King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The commander came and said to Sha’ul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he said.
Berean Standard Bible:
The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes,” he answered.
American Standard Version:
And the chief captain came and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yea.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Then{G1161} the chief captain{G5506} came{G4334}, and said{G2036} unto him{G846}, Tell{G3004} me{G3427},{G1487} art{G1488} thou{G4771} a Roman{G4514}?{G1161} He said{G5346}, Yea{G3483}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Acts 22:27
Acts 22:27 is a verse set within the broader context of the Apostle Paul's arrest in Jerusalem, which occurs in the latter part of the Acts of the Apostles. This book, written by Luke, is the second part of a two-volume work that includes the Gospel of Luke, and it details the early history of the Christian church and the spread of the Gospel.
In this particular scene, Paul has been taken into custody by Roman soldiers after a riot breaks out in the temple courts, instigated by Jews who are angered by Paul's preaching. They accuse him of defiling the temple by bringing Greeks into the sacred areas. The Roman commander, or chief captain (Greek: chiliarch), intervenes to rescue Paul from the mob.
The verse itself, "Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea," captures a critical moment where Paul's Roman citizenship becomes a pivotal factor in his treatment by the Roman authorities. Roman citizenship was a valuable legal status that afforded certain protections and rights, including the right to a fair trial and immunity from certain forms of punishment like scourging. By declaring his Roman citizenship, Paul invokes these protections and changes the course of his immediate future, avoiding an unjust beating and ensuring a more formal and legal handling of his case.
This moment underscores several themes: the tension between Jewish authorities and the Roman state, the strategic importance of legal status in the Roman Empire, and the way in which Paul's citizenship serves as a narrative device to advance the story of the Gospel's spread despite opposition. It also reflects the historical reality of the early Christian movement operating within the structures and laws of the Roman world, often leveraging these for the sake of the mission. Paul's assertion of his Roman citizenship is an example of how early Christians navigated complex legal and social landscapes to proclaim their message.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English). - Strong's Number: G5506
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: χιλίαρχος
Transliteration: chilíarchos
Pronunciation: khil-ee'-ar-khos
Description: from χίλιοι and ἄρχω; the commander of a thousand soldiers ("chiliarch"; i.e. colonel:--(chief, high) captain. - Strong's Number: G4334
There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: προσέρχομαι
Transliteration: prosérchomai
Pronunciation: pros-er'-khom-ahee
Description: from πρός and ἔρχομαι (including its alternate); to approach, i.e. (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to:--(as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near, go (near, to, unto). - Strong's Number: G2036
There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔπω
Transliteration: épō
Pronunciation: ep'-o
Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G3004
There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λέγω
Transliteration: légō
Pronunciation: leg'-o
Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: G3427
There are 227 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μοί
Transliteration: moí
Pronunciation: moy
Description: the simpler form of ἐμοί; to me:--I, me, mine, my. - Strong's Number: G1487
There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἰ
Transliteration: ei
Pronunciation: i
Description: a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μή(γε), εἰ καί, εἰ μή, εἰ μή τι, εἴ περ, εἴ πως, εἴ τις, ἐκ. See also ἐάν. - Strong's Number: G1488
There are 89 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἶ
Transliteration: eî
Pronunciation: i
Description: second person singular present of εἰμί; thou art:--art, be. - Strong's Number: G4771
There are 163 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σύ
Transliteration: sý
Pronunciation: soo
Description: the personal pronoun of the second person singular; thou:-- thou. See also σέ, σοί, σοῦ; and for the plural ὑμᾶς, ὑμεῖς, ὑμῖν, ὑμῶν. - Strong's Number: G4514
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ῥωμαῖος
Transliteration: Rhōmaîos
Pronunciation: hro-mah'-yos
Description: from Ῥώμη; Romæan, i.e. Roman (as noun):--Roman, of Rome. - Strong's Number: G5346
There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: φημί
Transliteration: phēmí
Pronunciation: fay-mee'
Description: properly, the same as the base of φῶς and φαίνω; to show or make known one's thoughts, i.e. speak or say:--affirm, say. Compare λέγω. - Strong's Number: G3483
There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ναί
Transliteration: naí
Pronunciation: nahee
Description: a primary particle of strong affirmation; yes:--even so, surely, truth, verily, yea, yes.