SEV Biblia, Chapter 22:25
Y como le ataron con correas, Pablo dijo al centurin que estaba presente: ¿Os es lícito azotar a un hombre romano sin ser condenado?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 22:25
Verse 25. And as they bound him, &c.] They were going to tie him to a post, that they might scourge him. Is it lawful, &c.] The Roman law absolutely forbade the binding of a Roman citizen. See the note on chap. xvi. 37.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 25. And as they bound him with thongs , etc.] To a pillar, in order to be scourged, according to the Roman manner f1132 . Nor was the Jewish form of scourging much unlike, and perhaps might be now used, which was this; when they scourge anyone they bind both his hands to a pillar, here and there and they do not strike him standing nor sitting, but inclining f1133 ; for the pillar to which he was bound was fixed in the ground, and so high as for a man to lean upon f1134 ; and some say it was two cubits, and others a cubit and a half high f1135 : and the word here used signifies an extension, or distension; perhaps the stretching out of the arms to the pillar, and a bending forward of the whole body, which fitly expresses the stooping inclining posture of the person scourged, and was a very proper one for such a punishment: now as they were thus fastening him with thongs to the pillar, and putting him in this position, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by ; to see the soldiers execute the orders received from the chief captain: is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned ?
Though the apostle puts this by way of question, yet he knew full well what the Roman laws were in such cases; he did not put this through ignorance, or for information, but to let them know who he was, and to put them in mind of these laws, and of their duty; for, according to the Porcian law, Roman citizens were not to be beaten f1136 . Hence, says Cicero, it is a heinous sin to bind a Roman citizen, it is wickedness to beat him, it is next to parricide to kill him, and what shall I say to crucify him?
And, according to the Valerian law, it was not lawful for magistrates to condemn a Roman without hearing the cause, and pleading in it; and such condemned persons might appeal to the populace f1138 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 22-30 - The Jews listened to Paul's account of his conversion, but the mentio of his being sent to the Gentiles, was so contrary to all their national prejudices, that they would hear no more. Their franti conduct astonished the Roman officer, who supposed that Paul must have committed some great crime. Paul pleaded his privilege as a Roma citizen, by which he was exempted from all trials and punishments whic might force him to confess himself guilty. The manner of his speakin plainly shows what holy security and serenity of mind he enjoyed. A Paul was a Jew, in low circumstances, the Roman officer questioned ho he obtained so valuable a distinction; but the apostle told him he wa free born. Let us value that freedom to which all the children of God are born; which no sum of money, however large, can purchase for thos who remain unregenerate. This at once put a stop to his trouble. Thu many are kept from evil practices by the fear of man, who would not be held back from them by the fear of God. The apostle asks, simply, Is i lawful? He knew that the God whom he served would support him under all sufferings for his name's sake. But if it were not lawful, the apostle's religion directed him, if possible, to avoid it. He neve shrunk from a cross which his Divine Master laid upon his onward road and he never stept aside out of that road to take one up __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
ως 5613 ADV δε 1161 CONJ {VAR1: προετεινεν 4385 5656 V-AAI-3S } {VAR2: προετειναν 4385 5656 V-AAI-3P } αυτον 846 P-ASM τοις 3588 T-DPM ιμασιν 2438 N-DPM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S προς 4314 PREP τον 3588 T-ASM εστωτα 2476 5761 V-RAP-ASM εκατονταρχον 1543 N-ASM ο 3588 T-NSM παυλος 3972 N-NSM ει 1487 COND ανθρωπον 444 N-ASM ρωμαιον 4514 A-ASM και 2532 CONJ ακατακριτον 178 A-ASM εξεστιν 1832 5904 V-PQI-3S υμιν 5213 P-2DP μαστιζειν 3147 5721 V-PAN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
25. Bound him with thongs (proeteinan aujton toiv iJmasin). Against the rendering of the A.V. is the word proeteinan, they stretched forward, in allusion to the position of the victim for scourging, and the article with thongs; "the thongs," with reference to some well-known instrument. If the words referred simply to binding him, with thongs would be superfluous. It is better, therefore, to take thongs as referring to the scourge, consisting of one or more lashes or cords, a sense in which it occurs in classical Greek, and to render stretched him out for (or before) the thongs. The word is used elsewhere in the New Testament of a shoe-latchet (Mark i. 7; Luke iii. 16; John i. 27).Roman. See on ch. xvi. 37.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
22:25 {When they had tied him up} (hos proeteinan auton). First aorist active indicative of proteinw, old verb to stretch forward, only here in the N.T. Literally, "When they stretched him forward." {With the thongs} (tois himasin). If the instrumental case of himas, old word for strap or thong (for sandals as #Mr 1:7, or for binding criminals as here), qen Paul was bent forward and tied by the thongs to a post in front to expose his back the better to the scourges. But tois himasin may be dative case and qen it would mean "for the lashes." In either case it is a dreadful scene of terrorizing by the chiliarch. {Unto the centurion that stood by} (pros ton hestwta hekatontarcon). He was simply carrying out the orders of the chiliarch (cf. #Mt 27:54). Why had not Paul made protest before this ? {Is it lawful?} (ei exestin?). this use of ei in indirect questions we have had before (#1:6). {A Roman and uncondemned} (romaion kai akatakriton). Just as in #16:37 which see. Blass says of Paul's question: _Interrogatio subironica est confidentiae plena_.
