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Acts 22:29

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Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Then {G3767} straightway {G2112} they departed {G868} from {G575} him {G846} which {G3588} should {G3195} have examined {G426} him {G846}: and {G1161} the chief captain {G5506} also {G2532} was afraid {G5399}, after he knew {G1921} that {G3754} he was {G2076} a Roman {G4514}, and {G2532} because {G3754} he had {G2258} bound {G1210} him {G846}.

At once the men who had been about to interrogate him drew back from him; and the commander was afraid too, because he realized that he had put this man who was a Roman citizen in chains.

Then those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.

They then that were about to examine him straightway departed from him: and the chief captain also was afraid when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Commentary

Acts 22:29 records a pivotal moment in the Apostle Paul's arrest in Jerusalem, highlighting the immediate impact of his declaration of Roman citizenship on the Roman authorities.

Context

This verse follows a tense situation where the chief captain, Claudius Lysias, had ordered Paul to be scourged (flogged) to extract information about why the Jewish crowd in Jerusalem was so agitated against him. Paul had just given his defense to the crowd, which ended in further uproar (Acts 22:22-23). As the soldiers prepared to carry out the scourging, Paul, through a centurion, questioned the legality of their actions, stating he was a Roman citizen and uncondemned (Acts 22:25). The chief captain, who had purchased his citizenship, immediately understood the gravity of his mistake in ordering the binding and potential scourging of a born Roman citizen.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Power of Roman Citizenship: Paul's Roman citizenship served as a crucial legal shield, protecting him from arbitrary punishment. This demonstrates the significant rights and protections afforded to Roman citizens throughout the empire.
  • Divine Providence: God strategically used Paul's legal status, a circumstance of his birth, to protect him from severe physical harm and to facilitate his eventual journey to Rome, as prophesied (Acts 23:11).
  • The Rule of Law: The chief captain's fear underscores the Roman Empire's commitment, at least in principle, to its own laws, even when dealing with a controversial figure. Violating a Roman citizen's rights was a serious offense, punishable by law.

Linguistic Insights

The term "chief captain" translates the Greek word chiliarchos (χιλίαρχος), referring to a commander of a thousand men, equivalent to a tribune. His immediate reaction of being "afraid" (Greek: phobos - φόβος) highlights the genuine legal peril he faced. To bind, let alone scourge, a Roman citizen without a proper trial was a capital offense for the Roman official, making his fear entirely justified.

Related Scriptures

This incident echoes a similar situation in Philippi where Paul and Silas also asserted their Roman citizenship after being unlawfully beaten and imprisoned (Acts 16:37-39). The chief captain's subsequent letter to Felix, the governor, explicitly mentions Paul's Roman citizenship as a key detail in his defense (Acts 23:27), further emphasizing its importance in the unfolding narrative of Paul's trials.

Practical Application

Acts 22:29 teaches us that God can use various means, including our natural rights and legal systems, to protect His servants and advance His purposes. It encourages believers to understand and, where appropriate, utilize the protections and opportunities afforded by the laws of the land, not for selfish gain, but for the glory of God and the spread of the Gospel. It also reminds us that even in moments of apparent injustice or danger, God's sovereign hand is at work, often through unexpected avenues, to preserve His people and fulfill His plans.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 21:33 (5 votes)

    Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded [him] to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

  • Acts 22:24 (3 votes)

    The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

  • Acts 22:26 (3 votes)

    When the centurion heard [that], he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

  • Hebrews 11:35 (2 votes)

    Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

  • Acts 16:38 (2 votes)

    And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.

  • Acts 16:39 (2 votes)

    And they came and besought them, and brought [them] out, and desired [them] to depart out of the city.