The Meaning of Acts 22:25 Explained

Acts 22:25

KJV: And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

YLT: And as he was stretching him with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion who was standing by, 'A man, a Roman, uncondemned -- is it lawful to you to scourge;'

Darby: But as they stretched him forward with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?

ASV: And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  as  they bound  {5625;4385:5656} him  with thongs,  Paul  said  unto  the centurion  that stood by,  Is it lawful  for you  to scourge  a man  that is a Roman,  and  uncondemned? 

What does Acts 22:25 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Roman law protected Roman citizens from the scourge (Lat. flagellum) before they went on trial and even if they were guilty. [1] The fact that Paul raised a question in his defense rather than demanding his release reflects his self-control in this dangerous situation. He was under the Spirit"s control.
". . . martyrdom is only of value when it cannot be avoided." [2]
"Paul waits until he has been chained for the same reason as in1637; he now has legal room to maneuver against them." [3]

Context Summary

Acts 22:17-30 - Saved For Further Service
To the story of his conversion, as given in Acts 9:1-43, the Apostle here adds a detailed account of that memorable interview in the Temple, when he questioned the advisability of the Lord's command that he should leave Jerusalem, and received his final and irrevocable commission to go to the Gentiles. It is a great privilege to be permitted to overhear this dialogue! How close and intimate is the disciple's relationship with his Lord! God allowed Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah to reason with Him. He does not crush down our intelligence. It is His own word, "Come, let us reason together." But there is a point beyond which we may not go, when we must accept without question the final instructions of our Captain.
A free-born Roman was Paul. More than once he had asserted his rights as a Roman citizen, as at Philippi. There are various social and political advantages which we can turn to account in our service of the gospel, but they cannot carry us very far, and ultimately we are better off if we step out upon the unwonted waters, simply because Jesus says, Come! [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 22

1  Paul declares how he was converted to the faith,
17  and called to his apostleship
22  At the very mentioning of the Gentiles the people exclaim on him
24  He would have been scourged;
25  but claiming the privilege of a Roman, he escapes

Greek Commentary for Acts 22:25

When they had tied him up [ος προετειναν αυτον]
First aorist active indicative of προτεινω — proteinō old verb to stretch forward, only here in the N.T. Literally, “When they stretched him forward.” [source]
With the thongs [τοις ιμασιν]
If the instrumental case of ιμας — himas old word for strap or thong (for sandals as Mark 1:7, or for binding criminals as here), then Paul was bent forward and tied by the thongs to a post in front to expose his back the better to the scourges. But τοις ιμασιν — tois himasin may be dative case and then it would mean “for the lashes.” In either case it is a dreadful scene of terrorizing by the chiliarch. Unto the centurion that stood by (προς τον εστωτα εκατονταρχον — pros ton hestōta hekatontarchon). He was simply carrying out the orders of the chiliarch (cf. Matthew 27:54). Why had not Paul made protest before this? Is it lawful? This use of ει — ei in indirect questions we have had before (Acts 1:6). A Roman and uncondemned (ομαιον και ακατακριτον — Romaion kai akatakriton). Just as in Acts 16:37 which see. Blass says of Paul‘s question: Interrogatio subironica esto4 confidentiae plena. [source]
Unto the centurion that stood by [προς τον εστωτα εκατονταρχον]
He was simply carrying out the orders of the chiliarch (cf. Matthew 27:54). Why had not Paul made protest before this? [source]
Is it lawful? [ει εχεστιν]
This use of ει — ei in indirect questions we have had before (Acts 1:6). A Roman and uncondemned (ομαιον και ακατακριτον — Romaion kai akatakriton). Just as in Acts 16:37 which see. Blass says of Paul‘s question: Interrogatio subironica esto4 confidentiae plena. [source]
A Roman and uncondemned [ομαιον και ακατακριτον]
Just as in Acts 16:37 which see. Blass says of Paul‘s question: Interrogatio subironica esto4 confidentiae plena. [source]
Bound him with thongs [προέτειναν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἱμᾶσιν]
Against the rendering of the A. V. is the word προέειναν ,they stretched forward, in allusion to the position of the victim for scourging, and the article with thongs; “the thongs,” with reference to some well-known instrument. If the words referred simply to binding him, with thongs would be superfluous. It is better, therefore, to take thongs as referring to the scourge, consisting of one or more lashes or cords, a sense in which it occurs in classical Greek, and to render stretched him out for (or before )the thongs. The word is used elsewhere in the New Testament of a shoe-latchet (Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:27). [source]
Roman []
See on Acts 16:37. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 22:25

Luke 7:2 Centurion‘s servant [εκατονταρχου τινος δουλος]
Slave of a certain centurion (Latin word centurio, commander of a century or hundred). Mark 15:39, Mark 15:44 has the Latin word in Greek letters, χεντυριο — kenturiōn The centurion commanded a company which varied from fifty to a hundred. Each cohort had six centuries. Each legion had ten cohorts or bands (Acts 10:1). The centurions mentioned in the N.T. all seem to be fine men as Polybius states that the best men in the army had this position. See also Luke 23:47. The Greek has two forms of the word, both from κεντυριων — hekaton hundred, and εκατον — archō to rule, and they appear to be used interchangeably. So we have αρχω — hekatontarchos here, the form is -εκατονταρχος — archos and αρχος — hekatontarchēs the form is -εκατονταρχης — archēs in Luke 7:6. The manuscripts differ about it in almost every instance. The -αρχης — archos form is accepted by Westcott and Hort only in the nominative save the genitive singular here in Luke 7:2 and the accusative singular in Acts 22:25. See like variation between them in Matthew 8:5, Matthew 8:8 (-αρχος — archos) and Matthew 8:13 So also -αρχηι — archon (Acts 22:25) and -αρχον — archēs (Acts 22:26). [source]
Acts 1:6 Asked [ηρωτων]
Imperfect active, repeatedly asked before Jesus answered. Lord (κυριε — kurie). Here not in the sense of “sir” (Matthew 21:30), but to Jesus as Lord and Master as often in Acts (Acts 19:5, Acts 19:10, etc.) and in prayer to Jesus (Acts 7:59). Dost thou restore The use of ει — ei in an indirect question is common. We have already seen its use in direct questions (Matthew 12:10; Luke 13:23 which see note for discussion), possibly in imitation of the Hebrew (frequent in the lxx) or as a partial condition without conclusion. See also Acts 7:1; Acts 19:2; Acts 21:37; Acts 22:25. The form of the verb αποκατιστανω — apokathistanō is late (also αποκατισταω — apokathistaō) omega form for the old and common αποκατιστημι — apokathistēmi double compound, to restore to its former state. As a matter of fact the Messianic kingdom for which they are asking is a political kingdom that would throw off the hated Roman yoke. It is a futuristic present and they are uneasy that Jesus may yet fail to fulfil their hopes. Surely here is proof that the eleven apostles needed the promise of the Father before they began to spread the message of the Risen Christ. They still yearn for a political kingdom for Israel even after faith and hope have come back. They need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (John 14-16) and the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4.). [source]
Acts 1:6 Dost thou restore [ει αποκατιστανεις]
The use of ει — ei in an indirect question is common. We have already seen its use in direct questions (Matthew 12:10; Luke 13:23 which see note for discussion), possibly in imitation of the Hebrew (frequent in the lxx) or as a partial condition without conclusion. See also Acts 7:1; Acts 19:2; Acts 21:37; Acts 22:25. The form of the verb αποκατιστανω — apokathistanō is late (also αποκατισταω — apokathistaō) omega form for the old and common αποκατιστημι — apokathistēmi double compound, to restore to its former state. As a matter of fact the Messianic kingdom for which they are asking is a political kingdom that would throw off the hated Roman yoke. It is a futuristic present and they are uneasy that Jesus may yet fail to fulfil their hopes. Surely here is proof that the eleven apostles needed the promise of the Father before they began to spread the message of the Risen Christ. They still yearn for a political kingdom for Israel even after faith and hope have come back. They need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (John 14-16) and the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4.). [source]
Acts 10:1 Cornelius [Kornēlios)]
The great Cornelian family of Rome may have had a freedman or descendant who is centurion See Matthew 8:5. These Roman centurions always appear in a favourable light in the N.T. (Matthew 8:5; Luke 7:2; Luke 23:47; Acts 10:1; Acts 22:25; Acts 27:3). Furneaux notes the contrasts between Joppa, the oldest town in Palestine, and Caesarea, built by Herod; the Galilean fisherman lodging with a tanner and the Roman officer in the seat of governmental authority. [source]
Acts 16:22 Rent their garments off them [περιρηχαντες αυτων τα ιματια]
First aorist active participle of περιρηγνυμι — perirēgnumi old verb, to break off all around, to strip or rend all round. Here only in the N.T. The duumvirs probably gave orders for Paul and Silas to be stripped of their outer garments As a Roman citizen this was unlawful, but the duumvirs looked on Paul and Silas as vagabond and seditious Jews and “acted with the highhandedness characteristic of the fussy provincial authorities” (Knowling). Commanded (εκελευον — ekeleuon). Imperfect active, repeatedly ordered. The usual formula of command was: “Go, lictors; strip off their garments; let them be scourged.” To beat them with rods Present active infinitive of ραβδιζω — rhabdizō old verb, but in the N.T.=virgis caedere only here and 2 Corinthians 11:25 where Paul alludes to this incident and two others not given by Luke He came near getting another in Jerusalem (Acts 22:25). Why did not Paul say here that he was a Roman citizen as he does later (Acts 16:37) and in Jerusalem (Acts 22:26.)? It might have done no good in this hubbub and no opportunity was allowed for defence of any kind. [source]
Acts 16:22 To beat them with rods [ραβδιζειν]
Present active infinitive of ραβδιζω — rhabdizō old verb, but in the N.T.=virgis caedere only here and 2 Corinthians 11:25 where Paul alludes to this incident and two others not given by Luke He came near getting another in Jerusalem (Acts 22:25). Why did not Paul say here that he was a Roman citizen as he does later (Acts 16:37) and in Jerusalem (Acts 22:26.)? It might have done no good in this hubbub and no opportunity was allowed for defence of any kind. [source]
Acts 16:37 They have beaten us [δειραντες ημας]
First aorist active participle of δερω — derō old verb to flay, to skin, to smite. The Lex Valeria b.c. 509 and the Lex Poscia b.c. 248 made it a crime to inflict blows on a Roman citizen. Cicero says, “To fetter a Roman citizen was a crime, to scourge him a scandal, to slay him--parricide.” Claudius had “deprived the city of Rhodes of its freedom for having crucified some citizen of Rome” (Rackham). Publicly (δημοσιαι — dēmosiāi). This added insult to injury. Common adverb (οδωι — hodōi) supplied with adjective, associative instrumental case, opposed to ιδιαι — idiāi or κατ οικους — kat' oikous Acts 20:20) Uncondemned This same verbal adjective from κατακρινω — katȧkrinō with α — a privative is used by Paul in Acts 22:25 and nowhere else in the N.T. Rare in late Greek like ακαταγνωστος — akatagnōstos but in late Koiné (papyri, inscriptions). The meaning is clearly “without being tried.” Paul and Silas were not given a chance to make a defence. They were sentenced unheard (Acts 25:16). Even slaves in Roman law had a right to be heard. Men that are Romans (αντρωπους ομαιους υπαρχοντας — anthrōpous Romaious huparchontas). The praetors did not know, of course, that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens any more than Lysias knew it in Acts 22:27. Paul‘s claim is not challenged in either instance. It was a capital offence to make a false claim to Roman citizenship. Have cast us into prison Second aorist active indicative of βαλλω — ballō old verb, with first aorist ending as often in the Koiné This was the climax, treating them as criminals. And now privily (και νυν λατραι — kai nun lathrāi). Paul balances their recent conduct with the former. Nay verily, but No indeed! It is the use of γεαρα — gar so common in answers As a public acknowledgment that they had wronged and mistreated Paul and Silas. Let them come themselves and lead us out (εχαγω — exagagetōsan third person plural second aorist active imperative of exagō). It was a bitter pill to the proud praetors. [source]
Acts 16:37 Uncondemned [ακατακριτους]
This same verbal adjective from κατακρινω — katȧkrinō with α — a privative is used by Paul in Acts 22:25 and nowhere else in the N.T. Rare in late Greek like ακαταγνωστος — akatagnōstos but in late Koiné (papyri, inscriptions). The meaning is clearly “without being tried.” Paul and Silas were not given a chance to make a defence. They were sentenced unheard (Acts 25:16). Even slaves in Roman law had a right to be heard. Men that are Romans (αντρωπους ομαιους υπαρχοντας — anthrōpous Romaious huparchontas). The praetors did not know, of course, that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens any more than Lysias knew it in Acts 22:27. Paul‘s claim is not challenged in either instance. It was a capital offence to make a false claim to Roman citizenship. Have cast us into prison Second aorist active indicative of βαλλω — ballō old verb, with first aorist ending as often in the Koiné This was the climax, treating them as criminals. And now privily (και νυν λατραι — kai nun lathrāi). Paul balances their recent conduct with the former. Nay verily, but No indeed! It is the use of γεαρα — gar so common in answers As a public acknowledgment that they had wronged and mistreated Paul and Silas. Let them come themselves and lead us out (εχαγω — exagagetōsan third person plural second aorist active imperative of exagō). It was a bitter pill to the proud praetors. [source]
2 Corinthians 11:23 Stripes above measure [ὑπερβαλλόντως]
This peculiar form of suffering is emphasized by details. He specifies three Roman scourgings, and five at the hands of the Jews. Of the former, only one is recorded, that at Philippi (Acts 16:22, Acts 16:23. See on Acts 22:25), and none of the latter. The Jewish scourge consisted of two thongs made of calf's or ass's skin, passing through a hole in a handle. Thirteen blows were inflicted on the breast, thirteen on the right, and thirteen on the left shoulder. The law in Deuteronomy 25:3permitted forty blows, but only thirty-nine were given, in order to avoid a possible miscount. During the punishment the chief judge read aloud Deuteronomy 28:58, Deuteronomy 28:59; Deuteronomy 29:9; Acts href="/desk/?q=ac+16:37&sr=1">Acts 16:37), and from well-known instances of the scourging of even senators under the Empire. [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 22:25 mean?

As however he stretched forward him with the straps said to the standing by centurion - Paul If a man a Roman and uncondemned it is lawful to you to flog
Ὡς δὲ προέτειναν αὐτὸν τοῖς ἱμᾶσιν εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν ἑστῶτα ἑκατόνταρχον Παῦλος Εἰ ἄνθρωπον Ῥωμαῖον καὶ ἀκατάκριτον ἔξεστιν ὑμῖν μαστίζειν

δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
προέτειναν  he  stretched  forward 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: προτείνω  
Sense: to stretch forth, stretch out.
τοῖς  with  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἱμᾶσιν  straps 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἱμάς  
Sense: a thong of leather, a strap.
εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
ἑστῶτα  standing  by 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἵστημι  
Sense: to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set.
ἑκατόνταρχον  centurion 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἑκατοντάρχης 
Sense: an officer in the Roman army.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Παῦλος  Paul 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Παῦλος  
Sense: Paul was the most famous of the apostles and wrote a good part of the NT, the 4 Pauline epistles.
ἄνθρωπον  a  man 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
Ῥωμαῖον  a  Roman 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Ῥωμαῖος  
Sense: a resident of the city of Rome, a Roman citizen.
ἀκατάκριτον  uncondemned 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀκατάκριτος  
Sense: uncondemned, punished without being tried.
ἔξεστιν  it  is  lawful 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἔξεστι 
Sense: it is lawful.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
μαστίζειν  to  flog 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: μαστίζω  
Sense: to whip, flog, scourge.