Acts 21:37
37As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, ▼ he said ▼▼ Grk “says” (a historical present).
to the commanding officer, ▼ “May I say ▼▼ Grk “Is it permitted for me to say” (an idiom).
something to you?” The officer ▼▼ Grk “He”; the referent (the officer) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
replied, ▼▼ Grk “said.”
“Do you know Greek? ▼▼ “Do you know Greek?” Paul as an educated rabbi was bilingual. Paul’s request in Greek allowed the officer to recognize that Paul was not the violent insurrectionist he thought he had arrested (see following verse). The confusion of identities reveals the degree of confusion dominating these events.
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