Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 22:26
When the centurion heard [that,] he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
26. Take heed what thou doest ] The oldest texts omit the word for “take heed” and so make the remainder to be a blunt question “What art thou about to do?” And thus Rev. Ver. It was forbidden, under heavy penalty, by the Lex Porcia, to scourge a Roman citizen (Liv. Act 10:9).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
There were several centurions under one chief captain, or chiliarch, as there are several captains under one colonel; and this centurion might be deputed to examine Paul. The reason why they presently desisted from binding Paul, and informed the commander-in-chief of what he had alleged, might be, because as it was very penal to challenge this privilege falsely, so it was treason for any to deny it to such to whom it was due.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24-26. examined byscourgingaccording to the Roman practice.
that he might know whereforethey cried soPaul’s speech being to him in an unknown tongue,he concluded from the horror which it kindled in the vast audiencethat he must have been guilty of some crime.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When the centurion heard that,…. The question put by Paul, which strongly suggested that he was a Roman:
he went and told the chief captain; what Paul had said: saying, take heed what thou dost; or “art about to do”; lest some bad consequences should follow; lest he should affront the Roman people and senate, and lose his place, if not incur some corporeal punishment:
for this man is a Roman; and it can never be answered to bind and beat a Roman.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
What art thou about to do? ( ?). On the point of doing, sharp warning.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “When the centurion heard that,” (akousas de ho hekatontarches) “Then when the centurion had heard,” given honest attention to Paul’s astute, definitive, and judicious question.
2) “He went and told the chief captain, saying,” (proselthon to chiliarcho apengeilen legon) “He approached the chief captain, Lysias, saying repeatedly, explicitly, warning him,”
3) “Take heed what thou doest: (ti melleis poiein) “do you know what you are about to do? Take heed or, hadn’t you better be cautious?”
4) “For this man is a Roman.” (ho gar anthropos houtos hromaios estin) “For this man (Paul) is a Roman,” Act 22:29; Act 23:27.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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26. This man is a Roman. Some man may marvel that he was so credulous, who was appointed to be chief in examining Paul, that he doth affirm the thing, as if he knew it to be so. For if he ought to believe Paul’s words, every malefactor might, by this shift, have escaped punishment. But this was their manner of dealing, he which did say that he was a citizen of Rome, unless he could bring in some which knew him, or prove it lawfully, he was punished; for it was death for any man to pretend the freedom of the city falsely. Wherefore, the centurion referreth the matter unto the chief captain, as doubting thereof; and he (as we have said) doth straightway examine the matter more thoroughly. And though Luke doth not express by what testimonies Paul did prove himself to be a citizen of Rome, yet, undoubtedly, the chief captain knew the truth of the matter before he loosed him. −
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(26) Take heed what thou doest.The better MSS. give the words simply as a question: What art thou about to do?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.” ’
Once the centurion learned this he went immediately to the chief captain and warned him to be careful how he treated Paul because he was a Roman citizen. ‘What are you about to do?’ The blame would fall on the chief captain who had ordered the scourging.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
26 When the centurion heard that , he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
Ver. 26. This man is a Roman ] The centurion might believe St Paul upon his bare word, because if any claimed that privilege and could not prove it, he was to die for so doing.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Act 22:26 . , see critical note. , cf. 2Ma 7:2 R, ; . , on St. Luke’s fondness for in similar phrases, Friedrich, pp. 10, 89.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
went. The chiliarch having given his orders, had gone to his quarters.
told. Greek. apangello. See note on Act 16:36.
Take heed. The texts omit.
what thou doest = what art thou about to do?
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Act 22:26. , the tribune or chief captain) who was away at the time.-, for) Nay, there were stronger reasons underneath for taking heed, namely, that he was the servant of GOD.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Take: Act 22:29, Act 23:27
Reciprocal: 2Ch 19:6 – Take Luk 7:2 – centurion’s Luk 7:8 – under Act 5:35 – take Act 23:17 – one Act 27:1 – a centurion
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
Act 22:26. It was a serious offence to claim falsely to be a Roman. The mere statement of Paul, therefore, made a deep impression on the centurion.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
See notes on verse 25
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
26. And the centurion hearing and coming to the kiliarch, announced to him saying, What are you about to do, for this man is a Roman?
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
During the reign of Emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54) it was possible to obtain Roman citizenship for a high price. Claudius Lysias’ name probably has some connection with the emperor Claudius since the commander had evidently purchased his citizenship under the reign of this emperor. This had not always been possible in the empire. Earlier the government conferred citizenship for rendering valuable service to a Roman general or high official. [Note: Bruce, Commentary on . . ., p. 446.] This is probably how Paul’s father or grandfather received his citizenship. As the son of a Roman citizen, Paul inherited this status; it did not come to him because he was a citizen of Tarsus. Tarsus was a free city, not a colony of Rome like Philippi. Born citizens enjoyed greater respect than Romans who had bought their citizenship. [Note: See Witherington, pp. 679-84, for further discussion of Roman citizenship.]
Roman citizens kept the documents proving their status in secure places, and nothing external identified them as citizens. People normally accepted a verbal claim to being a Roman citizen at face value since to claim citizenship falsely was a capital offense. [Note: Suetonius, "The Deified Claudius," in The Lives of the Caesars, 2:5:25.] Claudius Lysias took the course of action that was safest for him and accepted Paul’s claim.
"Perhaps he [Paul] carries his diploma, a wooden diptych containing his registration as a citizen." [Note: Bock, Acts, p. 664.]