at this point.

[23:29] ¹⁵⁷tn BDAG 428 s.v. ζήτημα states, “in our lit. only in Ac, w. the mng. it still has in Mod. Gk. (controversial) question, issue, argument…Ac 15:2; 26:3. ζ. περί τινος questions about someth.…18:15; 25:19. – In 23:29, since περί had already been used, the subj. of the discussion is added in the gen. ζ. τοῦ νόμου αὐτῶν.”

[23:29] ¹⁵⁸tn Grk “but having no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.” BDAG 273-74 s.v. ἔγκλημα 1 has “legal t.t.…ἔ. ἄξιον θανάτου ἢ δεσμῶν a charge deserving death or imprisonment 23:29.”

[23:30] ¹⁵⁹tn Grk “It being revealed to me.” The participle μηνυθείσης (mhnuqeish") has been taken temporally.

[23:30] ¹⁶⁰tn The term translated “plot” here is a different one than the one in Acts 23:16 (see BDAG 368 s.v. ἐπιβουλή).

[23:30] ¹⁶¹tn Grk “the things against him.” This could be rendered as “accusations,” “grievances,” or “charges,” but since “ordered his accusers to state their accusations” sounds redundant in English, “charges” was used instead.