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Acts 23:10

King James Version (KJV)

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— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.

Acts 23:10 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 23:10

Theological / Devotional

The chief captain. It would seem that Lysias, who was concerned not only with public order but with the safety of a Roman citizen, was present (cf. ch. 22:30).

Pulled in pieces. Evidently a physical struggle had broken out between Sadducees and Pharisees, on the one hand to get possession of, and on the other to protect, the person of Paul.

Commanded the soldiers. Judging by Lysias’ rank of chiliarchos (see on ch. 22:24; cf. on John 18:12; Acts 21:31, 32), the garrison may have consisted of about 1,000 men, which was the maximum strength of a military cohort of auxiliaries. Such a body of troops was commanded by a chiliarchos. See on chs. 21:31; 27:1. For his own safety Paul was escorted to the Tower of Antonia (see on ch. 22:24).

By SdaBc