Acts 23:10

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The dispute became so violent that the commander, fearing that Sha’ul would be torn apart by them, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force and bring him back into the barracks.

Berean Standard Bible:

The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

American Standard Version:

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G1161} when there arose^{G1096} a great^{G4183} dissension^{G4714}, the chief captain^{G5506}, fearing^{G2125} lest^{G3361} Paul^{G3972} should have been pulled in pieces^{G1288} of^{G5259} them^{G846}, commanded^{G2753} the soldiers^{G4753} to go down^{G2597}, and to take^{G726} him^{G846} by force^{G726} from^{G1537} among^{G3319} them^{G846}, and^{G5037} to bring^{G71} him into^{G1519} the castle^{G3925}.

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Commentary for Acts 23:10

Acts 23:10 is a verse set within the broader context of the Apostle Paul's ministry and his trials before Roman and Jewish authorities. The verse captures a moment of high tension and danger in Paul's life, reflecting the deep divisions within the Jewish community regarding the early Christian movement and its teachings.

In this verse, Paul is in Jerusalem where he has been arrested and is now standing trial. Earlier in Acts 23, Paul defends himself before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious council, by highlighting his Pharisaic background and his belief in the resurrection of the dead, which divides the council between Pharisees and Sadducees. This division escalates into a fierce dispute, which is the "great dissension" mentioned in the verse.

The "chief captain" refers to the Roman tribune, Claudius Lysias, who is responsible for maintaining order and ensuring Paul's safety. Realizing that the dissension could lead to Paul's dismemberment by the mob, Lysias takes decisive action. He orders his soldiers to forcibly extract Paul from the volatile situation and bring him to the safety of the Roman barracks, or "castle," for his protection.

The themes present in this verse include the tension between different Jewish sects over the emerging Christian faith, the Roman authorities' role in providing a semblance of order and justice, and the personal risk faced by early Christian leaders like Paul. The verse also underscores the precarious legal position of Christians in the first century, caught between Jewish religious law and the Roman imperial system. This event is emblematic of the broader challenges faced by the early Church as it sought to spread its message in a diverse and often hostile cultural and political environment.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. 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).
   
2. Strong's Number: G1096
   There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: γίνομαι
   Transliteration: gínomai
   Pronunciation: ghin'-om-ahee
   Description: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.
   
3. Strong's Number: G4183
   There are 331 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: πολύς
   Transliteration: polýs
   Pronunciation: pol-oos'
   Description: including the forms from the alternate ; (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely:--abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly. Compare πλεῖστος, πλείων.
   
4. Strong's Number: G4714
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: στάσις
   Transliteration: stásis
   Pronunciation: stas'-is
   Description: from the base of ἵστημι; a standing (properly, the act), i.e. (by analogy) position (existence); by implication, a popular uprising; figuratively, controversy:--dissension, insurrection, X standing, uproar.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: G2125
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: εὐλαβέομαι
   Transliteration: eulabéomai
   Pronunciation: yoo-lab-eh'-om-ahee
   Description: middle voice from εὐλαβής; to be circumspect, i.e. (by implication) to be apprehensive; religiously, to reverence:--(moved with) fear.
   
7. Strong's Number: G3361
   There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: μή
   Transliteration: mḗ
   Pronunciation: may
   Description: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas οὐ expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas οὐ expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also ἐὰν μή, ἵνα μή, οὐ μή, μῆκος, μηκύνω, μήν, μὴ οὐκ.
   
8. Strong's Number: G3972
   There are 160 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Παῦλος
   Transliteration: Paûlos
   Pronunciation: pow'-los
   Description: of Latin origin; (little; but remotely from a derivative of παύω, meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle:--Paul, Paulus.
   
9. Strong's Number: G1288
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: διασπάω
   Transliteration: diaspáō
   Pronunciation: dee-as-pah'-o
   Description: from διά and σπάω; to draw apart, i.e. sever or dismember:--pluck asunder, pull in pieces.
   
10. Strong's Number: G5259
    There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὑπό
    Transliteration: hypó
    Pronunciation: hoop-o'
    Description: a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.
    
11. 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.
    
12. Strong's Number: G2753
    There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: κελεύω
    Transliteration: keleúō
    Pronunciation: kel-yoo'-o
    Description: from a primary (to urge on); "hail"; to incite by word, i.e. order:--bid, (at, give) command(-ment).
    
13. Strong's Number: G4753
    There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: στράτευμα
    Transliteration: stráteuma
    Pronunciation: strat'-yoo-mah
    Description: from στρατεύομαι; an armament, i.e. (by implication) a body of troops (more or less extensive or systematic):--army, soldier, man of war.
    
14. Strong's Number: G2597
    There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: καταβαίνω
    Transliteration: katabaínō
    Pronunciation: kat-ab-ah'-ee-no
    Description: from κατά and the base of βάσις; to descend (literally or figuratively):--come (get, go, step) down, fall (down).
    
15. Strong's Number: G726
    There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἁρπάζω
    Transliteration: harpázō
    Pronunciation: har-pad'-zo
    Description: from a derivative of αἱρέομαι; to seize (in various applications):--catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).
    
16. Strong's Number: G1537
    There are 761 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐκ
    Transliteration: ek
    Pronunciation: ex
    Description: a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.
    
17. Strong's Number: G3319
    There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μέσος
    Transliteration: mésos
    Pronunciation: mes'-os
    Description: from μετά; middle (as an adjective or (neuter) noun):--among, X before them, between, + forth, mid(-day, -night), midst, way.
    
18. Strong's Number: G5037
    There are 192 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τέ
    Transliteration: té
    Pronunciation: teh
    Description: a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of καί):--also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter participle.
    
19. Strong's Number: G71
    There are 97 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἄγω
    Transliteration: ágō
    Pronunciation: ag'-o
    Description: a primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specially) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce:--be, bring (forth), carry, (let) go, keep, lead away, be open.
    
20. Strong's Number: G1519
    There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἰς
    Transliteration: eis
    Pronunciation: ice
    Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
    
21. Strong's Number: G3925
    There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: παρεμβολή
    Transliteration: parembolḗ
    Pronunciation: par-em-bol-ay'
    Description: from a compound of παρά and ἐμβάλλω; a throwing in beside (juxtaposition), i.e. (specially), battle-array, encampment or barracks (tower Antonia):--army, camp, castle.