Acts 22:30
On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
Original Language Analysis
Τῇ
G3588
Τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 35
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐπαύριον
On the morrow
G1887
ἐπαύριον
On the morrow
Strong's:
G1887
Word #:
3 of 35
occurring on the succeeding day, i.e., (g2250 being implied) to-morrow
γνῶναι
have known
G1097
γνῶναι
have known
Strong's:
G1097
Word #:
5 of 35
to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 35
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 35
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τί
wherefore
G5101
τί
wherefore
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
9 of 35
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
κατηγορεῖται
he was accused
G2723
κατηγορεῖται
he was accused
Strong's:
G2723
Word #:
10 of 35
to be a plaintiff, i.e., to charge with some offence
παρὰ
of
G3844
παρὰ
of
Strong's:
G3844
Word #:
11 of 35
properly, near; i.e., (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subj
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
12 of 35
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
αὐτούς
him
G846
αὐτούς
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
15 of 35
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἀπὸ
from
G575
ἀπὸ
from
Strong's:
G575
Word #:
16 of 35
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
17 of 35
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δεσμῶν,
his bands
G1199
δεσμῶν,
his bands
Strong's:
G1199
Word #:
18 of 35
a band, i.e., ligament (of the body) or shackle (of a prisoner); figuratively, an impediment or disability
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
19 of 35
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐλθεῖν
to appear
G2064
ἐλθεῖν
to appear
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
21 of 35
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 35
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
G749
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
23 of 35
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
24 of 35
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὅλον
all
G3650
ὅλον
all
Strong's:
G3650
Word #:
25 of 35
"whole" or "all", i.e., complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
26 of 35
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συνέδριον
council
G4892
συνέδριον
council
Strong's:
G4892
Word #:
27 of 35
a joint session, i.e., (specially), the jewish sanhedrin; by analogy, a subordinate tribunal
αὐτούς
him
G846
αὐτούς
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
28 of 35
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
29 of 35
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
31 of 35
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Παῦλον
Paul
G3972
Παῦλον
Paul
Strong's:
G3972
Word #:
32 of 35
(little; but remotely from a derivative of g3973, meaning the same); paulus, the name of a roman and of an apostle
ἔστησεν
and set him
G2476
ἔστησεν
and set him
Strong's:
G2476
Word #:
33 of 35
to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Acts 23:28And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:Acts 21:33Then 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.Acts 21:11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.Acts 23:15Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.Acts 22:5As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.Acts 5:21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.Acts 26:29And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Historical Context
The Sanhedrin was the highest Jewish court, composed of 71 members including chief priests (Sadducees), scribes, and elders (Pharisees). Rome allowed it jurisdiction over religious matters but retained control of capital punishment. The tribune's convening of the Sanhedrin was within his authority as garrison commander—he needed to determine if the charges against Paul were criminal (Roman jurisdiction) or religious (Jewish jurisdiction). This hearing (c. AD 57) becomes another opportunity for Paul to testify before Jewish leaders, fulfilling Jesus's prediction (Acts 9:15).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the tribune's desire for 'certainty' about the charges contrast with the Jewish leaders' willingness to kill Paul without clear legal grounds?
- What does Paul's movement from Roman military custody to the Sanhedrin hearing teach about God's sovereignty over all earthly authorities?
- In what ways does this passage illustrate that opposition to the gospel is often fundamentally theological/spiritual rather than genuinely legal or ethical?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews—Unable to torture Paul, the tribune seeks θὸ ἀσφαλὲς (to asphales, 'the certainty, reliable information') about the Jewish accusations (κατηγορεῖται, katēgoreitai, 'he is accused'). The phrase βουλόμενος γνῶναι (boulomenos gnōnai, 'wanting to know') shows genuine desire to understand the charges, which seem religious rather than criminal.
He loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear—The tribune ἔλυσε (elyse, 'released') Paul from chains and convened the Sanhedrin. Commanding (ἐκέλευσε, ekeleuse) Jewish leadership to assemble shows Roman authority over local religious courts. And brought Paul down, and set him before them—Paul transitions from Roman custody to a kind of legal hearing before the Sanhedrin, though still under Roman protection. This sets up Paul's strategic declaration 'I am a Pharisee' (23:6), which divides the council and further demonstrates the theological nature of the opposition.