Acts 22:29 - Printer Friendly

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.

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.

NASB: Therefore, those who were about to interrogate him immediately backed away from him; and the commander also was afraid when he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had put him in chains.

CSB: 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.

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.

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.

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.

The tribune knows the Jews want Paul dead, but he doesn't know why. Asking revealed nothing but confusion (Acts 21:33–34). Letting Paul speak merely riled up the crowd again (Acts 22:22). And, he has recently learned, flogging is out of the question because Paul is a Roman citizen. Roman citizens could be beaten, tortured, scourged, or even bound without being convicted in a public trial. The tribune has already chained and tied Paul up (Acts 21:33; 22:25); fortunately, Paul revealed his citizenship before the centurion could flog him.

Still, the tribune can't close the case—or, perhaps more importantly, appease the mob—unless he knows what's going on. He decides to send Paul to the Sanhedrin to let them question the prisoner (Acts 22:30). This doesn't end well, either. First, Paul insults the chief priest by calling him a "whitewashed wall" (Acts 23:3–5). Then, he sets the council members against each other by insisting his message is simply one of the resurrection of the dead—a belief the Pharisees hold but the Sadducees reject (Acts 23:6–10).

The tribune has no choice but to take Paul back to the barracks, but to no avail. The next day, Paul's nephew overhears an assassination plot against Paul (Acts 23:12–22). The tribune gives up and sends Paul to the governor in Caesarea Maritima—then conveniently neglects to attend the trial (Acts 23:23–33; 24:22). The governor knows the charges against Paul are false but keeps him under house arrest to placate the Jewish leaders (Acts 24:27).

Acts 22:23–30 describes how the Roman army tribune continues to seek understanding. A mob of Jews on the temple mount want Paul dead (Acts 21:27–40). The officer let Paul speak, hoping to uncover the cause, but Paul only managed to agitate the crowd more (Acts 22:1–22). Now, the tribune tries the traditional Roman way of uncovering the truth: flogging. Unfortunately, he missed the part where Paul is a Roman citizen. Even the chains on Paul's wrists are illegal. The next morning, the tribune will try one last tactic: the Sanhedrin. It doesn't end well (Acts 23:1–10).

In Acts 22, a young Roman military officer realizes he cannot control Jews who do not wish to be controlled. He has just rescued Paul from a crowd that largely doesn't know why they want to kill Paul. In hopes of gathering information, the tribune allows Paul to speak to the crowd. The crowd listens only briefly, then explodes again. The tribune tries flogging but is foiled by Paul's Roman citizenship. Finally, the tribune schedules a meeting with the Sanhedrin. It does not go well (Acts 23:1–10).

Paul came to Jerusalem to tell the church of his ministry's success with Gentiles. The leaders are more worried about a rumor that Paul no longer respects the Jewish law. Paul agrees to perform a very Jewish ritual, but in the process is falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple. A mob assaults him, and the Roman tribune arrests him (Acts 21:17–36). The tribune tries to uncover the truth by letting Paul speak to the crowd, then almost flogging him (Acts 21:37—22). Next, he will bring Paul to the Sanhedrin, to no avail (Acts 23:1–10).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.