Acts 23 27

Acts 23:27 kjv

This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

Acts 23:27 nkjv

This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

Acts 23:27 niv

This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.

Acts 23:27 esv

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.

Acts 23:27 nlt

"This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety.

Acts 23 verses

Acts 23 27 Meaning

This verse details Claudius Lysias's action in sending Paul to Felix the governor. Lysias admits to misleading the chief priests and the council, stating he found Paul facing accusations only of questions about their law, not of sedition or other crimes deserving of punishment. His true motivation for sending Paul away was his fear of the Jews' plot against Paul.

Acts 23 27 Context

The immediate context is Paul's tumultuous appearance before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. After escaping the initial mob violence (Acts 21:33), the Roman commander Claudius Lysias learns of a plot by over forty Jews to kill Paul (Acts 23:12-15). To protect Paul from this conspiracy and to properly investigate the charges against him, Lysias decides to transfer Paul to Caesarea, the Roman administrative capital and residence of the governor Felix. Lysias also penned a letter to Felix explaining the situation, emphasizing that the accusations from the Jewish authorities related to their own law, and not to any Roman offense such as sedition, which was the basis for Lysias's intervention to save Paul's life. This transfer highlights the precariousness of Paul's situation and the ongoing efforts of both Roman authorities and hostile Jewish factions.

Acts 23 27 Word analysis

• "And when it was day, there arose no small stir among the soldiers..."
  • "And when it was day" (kai genomenes hēmeras): Indicates the action happened at the dawn of the next day.
  • "there arose" (egenēthē): A sudden, unprovoked disturbance.
  • "no small stir" (ou mikra tarachē): A significant, intense disturbance or commotion. Implies the soldiers were anxious or agitated.
• "...concerning what would become of Paul."
  • "concerning" (periechōn): Holding fast to, enclosing; here signifying what was upon their minds regarding Paul's fate.
  • "what would become of Paul" (to genetai tō Paulō): Uncertainty and concern about Paul's destination and outcome.
• "When the governor was brought, he said,"
  • "When the governor" (tou hēgoumenou): Refers to Felix, the Roman governor of Judea.
  • "was brought" (e pagegoisthis): Was brought in or presented.
  • "he said" (elegen): He spoke.
• "Deliver this man to me, and I will send him to Caesar."
  • "Deliver this man" (Paradote ton andra touton): A direct command to hand over Paul.
  • "to me" (moi): To my custody and responsibility.
  • "and I will send him to Caesar" (kai apestello auton eis Kaizara): Indicating the ultimate legal destination in Roman justice for serious cases. This implies Felix recognized the gravity or complexity of the situation and would pass it to the highest imperial court. The use of "Caesar" here signifies the Emperor himself as the final judicial authority.

Word Group Analysis:

• "Deliver this man to me, and I will send him to Caesar." This phrase reveals Lysias’s attempt to appropriately hand over responsibility for Paul to higher Roman authority. It shows a clear understanding of the Roman legal system and hierarchy, where governors were accountable to Caesar. Lysias was not attempting to execute justice himself but to ensure Paul was processed through the correct channels, even if his initial handling was due to immediate safety concerns. This move effectively shields Paul from immediate danger and places him under the protection (and jurisdiction) of Roman imperial law.

Acts 23 27 Bonus Section

The Latin phrase "Ad Caesarēam mitti debet" (He ought to be sent to Caesar) might echo here in Lysias’s intent, reflecting the Roman principle of escalating judicial matters to the Emperor when regional governors felt out of their depth or when there were significant political ramifications. Paul’s eventual journey to Rome was something he himself had appealed to (Acts 25:11), indicating a sovereign hand in the events unfolding. Lysias's role, however unintentional, was pivotal in shielding Paul from Jewish authorities who sought to silence him permanently, demonstrating how God can use even those with mixed motives (self-preservation and following procedure) to protect and advance His servants. The Roman governors Lysias presented Paul to, Felix and later Festus, found no basis for Paul's arrest based on Roman law, showcasing the stark contrast between Jewish religious accusations and Roman legal standards concerning Paul's conduct.

Acts 23 27 Commentary

Claudius Lysias, having been alerted to a deadly plot against Paul, transferred him from the volatile environment of Jerusalem to the more secure provincial capital of Caesarea, placing him under the jurisdiction of Governor Felix. Lysias’s written account to Felix demonstrated his prudence in seeking to uphold Roman law and protect himself from repercussions. He minimized the accusations against Paul to internal Jewish disputes, while clearly stating the external threat of assassination that necessitated the transfer. This action by Lysias, while stemming from a place of expediency and possibly some exaggeration of the legal niceties in his letter, ultimately served God’s purpose in moving Paul closer to eventual appearance before higher authorities and ultimately Caesar, fulfilling the prophecy. Lysias, though a Gentile and somewhat rough in his handling of Paul initially, ultimately facilitated God's plan through his actions, driven by a sense of Roman duty and self-preservation.