New International Version
Acts 23:10
10The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
Acts 23:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
- New Living Translation (NLT)As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.
Context of Acts 23:10
8(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.) 9There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. 11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” 12The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
Read all of Acts 23Acts 23:10 word by word
πολλῆς δὲ στάσεως, φοβηθεὶς ὁ χιλίαρχος μὴ διασπασθῇ ὁ Παῦλος ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν ἐκέλευσεν τὸ στράτευμα καταβὰν ἁρπάσαι αὐτὸν ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν, ἄγειν τε εἰς τὴν παρεμβολήν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- when there aroseγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- a greatπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- dissensionστάσιςstasis · uprisingG4714
- the chief captainὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the chief captainχιλίαρχοςchiliarchos · military officerG5506
- fearingεὐλαβέομαιeulabeomai · to revereG2125
- lestμήmē · notG3361
- PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
- should have been pulled in piecesδιασπάωdeaspaō · to tear apartG1288
- ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- commandedκελεύωkeleuō · to orderG2753
- the soldiersστράτευμαstrateuma · troopsG4753
- to go downκαταβαίνωkatabainō · to come/go downG2597
- and to takeἁρπάζωharpazō · to seizeG726
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- amongμέσοςmesos · midstG3319
- andτεte · and/bothG5037
- to bringἄγωagō · to bringG71
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the castleπαρεμβολήparembolē · barracksG3925
Cross-references for Acts 23:10
- Acts 23:27This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.
- Acts 19:28When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
- Acts 21:30The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut.
- Psalms 7:2or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
- Psalms 50:22“Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
- Micah 3:3who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?”
- James 1:19My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
- James 3:14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
- James 4:1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
- Acts 22:24the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.
Commentaries on Acts 23:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10The chief captain - commanded the soldiers to go down - It appears that the chief captain was present during these transactions, and that he had a body of soldiers in readiness in the castle of Antonia; and it was from this that he commanded them to come down; for the rescue and preservation of Paul.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10A great dissension - A great tumult, excitement, or controversy. Into the castle - See the notes on Acts 21:34.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-11Verses 6-11 The Pharisees were correct in the faith of the Jewish church. The Sadducees were no friends to the Scripture or Divine revelation; they denied a future state; they had neither hope of eternal happiness, nor dread of eternal misery. When called in question for his being a Christian, Paul might truly say he was called in question for the hope of the resurrection of the dead. It was justifiable in him, by this profession of his opinion on that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-10Paul's statement divided the Sanhedrin (23:6). The Pharisees supported Paul against the Sadducees. The disagreement was so intense that the commander rescued Paul and took him back to the fortress of Antonia.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled to pieces ... commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force, &c.--This shows that the commandant was not himself present, and further, that instead of the Sanhedrim trying the cause, the proceedings quickly consisted in the one party attempting to seize the prisoner, and the other to protect him.Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 23:10
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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