Acts 23 · Verse 10

Acts 23:10

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.
Acts 23:10, King James Version

Acts 23:10 in other translations

BSBThe dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
WEBWhen a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks.
ASVAnd when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.
YLTand a great dissension having come, the chief captain having been afraid lest Paul may be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiery, having gone down, to take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring him to the castle.
DARBYAnd a great tumult having arisen, the chiliarch, fearing lest Paul should have been torn in pieces by them, commanded the troop to come down and take him by force from the midst of them, and to bring him into the fortress.
BBEAnd when the argument became very violent, the chief captain, fearing that Paul would be pulled in two by them, gave orders to the armed men to take him by force from among them, and take him into the army building.
WebsterAnd when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul would have been pulled in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

What does Acts 23:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. 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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 10. A great dissension. A great tumult, excitement, or controversy.

Into the castle. Acts 21:34.

(*) "dissension" "disturbance" (+) "chief captain" "commander"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 The 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 23:6-11

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…

Read the full comment on Acts 23:6-11 →

Acts 23:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

πολλῆςpollēsgreatG4183
δὲdethenG1161
γινομένηςginomenēsis becomingG1096
στάσεως,staseōsdissension,G4714
φοβηθεὶςphobētheishaving fearedG5399
ὁhotheG3588
χιλίαρχοςchiliarchoscommanderG5506
μὴmēlestG3361
διασπασθῇdiaspasthēamay be torn to piecesG1288
ὁho<the>G3588
ΠαῦλοςPaulosPaulG3972
ὑπ᾽hup᾽byG5259
αὐτῶνautōnthemG846
ἐκέλευσενekeleusenhe commandedG2753
τὸtotheG3588
στράτευμαstrateumatroopG4753
καταβὰνkatabanhaving gone downG2597
ἁρπάσαιharpasaito take by forceG726
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
ἐκekfromG1537
μέσουmesoumidstG3319
αὐτῶν,autōnof them,G846
ἄγεινageinto bring [him]G71
τεtethenG5037
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
παρεμβολήν.¶parembolēnbarracks.G3925

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 23:10

  • Acts 22:24

    The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

  • James 1:19

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

  • James 3:14-4:2

    But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. …

  • Acts 23:32

    On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:

  • Micah 3:3

    Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.

  • Psalms 7:2

    Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

  • Acts 19:28-31

    And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

  • Psalms 50:22

    Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

  • Acts 23:16

    And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

  • Acts 23:27

    This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

  • Acts 21:30-36

    And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
fearing.
27; 19:28-31; 21:30-36; Ps 7:2; 50:22; Mic 3:3; Jas 1:19; 3:14-18
Jas 4:1,2
to take.
22:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 23:9

    And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

  • Acts 23:10

    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.

  • Acts 23:11

    And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

Read all of Acts 23

Acts 23:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y habiendo grande disensión, el tribuno, teniendo temor de que Pablo fuese despedazado de ellos, mandó venir soldados, y arrebatarle de en medio de ellos, y llevarle á la fortaleza.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et un grand tumulte s’étant élevé, le chiliarque, craignant que Paul ne soit mis en pièces par eux, commanda à la troupe de descendre et de l’enlever du milieu d’eux et de le conduire à la forteresse.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Als aber ein großer Zwiespalt entstand, fürchtete der Oberste, Paulus möchte von ihnen zerrissen werden, und befahl, daß das Kriegsvolk hinabgehe und ihn aus ihrer Mitte wegreiße und in das Lager führe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et cum magna dissensio facta esset, timens tribunus ne discerperetur Paulus ab ipsis, jussit milites descendere, et rapere eum de medio eorum, ac deducere eum in castra.