Acts 23:17

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

Acts 23:17 in Other Translations

17 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.

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

17 Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him.”

17 Paul called over one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the captain. He has something important to tell him."

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him."

Acts 23:17 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 23:17

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 Acts 22:26 )

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.

Acts 23:17 In-Context

15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

18 So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”