Acts 23:17

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him.”

King James Version (1611)
Then Paul called one of the Centurions vnto him, and said, Bring this yong man vnto the chiefe captaine: for he hath a certaine thing to tell him.

King James Version
Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

English Standard Version
Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him."

New American Standard Bible
Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him."

New Century Version
Then Paul called one of the officers and said, "Take this young man to the commander. He has a message for him."

Amplified Bible
Then Paul, calling in one of the centurions, said, "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him."

Legacy Standard Bible
And Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him."

Berean Standard Bible
Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him."

Contemporary English Version
So Paul said to one of the army officers, "Take this young man to the commander. He has something to tell him."

Complete Jewish Bible
Sha'ul called one of the officers and said, "Take this man up to the commander; he has something to tell him."

Darby Translation
And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Take this youth to the chiliarch, for he has something to report to him.

Easy-to-Read Version
Then Paul called one of the army officers and said to him, "Take this young man to the commander. He has a message for him."

Geneva Bible (1587)
And Paul called one of the Centurions vnto him, and said, Take this yong man hence vnto the chiefe captaine: for he hath a certaine thing to shewe him.

George Lamsa Translation
Then Paul sent for and called one of the centurions, and said, Take this young man to the captain, for he has something to tell him.

Good News Translation
Then Paul called one of the officers and said to him, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him."

Lexham English Bible
So Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Bring this young man to the military tribune, because he has something to report to him."

Literal Translation
And calling near one of the centurions, Paul said, Bring this young man to the chiliarch, for he has something to report to him.

American Standard Version
And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.

Bible in Basic English
And Paul sent for a captain and said, Take this young man to your chief, for he has news for him.

Hebrew Names Version
Sha'ul summoned one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him."

International Standard Version
Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, because he has something to tell him."

Etheridge Translation
And Paulos sent (and) called one of the centurions, and said to him, Bring this youth to the tribune, for he has somewhat to tell him.

Murdock Translation
And Paul sent and called one of the centurions, and said to him: Conduct this youth to the Chiliarch; for he hath something to tell him.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Paul called one of the vnder captaynes vnto hym, and sayde: Bryng this young man vnto the hye captayne, for he hath a certayne thyng to shewe hym.

English Revised Version
And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath something to tell him.

World English Bible
Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And Paul calling to him one of the centurions, said, Conduct this young man to the tribune; for he hath something to tell him.

Weymouth's New Testament
and Paul called one of the Captains and said, "Take this young man to the Tribune, for he has information to give him."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Poul clepide to hym oon of the centuriens, and seide, Lede this yonge man to the tribune, for he hath sum thing to schewe to hym.

Update Bible Version
And Paul called to him one of the captains, and said, Bring this young man to the colonel; for he has something to tell him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Paul called one of the centurions to [him], and said, Bring this young man to the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.

New English Translation
Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to report to him."

New King James Version
Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him."

New Living Translation
Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, "Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him."

New Life Bible
Paul called one of the soldiers and said, "Take this young man to the captain. He has something to tell him."

New Revised Standard
Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to report to him."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Paul, calling unto him one of the centurions, said - This young man, lead thou away unto the captain, for he hath somewhat to report unto him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Paul, calling to him one of the centurions, said: Bring this young man to the tribune: for he hath some thing to tell him.

Revised Standard Version
And Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the tribune; for he has something to tell him."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And Paul called one of ye vnder captaynes vnto him and sayde: bringe this younge man vnto ye hye captayne: for he hath a certayne thinge to shewe him.

Young's Literal Translation
and Paul having called near one of the centurions, said, `This young man lead unto the chief captain, for he hath something to tell him.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
So Paul called vnto him one of ye vnder captaynes, and sayde: Brynge this yonge man to the vpper captayne, for he hath somewhat to saye to him.

Mace New Testament (1729)
who having sent for one of the centurions, said, introduce this young man to the tribune, for he has something to communicate to him.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Paul asked to speak to one of the officers and said, "It's extremely important that this young man be allowed to speak to the commander. It's a matter of life and death."

Contextual Overview

¹²Next day the Jews worked up a plot against Paul. They took a solemn oath that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed him. Over forty of them ritually bound themselves to this murder pact and presented themselves to the high priests and religious leaders. "We've bound ourselves by a solemn oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. But we need your help. Send a request from the council to the captain to bring Paul back so that you can investigate the charges in more detail. We'll do the rest. Before he gets anywhere near you, we'll have killed him. You won't be involved." ¹⁶Paul's nephew, his sister's son, overheard them plotting the ambush. He went immediately to the barracks and told Paul. Paul called over one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the captain. He has something important to tell him." ¹⁸ The centurion brought him to the captain and said, "The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He said he has something urgent to tell you." ¹⁹ The captain took him by the arm and led him aside privately. "What is it? What do you have to tell me?" ²⁰Paul's nephew said, "The Jews have worked up a plot against Paul. They're going to ask you to bring Paul to the council first thing in the morning on the pretext that they want to investigate the charges against him in more detail. But it's a trick to get him out of your safekeeping so they can murder him. Right now there are more than forty men lying in ambush for him. They've all taken a vow to neither eat nor drink until they've killed him. The ambush is set—all they're waiting for is for you to send him over." ²² The captain dismissed the nephew with a warning: "Don't breathe a word of this to a soul." ²³The captain called up two centurions. "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go immediately to Caesarea. Also seventy cavalry and two hundred light infantry. I want them ready to march by nine o'clock tonight. And you'll need a couple of mules for Paul and his gear. We're going to present this man safe and sound to Governor Felix." ²⁵Then he wrote this letter: From Claudius Lysias, to the Most Honorable Governor Felix: Greetings! I rescued this man from a Jewish mob. They had seized him and were about to kill him when I learned that he was a Roman citizen. So I sent in my soldiers. Wanting to know what he had done wrong, I had him brought before their council. It turned out to be a squabble turned vicious over some of their religious differences, but nothing remotely criminal. The next thing I knew, they had cooked up a plot to murder him. I decided that for his own safety I'd better get him out of here in a hurry. So I'm sending him to you. I'm informing his accusers that he's now under your jurisdiction. ³¹The soldiers, following orders, took Paul that same night to safety in Antipatris. In the morning the soldiers returned to their barracks in Jerusalem, sending Paul on to Caesarea under guard of the cavalry. The cavalry entered Caesarea and handed Paul and the letter over to the governor. ³⁴After reading the letter, the governor asked Paul what province he came from and was told "Cilicia." Then he said, "I'll take up your case when your accusers show up." He ordered him locked up for the meantime in King Herod's official quarters.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

one: Acts 23:23, Acts 22:26, Proverbs 22:3, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:9, Matthew 10:16

Reciprocal: Matthew 8:5 - a centurion Matthew 27:54 - the centurion Luke 7:2 - centurion's Luke 7:8 - under John 18:12 - the captain Acts 21:31 - chief Acts 22:25 - the centurion Acts 27:1 - a centurion

Cross-References

Genesis 23:7
Then Abraham got up, bowed respectfully to the people of the land, the Hittites, and said, "If you're serious about helping me give my wife a proper burial, intercede for me with Ephron son of Zohar. Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah that he owns, the one at the end of his land. Ask him to sell it to me at its full price for a burial plot, with you as witnesses."

Genesis 23:10
Ephron was part of the local Hittite community. Then Ephron the Hittite spoke up, answering Abraham with all the Hittites who were part of the town council listening: "Oh no, my master! I couldn't do that. The field is yours—a gift. I'll give it and the cave to you. With my people as witnesses, I give it to you. Bury your deceased wife."

Genesis 23:14
Then Ephron answered Abraham, "If you insist, master. What's four hundred silver shekels between us? Now go ahead and bury your wife."

Matthew 10:16
"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.

Acts 7:16
Stephen, Full of the Holy Spirit Then the Chief Priest said, "What do you have to say for yourself?" Stephen replied, "Friends, fathers, and brothers, the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before the move to Haran, and told him, ‘Leave your country and family and go to the land I'll show you.' "So he left the country of the Chaldees and moved to Haran. After the death of his father, he immigrated to this country where you now live, but God gave him nothing, not so much as a foothold. He did promise to give the country to him and his son later on, even though Abraham had no son at the time. God let him know that his offspring would move to an alien country where they would be enslaved and brutalized for four hundred years. ‘But,' God said, ‘I will step in and take care of those slaveholders and bring my people out so they can worship me in this place.' "Then he made a covenant with him and signed it in Abraham's flesh by circumcision. When Abraham had his son Isaac, within eight days he reproduced the sign of circumcision in him. Isaac became father of Jacob, and Jacob father of twelve ‘fathers,' each faithfully passing on the covenant sign. "But then those ‘fathers,' burning up with jealousy, sent Joseph off to Egypt as a slave. God was right there with him, though—he not only rescued him from all his troubles but brought him to the attention of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He was so impressed with Joseph that he put him in charge of the whole country, including his own personal affairs. "Later a famine descended on that entire region, stretching from Egypt to Canaan, bringing terrific hardship. Our hungry fathers looked high and low for food, but the cupboard was bare. Jacob heard there was food in Egypt and sent our fathers to scout it out. Having confirmed the report, they went back to Egypt a second time to get food. On that visit, Joseph revealed his true identity to his brothers and introduced the Jacob family to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent for his father, Jacob, and everyone else in the family, seventy-five in all. That's how the Jacob family got to Egypt. "Jacob died, and our fathers after him. They were taken to Shechem and buried in the tomb for which Abraham paid a good price to the sons of Hamor.

Colossians 4:5
Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him,.... For under this chief captain there must have been ten of them, if the company of which he was captain consisted of a thousand men, as his title chief captain or chiliarch imports; for a centurion was over an hundred men, as his title signifies; perhaps this might be the same, as in Acts 22:25

and said, bring this young man to the chief captain: which was a very prudential step, not to let the centurion into the secret, but to desire him to introduce the young man to the chief captain; for had he trusted the centurion with it, he might not have acquainted his officer with it, but have informed the liers in wait of it: now though the apostle was assured by Christ that he should not die at Jerusalem, but should bear witness of him at Rome, and though he did not distrust the truth of Christ's words, but most firmly believed them; yet he thought it his duty to make use of the means, which providence had put in his way, for his preservation and safety; the Ethiopic version reads, "bring this young man by night to the chief captain"; that so he might not be seen, and observed to have carried any intelligence to him:

for he hath a certain thing to tell him; which was of some moment and importance, and proper for him to know.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Called one of the centurions - Who might at that time have had special charge of the castle, or been on guard. Paul had the most positive divine assurance that his life would be spared, and that he would yet see Rome; but he always understood the divine promises and purposes as being consistent with his own efforts, and with all proper measures of prudence and diligence in securing his own safety. He did not rest merely on the divine promises without any effort of his own, but he took encouragement from those promises to put forth his own exertions for security and for salvation.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 23:17. Bring this young man unto the chief captain — Though St. Paul had the most positive assurance from Divine authority that he should be preserved, yet he knew that the Divine providence acts by reasonable and prudent means; and that, if he neglected to use the means in his power, he could not expect God's providence to work in his behalf. He who will not help himself, according to the means and power he possesses, has neither reason nor revelation to assure him that he shall receive any assistance from God.