Act 22:29 | NETfull | STEP | Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away from him, and the commanding officer was frightened when he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had had him tied up.

Acts 22:29

29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away ^{▼▼ BDAG 158 s.v. ἀφίστημι 2.b has “keep away…ἀπό τινος… Lk 4:13; Ac 5:38; 2 Cor 12:8…cp. Ac 22:29.” In context, the point would seem to be not that the interrogators departed or withdrew, but that they held back from continuing the flogging.} from him, and the commanding officer ^{▼▼ Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.} was frightened when he realized that Paul ^{▼▼ Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} was ^{▼▼ This is a present tense (ἐστιν, estin) retained in indirect discourse. It must be translated as a past tense in contemporary English.} a Roman citizen ^{▼▼ The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.} and that he had had him tied up. ^{▼▼ Had him tied up. Perhaps a reference to the chains in Acts 21:33, or the preparations for the lashing in Acts 22:25. A trial would now be needed to resolve the matter. The Roman authorities’ hesitation to render a judgment in the case occurs repeatedly: Acts 22:30; 23:28–29; 24:22; 25:20, 26–27. The legal process begun here would take the rest of Acts and will be unresolved at the end. The process itself took four years of Paul’s life.}