Acts 23:34

Act 23:34. Ἐκ ποίας, from what province) Paul was a Roman citizen: on this account Felix asks him as to the province which he came from.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Act 23:34 . ἀναγνοὺς , see reading in [376] text. ποίας : of what kind of province, imperial or senatorial, as the governor desired to complete the report, cf. Act 23:27 . Blass takes it as simply = τίνος , as in Act 4:7 . It appears that during the first century, although perhaps with variations from time to time, Cilicia formed part of the great Roman province Syria-Cilicia-Phœnice, cf. “Cilicia” (Ramsay), Hastings’ B.D. A procurator of Judæa like Felix was only subordinate to the governor of Syria inasmuch as the latter could bring his supreme power to bear in cases of necessity. The military command and the independent jurisdiction of the procurator gave him practically sole power in all ordinary transactions, but the governor could take the superior command if he had reason to fear revolutionary or other serious difficulties. Schürer, Jewish People , div. i., vol. ii., p. 44 ff., E.T. ἐπαρχίας : the word is used to describe either a larger province, or an appendage to a larger province, as Judæa was to that of Syria, see Schürer, u. s. , and Grimm-Thayer, sub v.

[376] R(omana), in Blass, a first rough copy of St. Luke.

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

asked of what province he was--the letter describing him as a Roman citizen.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(34) He asked of what province he was.—The question was a natural one for a procurator of Judæa to ask as to any prisoner brought before him. (Comp. Pilate’s question in Luk_23:6.) It does not appear why Felix was ready to take cognisance of a matter which apparently, to judge by the precedent set by Pilate, belonged to the jurisdiction of another. Perhaps he had no motive for conciliating the favour of the governor of Cilicia, or thought that the nature of the accusation over-ruled the nationality of the accused.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

34. And when the governor had read the letter] The oldest MSS. have nothing either for “the governor” or “the letter.” Read (with Rev. Ver.) “And when he had read it.”

of what province he was] Cilicia had been at one time, and perhaps still was, attached to the province of Syria. It was so in the time of Quirinus. This will explain why at once Felix without question decided that, at the proper time, he would hear the cause.

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.

34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

Ver. 34. Of what province he was] So the Romans called the countries by them subdued; looking upon themselves as lords of the world, Luk 2:1. {See Trapp in "Luk 2:1"}

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.

Of what province he was - Greek: of what heparchy ἐπαρχίας eparchias he was. He knew from the letter of Lysias that he was a Roman, but he was not informed of what place or province he was. This he doubtless did in order to ascertain whether he properly belonged to his jurisdiction. Roman provinces were districts of country which were entrusted to the jurisdiction of procurators. How far the jurisdiction of Felix extended is not certainly known. It appears, however, that it included Cilicia.

Was of Cilicia - Tarsus, the birthplace of Paul, was in this province, Act 21:39.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

He asked of what province he was; Palestine and the countries thereabouts being divided into several heptarchies or jurisdictions, the governors were very loth to infringe the limits of one another.

Of Cilicia; a country in Asia Minor, in which was Tarsus where Paul was born, and from his birth place he is reckoned to belong to that province.

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

34. What province—The first question with a Roman governor, in order to be sure that he trespassed on no other man’s jurisdiction.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

He for the governor, A.V. and T.R.; it for the fetter, A.V. Province; ejparcia, only here and in Act_25:1. A general word for a government, most properly applied to an imperial province.

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 31

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.

General Information:

Here the first and second words "he" refer to Governor Felix, the third word "he" and the word "him" refer to Paul, and the last word "he" refers to Governor Felix.

General Information:

The words "you" and your" refer to Paul.

he asked what province Paul was from. When

This can be stated as a direct quotation. AT: "he asked Paul, 'What province are you from?' When" (See: Direct and Indirect Quotations)

When he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said

This can be stated as a direct quotation. AT: "Paul said, 'I am from Cilicia.' Then the governor said" (See: Direct and Indirect Quotations)

I will hear you fully

"I will listen to all you have to say"

he commanded him to be kept

This can be stated in active form. AT: "he commanded soldiers to keep him" or "commanded soldiers to restrain him"

translationWords

govern

province

Paul

Cilicia

accuse

Herod Antipas

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

34. ὁ ἡγεμὼν omitted with אABE. Not represented in Vulg.

34. ἐκ ποίας ἐπαρχίας ἐστίν, of what province he was. Cilicia had been at one time, and perhaps still was, attached to the province of Syria. It was so in the time of Quirinus. This will explain why at once Felix without question decided that, at the proper time, he would hear the cause.

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.

Of what province [εκ ποιας επαρχιας] . Rather, "from what kind of a province;" whether senatorial or imperial. See Introduction to Luke. Cilicia was an imperial province.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.