Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:19
Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went [with him] aside privately, and asked [him,] What is that thou hast to tell me?
19. the chief captain took him by the hand ] The messenger from a Roman citizen was entitled to some consideration, and the action of the chief captain is meant to encourage the young man. The chief captain would naturally incline to favour Paul after his conversation with him, rather than his Jewish accusers. We can gather this from the tone of the letter which he subsequently sent to Csarea.
and went with him aside privately, and asked him ] The adverb “privately” is better joined with the verb “asked” as in the Rev. Ver.: this is more in accordance with the Greek order, and such an adverb is somewhat out of place with the first verb, in which privacy is implied without such an addition.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Took him by the hand – As an expression of kindness and civility. He did it to draw him aside from the multitude, that he might communicate his message privately.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
He took him by the hand, as a token of courtesy; these commanders showing an excellent example of humanity and pity towards their inferiors and supposed criminals. There are several reasons given of this great civility here used, as the chief captains naturally meek temper; or his policy to satisfy for the injury he had done to Paul, in binding him, being a Roman; nay, some think that he, as well as Felix the governor, hoped for money to be given unto him, Act 24:26; but all these are but guesses. It is sure, whatever any of these causes were or were not, God is to be seen and acknowledged in it, who hath the hearts of all men in his bands, and turneth them as it pleaseth him, Pro 21:1.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. took him by the handThisshows that he must have been quite in his boyhood, and throws apleasing light on the kind-hearted impartiality of this officer.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then the chief captain took him by the hand,…. Some have thought that the reason of this was, that he expected that the young man had brought him a present in his hand, from Paul; but this is to represent him as a sordid mercenary man, which ought not to be said, without sufficient proof; rather this should be considered as an instance of civility and humanity, and what showed him to be a man of breeding and good manners; and might be done partly out of respect to Paul, and partly to encourage the young man to use freedom in the account he was about to give him:
and went with him aside privately; concluding by his coming from Paul, and perceiving by the account of the centurion, that he had a secret to communicate to him; wherefore it was acting a wise and prudent part to take him into a private room, and hear what he had to say:
and asked him, what is that thou hast to tell me? thereby giving the young man an opportunity, and encouraging him to relate the secret to him.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Took him by the hand ( ). Kindly touch in Lysias, ut fiduciam adolescentis confirmaret (Bengel). Note genitive with the second aorist middle (indirect, to himself) of as in Lu 8:54 with which see. How old the young man () was we do not know, but it is the very word used of Paul in 7:58 when he helped in the killing of Stephen, a young man in the twenties probably. See also 20:9 of Eutychus. He is termed in verse 22.
Asked him privately (‘ ). Imperfect middle, began to ask (inchoative).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Then the chief captain took him by the hand,” (epilabomenos de tes cheiros autou ho chiliarchos) “Then the chief captain taking him (the youth) by the hand,” took hold of his hand, a warm and kindly gesture, to a perhaps frightened lad.
2) “And went with him aside privately,” (kai anachoresas kai idian epunthaneto) “And he retired privately with him,” to indicate both personal concern and confidentiality toward the young man and the message he had brought to him. The centurion was in total ignorance still, of the assassination scheme and plot that Paul’s nephew had discovered, and was delivering to the chief captain.
3) “And asked him,” (epunthaneto) “And inquired,” made a specific inquiry.
4) “What is it that thou hast to tell me?” (ti estin ho echeis apangelai moi) “What is it that you have to report to me?” that I should know? Tell me in confidence and it will go no further – you will not be hurt, was the impression the chief captain sought to convey to the lad. It may be concluded, from the tone of the letter that Lysias wrote to Caesar, that he rather favored Paul than his Jewish accusers, Act 23:25-30.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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19. Taking him by the hand. In that the chief captain did show himself so courteous to the young man, in that he led him by the hand into a secret place, in that he vouchsafeth to hear him so gently, all this must be attributed to the grace of God, who promised to give his people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, ( Exo 3:21) who useth to mollify hard hearts, to tame fierce spirits, and to fashion those unto all humanity, whom he hath determined to use as means to help those that be his. A man trained up in the wars might no less have given this young man the repulse, whom he knew not, than have despised Paul’s suit. Therefore, the Lord, who hath in his hand the hearts of men, did frame the profane man to give ear unto him. Also, it was well that he knew before how furiously they raged against Paul, that he might the more willingly succor a miserable and forsaken man. Those who are in authority are taught by this example what a great virtue courtesy is. If it had been a hard matter to come to him, − (555) he might, through ignorance, have delivered Paul to the Jews to be put to death. So oftentimes magistrates do fall into many and great offenses through their own pride, because they will not admit those who would give them good counsel. −
CalIing unto him. And here we see the providence of God yet more manifestly; for though this be the drift of the chief captain: to prevent a public uproar, whereof he should have given an account before the governor, yet he executeth the counsel of God in delivering Paul. For he was to gather soldiers together; also, the city must needs be stripped of the garrison, and the voyage required some cost. Therefore: we must so consider the wisdom of the chief captain, that our faith lift up her eyes into heaven: and understand that God doth guide the heart of a profane man by a secret instinct, and that he is at length a guide to Paul and the soldiers, that he may come safe to Cesarea. The third hour of the night was the end of the first watch. Therefore, it is all one as if the chief captain did command that the soldiers be in readiness at the second watch. Luke calleth those who carried darts lancearios, who being more lightly weaponed, were placed in the wings, when as the soldiers which pertained unto the legions were more fit for set war. − (556)
(555) −
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Si difficilis ad eum fuisset accessus,” if he had been of difficult access.
(556) −
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Statariae militia ?,” stationary warfare.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
19. Took him by the hand privately An act of guidance from the present company to a private place.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” ’
The chief captain then took the lad’s hand (he was clearly a sympathetic man) and led him aside and asked privately what it was he wanted to tell him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 23:19. Then the chief captain took him by the hand, It is observable, that Lysias seems to have conducted this whole affair like a man of integrity, prudence, and generosity.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him , What is that thou hast to tell me?
Ver. 19. Took him by the hand ] Courtesy and affability in high degree is very attractive; it easily allureth men’s minds, as do fair flowers in the spring the passenger’s eyes.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Act 23:19 . .: “ut fiduciam adolescentis confirmaret,” Bengel, so Knabenbauer; on . see note, Act 17:19 . , cf. Luk 8:54 , Winer-Moulton, xxx. 8 d; see Calvin’s note on the humanitas (as he calls it) of the centurion in thus receiving the young man. .: used also in Act 26:31 , but not by Luke in his Gospel, although found in the other Evangelists. .: “asked him privately,” R.V., as suggested by the order of the Greek.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
took. Greek. epilambanomai. See note on Act 9:27.
went . . . aside = having withdrawn. Greek. anachoreo. Compare Mat 12:15.
privately. Greek. kat’ (App-104) idian. This expression occ many times in the first three Gospels, translated apart, aside, &c.
asked = enquired of. Greek. punthanomai. See note on Act 21:33.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Act 23:19. , having taken hold of the hand) so as to give confidence to the youth.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
took: Jer 31:32, Mar 8:23, Mar 9:27
What: Neh 2:4, Est 5:3, Est 7:2, Est 9:12, Mar 10:51
Reciprocal: Jdg 3:19 – a secret 2Ki 9:6 – he arose
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Act 23:19-20. The young man first told the captain of the request that was soon to be made of him by this wicked band of 40 Jews.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 23:19. Then the chief captain took him by the hand. It is evident that the Roman commander was favourably impressed with something in Pauls bearing, and probably with his words. He was clearly glad to be able in any way to assist him. His sympathies are evidently with Paul, not with his priestly foes, as years before Pilates had been with another prisoner greater than Paul.
Claudius Lysias listens carefully to the story of the plot as it was detailed to him by Pauls sisters son, and is at once convinced of the truth of the information. To avoid the necessity of any further explanation with the Sanhedrim, he makes immediate preparation for sending the prisoner, who had evidently incurred such deep hatred at the hands of the turbulent and seditious Jews, under cover of the night, to the Roman headquarters at Csarea, where resided an official of the highest rank. The custody and the ultimate disposal of such an important prisoner as Paul evidently was, the commander of the Jerusalem garrison felt ought to be in the hands of one armed with far greater authority than was possessed by the simple commander of a thousand.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 17