Acts 23:19
◄  Acts 23:19  ►
New International Version (©2011)
The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, "What is it you want to tell me?"

New Living Translation (©2007)
The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, "What is it you want to tell me?"

English Standard Version (©2001)
The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, "What is it that you have to report to me?"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Then the commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, "What is it you have to report to me?""

International Standard Version (©2012)
The tribune took him by the hand, stepped aside to be alone with him, and asked, "What have you got to tell me?"

NET Bible (©2006)
The commanding officer took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, "What is it that you want to report to me?"

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And the Chiliarch took the youth by the hand and drew him to one side and was asking him, “What do you have to say to me?”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The officer took the young man by the arm, went where they could be alone, and asked him, "What do you have to tell me?"

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is it that you have to tell me?

American King James Version
Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that you have to tell me?

American Standard Version
And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the tribune taking him by the hand, went aside with him privately, and asked him: What is it that thou hast to tell me?

Darby Bible Translation
And the chiliarch having taken him by the hand, and having gone apart in private, inquired, What is it that thou hast to report to me?

English Revised Version
And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is that thou hast to tell me?

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

Weymouth New Testament
Then the Tribune, taking him by the arm, withdrew out of the hearing of others and asked him, "What have you to tell me?"

World English Bible
The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"

Young's Literal Translation
And the chief captain having taken him by the hand, and having withdrawn by themselves, inquired, 'What is that which thou hast to tell me?'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:12-24 False religious principles, adopted by carnal men, urge on to such wickedness, as human nature would hardly be supposed capable of. Yet the Lord readily disappoints the best concerted schemes of iniquity. Paul 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 on his behalf. He who will not help himself according to his means and power, has neither reason nor revelation to assure him that he shall receive help from God. Believing in the Lord, we and ours shall be kept from every evil work, and kept to his kingdom. Heavenly Father, give us by thy Holy Spirit, for Christ's sake, this precious faith.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 19. - And for then, A.V.; going aside asked him privately for went with him aside privately, and asked him, A.V. Took him by the hand (ἐπιλαβόμενος τῆς χειρὸς); see above, Acts 17:19, note. The action denotes a kindly feeling towards St. Paul, as indeed his whole conduct does (comp. Acts 24:23; Acts 27:3; also Daniel 1:9 and Psalm 106:46).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then the chief captain took him by the hand,.... Some have thought that the reason of this was, that he expected that the young man had brought him a present in his hand, from Paul; but this is to represent him as a sordid mercenary man, which ought not to be said, without sufficient proof; rather this should be considered as an instance of civility and humanity, and what showed him to be a man of breeding and good manners; and might be done partly out of respect to Paul, and partly to encourage the young man to use freedom in the account he was about to give him:

and went with him aside privately; concluding by his coming from Paul, and perceiving by the account of the centurion, that he had a secret to communicate to him; wherefore it was acting a wise and prudent part to take him into a private room, and hear what he had to say:

and asked him, what is that thou hast to tell me? thereby giving the young man an opportunity, and encouraging him to relate the secret to him.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

19. took him by the hand—This shows that he must have been quite in his boyhood, and throws a pleasing light on the kind-hearted impartiality of this officer.

Acts 23:19 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Plot to Kill Paul
…18So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him, and prayed me to bring this young man to you, who has something to say to you. 19Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that you have to tell me? 20And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire you that you would bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. …

John 18:12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him
Acts 17:19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
Acts 23:18 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."
Acts 23:20 He said: "Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.