Discovery BoxActs 16:38 
Context16:38 The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas 1 were Roman citizens 2
Acts 22:29
Context22:29 Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away 3 from him, and the commanding officer 4 was frightened when he realized that Paul 5 was 6 a Roman citizen 7 and that he had had him tied up. 8
Acts 24:25
Context24:25 While Paul 9 was discussing 10 righteousness, self-control, 11 and the coming judgment, Felix 12 became 13 frightened and said, “Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, 14 I will send for you.”
1 tn Grk “heard they”; the referents (Paul and Silas) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 sn Roman citizens. This fact was disturbing to the officials because due process was a right for a Roman citizen, well established in Roman law. To flog a Roman citizen was considered an abomination. Such punishment was reserved for noncitizens.
3 tn 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.
4 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.
5 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
6 tn This is a present tense (ἐστιν, estin) retained in indirect discourse. It must be translated as a past tense in contemporary English.
7 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
8 sn 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.
9 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
10 tn Or “speaking about.”
11 tn Grk “and self-control.” This καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
sn The topic of self-control was appropriate in view of the personal history of both Felix and Drusilla (see the note on “Drusilla” in the previous verse), and might well account for Felix’s anxiety.
12 sn See the note on Felix in 23:26.
13 tn Grk “becoming.” The participle γενόμενος (genomenos) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
14 tn Or “when I find time.” BDAG 639 s.v. μεταλαμβάνω 2 has “καιρὸν μ. have an opportunity = find time…Ac 24:25.”
