^22:25When they had stretched him out for the lash,⁹⁰ Paul said to the centurion⁹¹ standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen⁹² without a proper trial?”⁹³^22:26When the centurion⁹⁴ heard this,⁹⁵ he went to the commanding officer⁹⁶ and reported it,⁹⁷ saying, “What are you about to do?⁹⁸ For this man is a Roman citizen.”⁹⁹^22:27So the commanding officer¹⁰⁰ came and asked¹⁰¹ Paul,¹⁰² “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”¹⁰³ He replied,¹⁰⁴ “Yes.” ^22:28The commanding officer¹⁰⁵ answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.”¹⁰⁶ “But I was even¹⁰⁷ born a citizen,”¹⁰⁸ Paul replied.¹⁰⁹^22:29Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away¹¹⁰ from him, and the commanding officer¹¹¹ was frightened when he realized that Paul¹¹² was¹¹³ a Roman citizen¹¹⁴ and that he had had him tied up.¹¹⁵

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Footnotes

90 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, ἱμάς states that it “is better taken as a 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).”
91 See the note on the word centurion in .
92 The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
93 Or “a Roman citizen and uncondemned.” ἀκατάκριτος has “uncondemned, without due process” for this usage. The fact that Paul was a Roman citizen protected him from being tortured to extract information; such protections were guaranteed by the Porcian and Julian law codes. In addition, the fact Paul had not been tried exempted him from punishment.
94 See the note on the word centurion in .
95 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.
96 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. .
97 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.
98 Or perhaps, “What do you intend to do?” Although 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?”
99 The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
100 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. .
101 Grk “and said to.”
102 Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
103 The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
104 Grk “He said.”
105 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. .
106 Sometimes Roman citizenship was purchased through a bribe (Dio Cassius, Roman History 60.17.4–9). That may well have been the case here.
107 καί 2.b has “intensive: even … Ac 5:39; 22:28.”
108 The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity. Paul’s reference to being born a citizen suggests he inherited his Roman citizenship from his family.
109 Grk “Paul said.” This phrase has been placed at the end of the sentence in the translation for stylistic reasons.
110 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.
111 Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. .
112 Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
113 This is a present tense (ἐστιν, estin) retained in indirect discourse. It must be translated as a past tense in contemporary English.
114 The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
115 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.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”

When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered.

Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.”

“But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied.

Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

As they stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing by, “Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?”

When the centurion heard this, he went and reported to the commander, saying, “What are you going to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

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

“Yes,” he said.

The commander replied, “I bought this citizenship for a large amount of money.”

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

So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately. The commander too was alarmed when he realized Paul was a Roman citizen and he had bound him.

NLTNew Living Translation

When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”

When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!”

So the commander went over and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I certainly am,” Paul replied.

“I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!”

Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”

The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

But when they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it permitted for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” And when the centurion heard this, he went to the military tribune and reported it, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen!” So the military tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 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. Then immediately those who were about to examine him kept away from him, and the military tribune also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman citizen and that he had tied him up.

KJV 1900King James Version

And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

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