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Paul and the Roman Commander

22 They listened to him up to this word, and then they lifted up their voices and said, “Away with such a man from the earth, for he is not fit to live!”

23 As they shouted and threw off their garments and threw dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks and examined with scourging, so that he might learn what crime they were alleging against him. 25 As they stretched him forward with straps, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to flog an uncondemned Roman citizen?”

26 On hearing this, the centurion reported to the commander, saying, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen.”

27 The commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

He said, “Yes.”

28 The commander answered, “I bought my citizenship for a large sum.”

So Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”

29 Therefore those who were about to examine Paul immediately backed away from him. And the commander feared, knowing that he was a Roman citizen and because he had bound him.

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Paul Questioned by the Military Tribune

22 Now they were listening to him until this word, and they raised their voices, saying, “Away with such a man from the earth! For it is not fitting for him to live!” 23 And while[a] they were screaming and throwing off their[b] cloaks and throwing dust into the air, 24 the military tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks,[c] saying he was to be examined with a lash so that he could find out for what reason they were crying out against him in this way. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the lash,[d] Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it permitted for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26 And when[e] the centurion heard this,[f] he went to the military tribune and[g] reported it,[h] saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen!” 27 So the military tribune came and[i] said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 And the military tribune replied, “I acquired this citizenship for a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I indeed was born a citizen.[j] 29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him kept away from him, and the military tribune also was afraid when he[k] realized that he was a Roman citizen and that he had tied him up.[l]

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 22:23 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were screaming”)
  2. Acts 22:23 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  3. Acts 22:24 Or “headquarters”
  4. Acts 22:25 Or “with straps” (in order to lash him)
  5. Acts 22:26 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  6. Acts 22:26 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Acts 22:26 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went to”) has been translated as a finite verb
  8. Acts 22:26 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  9. Acts 22:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came”) has been translated as a finite verb
  10. Acts 22:28 *The words “a citizen” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  11. Acts 22:29 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“realized”) which is understood as temporal
  12. Acts 22:29 Literally “he was having tied him up”