Acts 22:29 kjv
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.
Acts 22:29 nkjv
Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
Acts 22:29 niv
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.
Acts 22:29 esv
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.
Acts 22:29 nlt
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.
Acts 22 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 16:37 | But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out." | Paul's previous use of citizenship |
| Acts 16:38-39 | The officers reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized... | Fear of authorities for violating citizenship |
| Acts 23:27 | This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. | Commander's later defense of Paul |
| Acts 25:10-11 | Paul said, "I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried... If I have committed anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar." | Roman citizen's right to appeal |
| Php 3:20 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body... | Believer's higher citizenship |
| Ps 105:15 | "Touch not My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm!" | God's protection of His servants |
| Isa 54:17 | No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn... | Divine protection and vindication |
| Jer 1:19 | They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the Lord. | God's promised deliverance |
| Pro 29:25 | The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be safe. | Contrast with the commander's fear |
| Mt 10:28 | And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. | Fear God above men |
| Ex 23:7 | Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty. | Divine standard for justice |
| Deut 1:16-17 | "And I charged your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him.'" | Law demanding righteous judgment |
| Rom 13:3-4 | For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad... he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain... | Rulers' role in enforcing law |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. | Submission to governing authorities |
| Acts 9:15-16 | But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel..." | Paul's divine mission and destiny |
| Acts 26:32 | And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar." | Paul's appeal crucial for his mission |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. | God's sovereignty in all circumstances |
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. | God working through human actions |
| Jer 20:10 | ...perhaps he will be enticed, and we can overpower him and take our revenge on him." | Anticipation of Paul's enemies |
| Pro 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. | Divine control over outcomes |
| Job 5:12-13 | He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success... He catches the wise in their own cunning, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. | God thwarting wicked plans |
Acts 22 verses
Acts 22 29 Meaning
Acts 22:29 reveals the immediate cessation of Paul's impending interrogation under scourging once his Roman citizenship was revealed. It underscores the profound legal protection granted to Roman citizens within the Roman Empire and the serious implications for any official who violated these rights. The verse specifically notes the commander's fear, acknowledging the grave error and potential severe legal consequences he faced for having bound a Roman citizen without proper legal process.
Acts 22 29 Context
Acts chapter 22 recounts Paul's defense before a hostile Jewish crowd in Jerusalem. Following a riot sparked by his presence in the Temple, Roman soldiers apprehended him. Paul addresses the crowd in Hebrew, detailing his zeal as a Pharisee, his persecution of Christians, and his dramatic conversion on the Damascus road. He then shares his divine commission to the Gentiles. It is this mention of "Gentiles" that infuriates the Jewish crowd, leading to another uproar and demand for his death. To discover the reason for such commotion, the Roman commander (Claudius Lysias) orders Paul to be flogged. This verse immediately follows Paul's disclosure to the centurion that he is a Roman citizen, just as he was about to be subjected to this severe interrogation. Historically, Roman citizenship was a highly privileged status that afforded numerous protections, including immunity from scourging without a proper trial and the right to appeal to Caesar.
Acts 22 29 Word analysis
Then (οὖν - oun): A logical connector, indicating that what follows is a direct consequence of Paul's previous revelation of his Roman citizenship.
those who were about to examine him (οἱ μέλλοντες αὐτὸν ἀνετάζειν - hoi mellontes auton anetazein): Refers to the Roman soldiers who were preparing to flog Paul. The Greek anetazein implies a rigorous inquiry, often through torture, to extract information.
withdrew (ἀπέστησαν - apestēsan): Signifies an abrupt and decisive halt to their actions, a swift removal from Paul's person.
from him (ἀπ' αὐτοῦ - ap' autou): Indicates physical separation and cessation of hostile intent toward Paul.
immediately (εὐθέως - eutheōs): Emphasizes the urgency and promptness of their compliance with the implications of Roman law. There was no hesitation.
when they learned (ἐπιγνόντες - epignontes): A stronger verb than simply "hearing." It implies a full and confirmed realization or recognition of the fact.
that he was a Roman citizen (ὅτι Ῥωμαῖος ἦν - hoti Rhōmaios ēn): This is the pivotal legal status. Rhōmaios denotes full Roman citizenship, not merely a resident. This revelation invalidated their planned interrogation.
and the commander (καὶ ὁ χιλίαρχος - kai ho chiliarchos): Refers to Claudius Lysias, the tribune, a high-ranking military officer responsible for public order.
also was afraid (καὶ ἐφοβήθη - kai ephobēthē): This fear was not physical terror but profound legal apprehension. He recognized the potential for severe penalties—loss of position, heavy fines, or worse—for violating a citizen's rights.
because he had bound him (ὅτι ἦν αὐτὸν δεδεκώς - hoti ēn auton dedekōs): The Greek perfect tense dedekōs highlights that the action of binding (a prelude to scourging) was already completed and carried its own legal violation, with continuing repercussions.
who was a Roman citizen (Ῥωμαῖον ὄντα - Rhōmaion onta): Reiterates Paul's status, emphasizing that even the act of binding him without conviction was illegal.
"Then those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately": This phrase powerfully conveys the sudden, legally mandated halt to the impending violent interrogation, driven solely by the newly acquired knowledge of Paul's status. It highlights the swift adherence to the supremacy of Roman law.
"when they learned that he was a Roman citizen": This marks the moment of revelation that transformed the legal situation entirely. This single piece of information, understood fully, commanded an immediate change of action.
"and the commander also was afraid because he had bound him who was a Roman citizen": This explains the motive behind the immediate withdrawal. The commander's fear stems from his awareness of the severe legal and political repercussions for having already committed a lesser offense (binding) against a Roman citizen, let alone the more severe act of scourging.
Acts 22 29 Bonus section
- Roman citizenship offered critical privileges, including protection from summary arrest and execution, the right to a legal trial, and the right to appeal to the Emperor (Jus Provocationis), a right Paul later exercised.
- The commander, Claudius Lysias, was a man who had "bought" his Roman citizenship at a great price (Acts 22:28), making him acutely aware of its value and the severe penalties for its infringement by officials. His fear was thus rooted in direct personal and professional consequences.
- This incident, by saving Paul from illegal torture, enabled him to stand trial before the Sanhedrin, governors Festus, and King Agrippa, and eventually travel to Rome as a prisoner, fulfilling the divine mandate for him to bear witness before Gentiles and kings.
Acts 22 29 Commentary
Acts 22:29 stands as a pivotal moment, showcasing divine providence utilizing secular power for spiritual purposes. The Roman commander's initial error in judgment, based on crowd clamor, swiftly gives way to fear when Paul's Roman citizenship is revealed. This fear is a testament to the tangible power of Roman law, which offered genuine protection against arbitrary cruelty and guaranteed legal rights, especially for citizens. The immediate cessation of Paul's torture was not due to the commander's moral rectitude or Christian conviction, but purely pragmatic self-preservation within the legal framework of the Roman Empire.
This episode is a poignant example of God orchestrating events through seemingly secular means to protect His chosen instrument, Paul, from harm. It demonstrates that earthly systems of justice, though imperfect, can be used by God to advance His kingdom. The commander's fear underscores the gravity of legal transgression, revealing how even pagan authorities understood the need to uphold certain laws, particularly those safeguarding citizen rights. This averted flogging directly paved the way for Paul to further present the Gospel to both Jewish and Roman authorities, ultimately setting him on the path to Rome itself, fulfilling God's broader missionary plan.