Acts 23:34

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And when the governor had read [the letter], he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that [he was] of Cilicia;

Complete Jewish Bible:

The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. On learning he was from Cilicia,

Berean Standard Bible:

The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

American Standard Version:

And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G1161} when the governor^{G2232} had read^{G314} the letter,^{G2532} he asked^{G1905} of^{G1537} what^{G4169} province^{G1885} he was^{G2076}. And^{G2532} when he understood^{G4441} that^{G3754} he was of^{G575} Cilicia^{G2791};

Cross-References (KJV):

Acts 21:39

But Paul said, I am a man [which am] a Jew of Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

Acts 25:1

¶ Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.

Acts 15:41

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Daniel 2:49

Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel [sat] in the gate of the king.

Esther 1:1

¶ Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this [is] Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, [over] an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

Esther 8:9

Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that [is], the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which [are] from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

Acts 6:9

Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

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Commentary for Acts 23:34

Acts 23:34 is a verse set within the broader narrative of the Apostle Paul's trials and tribulations as he defends himself against accusations from his Jewish contemporaries. The verse specifically captures a moment following Paul's transfer from Jerusalem to Caesarea, under heavy Roman guard, due to threats on his life. The governor of Caesarea, whose identity is later revealed to be Antonius Felix, receives a letter from the chief captain in Jerusalem explaining the situation and asking for further instructions regarding Paul's case.

Upon reading the letter, Felix inquires about Paul's origins, discovering that he is from Cilicia. This detail is significant because it establishes the jurisdictional context of Paul's case. Cilicia was a region in the southeastern part of modern-day Turkey and was known in the Roman period for its rugged terrain and independent-minded people. It was also the birthplace of Paul, who was a Roman citizen, a fact that afforded him certain legal protections and would have been relevant to how his case was handled within the Roman legal system.

The themes present in this verse include the administrative process of the Roman Empire, the interplay between Jewish religious law and Roman civil law, and the importance of citizenship and province of origin in determining legal responsibility and treatment under Roman authority. The historical context reflects the complexities of governing a diverse empire, where local officials had to navigate religious and cultural differences while maintaining order and upholding Roman law. Felix's inquiry about Paul's provincial affiliation underscores the bureaucratic nature of the Roman legal system and sets the stage for the subsequent legal proceedings that Paul would face.

*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: G2232
There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἡγεμών
Transliteration: hēgemṓn
Pronunciation: hayg-em-ohn'
Description: from ἡγέομαι; a leader, i.e. chief person (or figuratively, place) of a province:--governor, prince, ruler.
Strong's Number: G314
There are 199 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀναγινώσκω
Transliteration: anaginṓskō
Pronunciation: an-ag-in-oce'-ko
Description: from ἀνά and γινώσκω; to know again, i.e. (by extension) to read:--read.
Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
Strong's Number: G1905
There are 58 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπερωτάω
Transliteration: eperōtáō
Pronunciation: ep-er-o-tah'-o
Description: from ἐπί and ἐρωτάω; to ask for, i.e. inquire, seek:--ask (after, questions), demand, desire, question.
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.
Strong's Number: G4169
There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ποῖος
Transliteration: poîos
Pronunciation: poy'-os
Description: from the base of ποῦ and οἷος; individualizing interrogative (of character) what sort of, or (of number) which one:--what (manner of), which.
Strong's Number: G1885
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐπαρχία
Transliteration: eparchía
Pronunciation: ep-ar-khee'-ah
Description: from a compound of ἐπί and ἄρχω (meaning a governor of a district, "eparch"); a special region of government, i.e. a Roman præfecture:--province.
Strong's Number: G2076
There are 812 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἐστί
Transliteration: estí
Pronunciation: es-tee'
Description: third person singular present indicative of εἰμί; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
Strong's Number: G4441
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πυνθάνομαι
Transliteration: pynthánomai
Pronunciation: poon-than'-om-ahee
Description: middle voice prolonged from a primary (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses); to question, i.e. ascertain by inquiry (as a matter of information merely; and thus differing from ἐρωτάω, which properly means a request as a favor; and from αἰτέω, which is strictly a demand for something due; as well as from ζητέω, which implies a search for something hidden; and from δέομαι, which involves the idea of urgent need); by implication, to learn (by casual intelligence):--ask, demand, enquire, understand.
Strong's Number: G3754
There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅτι
Transliteration: hóti
Pronunciation: hot'-ee
Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
Strong's Number: G575
There are 1465 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀπό
Transliteration: apó
Pronunciation: apo'
Description: a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative):--(X here-)after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for(-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-)on(-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.
Strong's Number: G2791
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Κιλικία
Transliteration: Kilikía
Pronunciation: kil-ik-ee'-ah
Description: probably of foreign origin; Cilicia, a region of Asia Minor:--Cilicia.

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