Acts 23:28

Act 23:28 . δέ : if we read τε Weiss regards it as closely connecting the wish of the chiliarch with the previous rescue affected by him, and as hoping to veil his conduct in the interim which was so open to censure. ἐνεκάλουν αὐτῷ , Act 19:38 , with dative of the person as here, and in classical Greek, cf. Sir 46:19 . In N.T. only in Luke and Paul, cf. Simcox, Language of the N.T. , p. 148. In the letter of Lysias Hilgenfeld omits Act 23:28-29 , as an addition of the “author to Theophilus”. Act 23:26 ; Act 23:30 , are quite sufficient, he thinks, for “military brevity,” whilst Act 23:28 could not have been written by Lysias since he would have written an untruth. But it is quite conceivable that the Roman would not only try to conceal his previous hastiness, but to commend himself to the governor as the protector of a fellow-citizen. Spitta omits Act 23:28 in the letter, and Jüngst also Act 23:29 . But Jüngst equally with Hilgenfeld declines to omit the whole letter as Clemen proposes.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

28. And when I would have known, &c.] The Rev. Ver. more literally “and desiring to know, &c.” The method by which the chief captain proposed to learn the charge against Paul was by scourging the prisoner. Cp. Act_22:24.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And when it was told me,.... As it was by Paul's sister's son,

how that the Jews laid wait for the man; had formed a conspiracy to take away his life, and laid a scheme in order to it, and at least intended, if they were not actually in ambush, to seize him as he should be brought from the castle to the sanhedrim:

I sent straightway to thee; the prisoner Paul, under a guard of soldiers; this he did directly, as soon as ever he heard of the design of the Jews; and he sent him to Felix, as being governor, to whom the judgment of this affair properly belonged, and who was best qualified for it, at least in the chief captain's account; and who doubtless consulted his own honour and safety, lest he should incur blame and disgrace, should a Roman have been slain through any neglect or want of care in him:

and gave commandment to his accusers also, to say before thee what they had against him; it is reasonable to conclude, that he said nothing of this to them, though he might have determined he would, till after Paul was sent away; otherwise the affair would have been discovered, which he desired might be concealed:

farewell; which is the conclusion of the epistle, and is a wish of health and happiness.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

Ver. 28. I brought him forth into their council] As being himself ignorant of their religion; and haply having as evil an opinion of it as Cicero had, who disdained at the Jews for their slighting the Roman superstition, and censured their religion as false, because they and their religion were in subjection to the Romans. {a}

{a} Gens illa quam chara Diis immortalibus esset docuit, quod est victa, quod elocata, quod servata. Cic. pro L. Fiacco.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The council understanding those questions (as he thought) best, and having yet retained some power fron the Romans concerning them.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Desiring to know for when 1 would have known, A.V.; down unto for forth into, A.V..

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

See notes on verse 23

J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Connecting Statement:

The chief captain ends his letter to Governor Felix.

General Information:

Here the word "I" refers to Claudius Lysias, the chief captain.

General Information:

The word "they" refers to the group of Jews who accused Paul.

General Information:

The word "you" is singular and refers to Governor Felix. (See: Forms of You)

that he was being accused about questions concerning

This can be stated in active form. AT: "that they were accusing him of questions about" (See: Active or Passive)

but that there was no accusation against him that deserved death or imprisonment

The abstract nouns "accusation," "death," and "imprisonment" can be stated as verbs. AT: "but nobody accused him of anything that should cause Roman authorities to kill him or to send him to prison" (See: Abstract Nouns)

Then it was made known to me

This can be stated in active form. AT: "Later I learned" (See: Active or Passive)

translationWords

accuse

council

law

prison

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

28. βουλόμενός τε ἐπιγνῶναι, and desiring to know. The method by which the chief captain proposed to satisfy this desire was by scourging the prisoner (cf. Act 22:24).

τὴν αἰτίαν δι’ ἥν, the cause wherefore. For which we had in Act 22:24 the attracted form δι’ ἥν αἰτίαν.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.