Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:29
Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
29. whom I perceived [ R. V. found] to be accused, &c.] At first he would have discovered that the outcry against St Paul had something to do with the regulations of the temple, then that there was a dispute about the resurrection of those who were dead, and that on this point some of the Jewish leaders sided with Paul. Such questions about their law would seem to the Roman officer quite as unworthy of consideration as they did to Gallio at Corinth (Act 18:15).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Questions of their law – So he understood the whole controversy to be.
Worthy of death – By the Roman law. He had been guilty of no crime against the Roman people.
Or of bonds – Of chains, or of confinement.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
According to the Roman laws, or imperial constitutions. That he undervalued the great things in question concerning our blessed Saviours death and resurrection, and the whole gospel, it is not to be wondered at; he spake and wrote as a pagan; and God overruled his very slighting of these controversies for Pauls advantage, he being by that means preserved from the rage of his enemies.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
29. perceived to be accused ofquestions of their law, &c.Amidst all his difficulty ingetting at the charges laid against Paul, enough, no doubt, come outto satisfy him that the whole was a question of religion, and thatthere was no case for a civil tribunal.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law,…. As about the resurrection of the dead, and a future state, which some in the council denied, and some asserted, which with this heathen man were idle and foolish questions; or about the defiling of the temple, and speaking contemptibly of the law of Moses, the people of the Jews, and the holy place, which was the cry of the populace against him, and were things the captain knew little of:
but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death, or of bonds: by the laws of the Romans; and yet he himself had bound him with two chains at the first taking of him, and afterwards ordered him to be bound with thongs, and scourged, of which he says nothing, being convinced of his error, and willing to hide it; however, he bears a full testimony to the innocence of the apostle.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Concerning questions of their law ( ). The very distinction drawn by Gallio in Corinth (Ac 18:14f.). On the word see on 15:2.
But to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds ( ). Literally, “having no accusation (or crime) worthy of death or of bonds.” This phrase here only in the N.T. is old word for accusation or crime from used in verse 28 and in the N.T. only here and 25:16. Lysias thus expresses the opinion that Paul ought to be set free and the lenient treatment that Paul received in Caesarea and Rome (first imprisonment) is probably due to this report of Lysias. Every Roman magistrate before whom Paul appears declares him innocent (Gallio, Lysias, Felix, Festus).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Questions. See on ch. Act 14:2.
Nothing – worthy of death or of bonds. Every Roman magistrate before whom the apostle is brought declares him innocent.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Whom I perceive to be accused,” (hon heuron egkaloumenon) “Whom I found out was being repeatedly accused,” or charged, Act 24:8.
2) “Of questions of their law,” (peri zetematon tou nomou auton) “Concerning question of their Jewish law,” and customs, Act 22:22-23, a thing with which we Roman citizens do not meddle. See Act 18:15; Act 25:18-19.
3) “But to have nothing laid to his charge,” (meden de echonta egklema) “Yet they had not a charge,” not one thing as a charge, did they have, that was defensible, factual, or relative to their murderous desires against him, Act 26:31-32.
4) “Worthy of death or of bonds.” (haksion thanatou e elesmon) “Worthy of (that merited or justified) either death or bonds,” not deserving in a Roman sense. For the Romans alone had the power of capital punishment, to put one to death. As difficult as it may have been for the chief captain to determine facts relating to the emotional rantings of the circumcision-bound Jews, Lysias had at least concluded that any offence on the part of Paul’s guilt was of religious nature, and had no place in a civil tribunal and that he needed protection, as a freeborn Roman citizen, from the hate of the Jews who sought his life in treachery, Act 23:13-22; Act 26:31-32.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
−
29. Whom I perceived In this place he acquitteth Paul, so far as his judgment could reach. But let us note that a profane man speaketh. For among the people of God it is an offense worthy of no less punishment, to corrupt the doctrine of godliness with wicked, and false opinions, than to do injury to, or commit wickedness among men. The Romans would not have suffered their superstitions, or reigned worshippings of their gods, to be freedom; − (558) but forasmuch as they made no account of the law of God, yea, seeing they were desirous to have the same quite put out, it was among them no fault to believe Moses and the prophets no more, or to trouble the Church with false opinions. Therefore, there was a law, that the governors should not meddle with such matters; but that those who were abiding in the provinces should so retain their religion, that if anything were done contrary to the same, the Roman magistrates should not meddle with the punishing thereof. This is the reason why the chief captain thinketh it no offense to have moved questions concerning the law. And under color hereof, unlearned men will have leave granted to themselves and others amiss to cause trouble. The Lord saith far otherwise, who doth more sharply punish the violating of his worship, than any injuries done to men. And surely nothing is more absurd than to let those who rob God of his honor escape scot free, − (559) seeing theft is punished. But as the chief captain careth not for the Jewish religion, so the false accusations and slanders of the Jews are refuted, wherewith they would gladly have burdened Paul. −
(558) −
“
Convelli,” to be plucked up, eradicated.
(559) −
“
Quam sacrilegiis impunitatem dare,” than to let blasphemers escape without punishment.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(29) Accused of questions of their law.The points which probably presented themselves to the chiliarchs mind as the result of his inquiries were(1) that the prisoner was accused of transgressing the rules of the Temple; (2) that the question at issue seemed to be whether he had seen a teacher named Jesus risen from the dead; (3) whether that teacher was entitled to the name of Christ.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. Nothing worthy of bonds Felix was now certified beforehand that the prisoner was in bonds only for imaginary crimes. (Note Act 23:10.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
Ver. 29. Questions of their law ] Which these profane heathens held to be mere trifles and niceties, quae nec ignoranti nocent, nec scientem iuvant, as Seneca saith. See Act 18:15 . See Trapp on “ Act 18:15 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Act 23:29 . , cf. Act 18:14-15 , “a contemptuous plural” (Page). : phrase only here in N.T., criminis reum esse, accusari , as in classical Greek, cf. Thuc., i., 26; the noun occurs again in Act 25:16 , but not elsewhere in N.T., not found in LXX.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
perceived = found.
questions. Greek. zetema. See note on Act 15:2.
to have nothing, &c. = as having no accusation.
laid to his charge. Greek. enklema. Only here and Act 25:16.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
questions: Act 23:6-9, Act 18:15, Act 24:5, Act 24:6, Act 24:10-21, Act 25:19, Act 25:20
but: Act 25:7, Act 25:8, Act 25:11, Act 25:25, Act 26:31
Reciprocal: Deu 21:22 – General Jer 26:16 – General Joh 18:35 – Amos I Act 25:10 – as thou
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
9
Act 23:29. The captain regarded the dispute between Paul and the Jews to be mostly a religious one and not such as he should try.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 23:29. Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. Death the highest, and bonds the lowest penalty of the law. Thus Claudius Lysias for his part, from a Romans point of view, expressed his belief in Pauls innocencya similar testimony was borne him by all his Roman judges, and also by King Herod Agrippa. The questions of their law in the Roman commanders view were that this stranger had been in some way or other violating the rules of the great temple of Jerusalem, and had been asserting that he had seen and conversed with a hated Teacher whose death by crucifixion many years previously had been brought about by the Sanhedrim. This dead Rabbi, Paul affirmed, was alive, having risen from the dead. But, thought Claudius Lysias, a Roman citizen surely did not deserve death, or even bonds, for such trivial offences.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 23
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 29
Of bonds; imprisonment.