Acts 22:26

Verse

On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying, What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman.

Bible in Basic English

And hearing this, the man went to the chief captain and gave him an account of it, saying, What are you about to do? for this man is a Roman.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Which the centurion hearing, went to the tribune, and told him, saying: What art thou about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.

Free Bible Version

When the centurion heard what Paul said, he went to the commander and asked him, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen.”

Geneva Bible 1599

Nowe when the Centurion heard it, hee went, and tolde the chiefe captaine, saying, Take heede what thou doest: for this man is a Romane.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

Plain English Version

That boss soldier heard what Paul said, then he went to the big boss soldier and told him about Paul. He said, “This man is not just a Jew, he is a Roman too. Do you really want us to whip him?”

Translation for Translators

When the officer heard that, he went to the commander and reported it to him. He said to the commander, “This man is a Roman citizen ◄Surely you would not command us to whip him!/Do you really want us to whip him?► [RHQ]”

Unlocked Literal Bible

When the centurion heard this, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

When the centurion heard it, he went to the commanding officer and told him, “Watch what you are about to do, for this man is a Roman!”

Young's Literal Translation

and the centurion having heard, having gone near to the chief captain, told, saying, 'Take heed what thou art about to do, for this man is a Roman;'

Context

Paul the Roman Citizen

²⁵But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”²⁶On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”

Summary

In Acts 22:26, the Roman commander is surprised to learn that Paul is a Roman citizen, as he had assumed Paul was an Egyptian troublemaker. This revelation highlights the privileges and protections afforded to Roman citizens, including the right to a fair trial. It also demonstrates God's sovereignty in using Paul's citizenship to further his mission and spread the Gospel. This event serves as a reminder that God can use unexpected circumstances to accomplish His purposes and bring about justice for His followers.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the chief captain answered, with a great sum obtained I this freedom,.... For, it seems, he was not a Roman born, but very likely a Grecian, or Syrian, by his name Lysias; and as all things were now venal at Rome, the freedom of the city was to be bought with money, though a large sum was insisted on for it: this the chief captain said, as wondering that so mean a person, and who he understood was a Jew by birth, should be able to procure such a privilege, which cost him so much money: and Paul said, but I was free born; being born at Tarsus; which, as Pliny says (l), was a free city, and which had its freedom given it by Mark Antony, and which was before the birth of Paul; and therefore his parents being of this city, and free, he was born so. (l) Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 27.