SEV Biblia, Chapter 23:23
Y llamados dos centuriones, les mand que apercibiesen doscientos soldados, que fuesen hasta Cesarea, y setenta de a caballo con los doscientos lanceros , que lo acompaasen desde la hora tercera de la noche.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 23:23
Verse 23. Two hundred soldiers] stratiwtav, Infantry or foot soldiers. Horsemen threescore and ten] There was always a certain number of horse, or cavalry, attached to the foot.
Spearmen] dexiolabouv, Persons who held a spear or javelin in their hand; from en th dexia labein taking or holding a thing in the right hand.
But the Codex Alexandrinus reads dexiobolouv, from dexia, the right hand, and ballein, to cast or dart, persons who threw javelins. But both words seem to mean nearly the same thing.
The third hour of the night] About nine o'clock P.M., for the greater secrecy, and to elude the cunning, active malice of the Jews.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. And he called to him two centurions , etc.] Who had each of them an hundred soldiers under them: saying, make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea ; which was formerly called Stratos tower, a sea port town, where Felix the Roman governor now was; it was six hundred furlongs, or seventy five miles f1158 from Jerusalem: these two hundred soldiers were foot soldiers, as appears by their being distinguished from horsemen in the next clause, and were just the number that the two centurions had the command of; the making of them ready, was their seeing to it, that they were properly clothed, and accoutred with arms and ammunition, and with sufficient provision for their journey: and horsemen threescore and ten ; the Ethiopic version reads, a hundred; but without support from any copy: and spearmen two hundred; who carried spears in their right hand; the word used signifies such who receive, lay hold on, or hold anything in their right hand: some think it designs such who were employed in the militia, to lay hold on guilty persons, and hold them; the Alexandrian copy reads, dexiobolouv , those that cast with the right hand; and so reads the Syriac version, to which the Arabic agrees, which renders it darters; such as carried darts in their hands, and did not shoot out of a bow, but cast darts with their hands: now these being got ready, were ordered to march, at the third hour of the night ; at nine oclock at night, that they might go out unobserved, and before the petition from the sanhedrim was presented to him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-24 - False religious principles, adopted by carnal men, urge on to suc wickedness, as human nature would hardly be supposed capable of. Ye the Lord readily disappoints the best concerted schemes of iniquity Paul knew that the Divine providence acts by reasonable and pruden 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 wil not help himself according to his means and power, has neither reaso 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.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ προσκαλεσαμενος 4341 5666 V-ADP-NSM δυο 1417 A-NUI τινας 5100 X-APM των 3588 T-GPM εκατονταρχων 1543 N-GPM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S ετοιμασατε 2090 5657 V-AAM-2P στρατιωτας 4757 N-APM διακοσιους 1250 A-APM οπως 3704 ADV πορευθωσιν 4198 5680 V-AOS-3P εως 2193 CONJ καισαρειας 2542 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ ιππεις 2460 N-APM εβδομηκοντα 1440 A-NUI και 2532 CONJ δεξιολαβους 1187 N-APM διακοσιους 1250 A-APM απο 575 PREP τριτης 5154 A-GSF ωρας 5610 N-GSF της 3588 T-GSF νυκτος 3571 N-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
23. Soldiers (stratiwtav). Heavy-armed footmen: legionaries.Spearmen (dexiolabouv). Only here in New Testament, and not in classical Greek. From dexiov, right, and lambanw, to take. The exact meaning is uncertain. Some explain it as those who take the right side of the prisoners whom they have in charge; others, those who grasp (their weapon) with the right hand; others, again, those who hold (a second horse) by the right hand. They are here distinguished from the heavy armed legionaries and the cavalry. They were probably light-armed troops, javelin-throwers or slingers. One of the principal manuscripts reads dexiobolouv, "those who throw with the right hand."
Robertson's NT Word Studies
23:23 {Two} (tinas duo). "Some two" as in #Lu 7:19, indicating (Page) that they were not specially chosen. {Soldiers} (stratiwtas), {horsemen} (hippeis), {spearmen} (dexiolabous). The three varieties of troops in a Roman army like the cohort of Lysias (Page). The stratiwtai were the heavy-armed legionaries, the hippeis belonged to every legion, the dexiolaboi were light-armed supplementary troops who carried a lance in the right hand (dexios, right, lambanw, to take). Vulgate, _lancearios_. At the third hour of the night (apo trites hwras tes nuktos). About nine in the evening.
