Acts 22:26-30

Context
22:26 When the centurion¹ heard this,² he went to the commanding officer³ and reported it,⁴ saying, “What are you about to do?⁵ For this man is a Roman citizen.”⁶ 22:27 So the commanding officer⁷ came and asked⁸ Paul,⁹ “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”¹⁰ He replied,¹¹ “Yes.” 22:28 The commanding officer¹² answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”¹³ “But I was even¹⁴ born a citizen,”¹⁵ Paul replied.¹⁶ 22:29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away¹⁷ from him, and the commanding officer¹⁸ was frightened when he realized that Paul¹⁹ was²⁰ a Roman citizen²¹ and that he had had him tied up.²²

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

22:30 The next day, because the commanding officer²³ wanted to know the true reason²⁴ Paul²⁵ was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council²⁶ to assemble. He then brought²⁷ Paul down and had him stand before them.

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

[22:26] ²tn 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] ³tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.

[22:26] ⁴tn 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] ⁵tn 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] ⁶tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[22:27] ⁷tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.

[22:27] ⁸tn Grk “and said to.”

[22:27] ⁹tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:27] ¹⁰tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[22:27] ¹¹tn Grk “He said.”

[22:28] ¹²tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.

[22:28] ¹³sn 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] ¹⁴tn BDAG 495-96 s.v. καί 2.b has “intensive: even…Ac 5:39; 22:28.”

[22:28] ¹⁵tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[22:28] ¹⁶tn Grk “Paul said.” This phrase has been placed at the end of the sentence in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[22:29] ¹⁷tn 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] ¹⁸tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.

[22:29] ¹⁹tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:29] ²⁰tn This is a present tense (ἐστιν, estin) retained in indirect discourse. It must be translated as a past tense in contemporary English.

[22:29] ²¹tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[22:29] ²²sn 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] ²³tn Grk “he”; the referent (the commanding officer) has been supplied here in the translation for clarity.

[22:30] ²⁴tn 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] ²⁵tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:30] ²⁶tn Grk “the whole Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[22:30] ²⁷tn 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.