Discovery BoxActs 22:25-28 
Context22:25 When they had stretched him out for the lash, 1 Paul said to the centurion 2 standing nearby, “Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen 3 without a proper trial?” 4 22:26 When the centurion 5 heard this, 6 he went to the commanding officer 7 and reported it, 8 saying, “What are you about to do? 9 For this man is a Roman citizen.” 10 22:27 So the commanding officer 11 came and asked 12 Paul, 13 “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” 14 He replied, 15 “Yes.” 22:28 The commanding officer 16 answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” 17 “But I was even 18 born a citizen,” 19 Paul replied. 20
1 tn Grk “for the thongs” (of which the lash was made). Although often translated as a dative of means (“with thongs”), referring to thongs used to tie the victim to the whipping post, BDAG 474-75 s.v. ἱμάς states that it “is better taken as a dat. of purpose for the thongs, in which case οἱ ἱμάντες = whips (Posidonius: 87 fgm. 5 Jac.; POxy. 1186, 2 τὴν διὰ τῶν ἱμάντων αἰκείαν. – Antiphanes 74, 8, Demosth. 19, 197 and Artem. 1, 70 use the sing. in this way).”
2 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
3 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
4 tn Or “a Roman citizen and uncondemned.” BDAG 35 s.v. ἀκατάκριτος has “uncondemned, without due process” for this usage.
sn The fact that Paul was a Roman citizen protected him from being tortured to extract information; such protections were guaranteed by the Porcian and Julian law codes. In addition, the fact Paul had not been tried exempted him from punishment.
5 sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.
6 tn The word “this” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
7 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.
8 tn The word “it” is not in the Greek text but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.
9 tn Or perhaps, “What do you intend to do?” Although BDAG 627 s.v. μέλλω 1.c.α lists this phrase under the category “be about to, be on the point of,” it is possible it belongs under 1.c.γ, “denoting an intended action: intend, propose, have in mind…τί μέλλεις ποιεῖν; what do you intend to do?”
10 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
11 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.
12 tn Grk “and said to.”
13 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
14 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
15 tn Grk “He said.”
16 tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 24.
17 sn Sometimes Roman citizenship was purchased through a bribe (Dio Cassius, Roman History 60.17.4-9). That may well have been the case here.
18 tn BDAG 495-96 s.v. καί 2.b has “intensive: even…Ac 5:39; 22:28.”
19 tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.
sn Paul’s reference to being born a citizen suggests he inherited his Roman citizenship from his family.
20 tn Grk “Paul said.” This phrase has been placed at the end of the sentence in the translation for stylistic reasons.
