Translations
Modern
As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.
Traditional
And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?
Literal
And being about to be brought into the barracks, Paul says to the commander, “Is it permitted to me to say something to you?” And he was saying, “Do you know Greek?
Latin
Et cum cœpisset induci in castra Paulus, dicit tribuno: Si licet mihi loqui aliquid ad te? Qui dixit: Græce nosti?
Interlinear
Greek
English
As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.
Notes
The commander had mistaken Paul for an Egyptian false messiah who had planned to seize power from the Romans around AD 54 (roughly three years earlier; see Josephus, War 2.13.5). Paul corrected the mistake, gained permission to speak to the people, and addressed the crowd in Aramaic, the common language of Judea. He gave a strong statement of his faith in Jesus as the Messiah (Acts 22:1–21).
Theme notes and profiles
Events
- Paul gives his testimonyc. AD 54
People
Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles, author of many NT epistles
Glossary
Book of the Acts of the Apostles Greece, Greek Paul the Apostle Temple
Topics
Castle: A Tower Christian Minister: Persecution: Paul Claudius Lysius: A Roman Military officer Language: Greek Language: Kinds of, Mentioned: Greek Paul: His Defense Prisoners: Paul