SEV Biblia, Chapter 22:29
Así que, luego se apartaron de l los que le habían de atormentar; y aun el tribuno tambin tuvo temor, entendido que era romano, por haberle atado.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 22:29
Verse 29. After he knew that he was a Roman] He who was going to scourge him durst not proceed to the torture when Paul declared himself to be a Roman. A passage from Cicero, Orat. pro Verr. Act. ii. lib. v. 64, throws the fullest light on this place: Ille, quisquis erat, quem tu in crucem rapiebas, qui tibi esset ignotus, cum civem se Romanum esse diceret, apud te Praetorem, si non effugium, ne moram quidem mortis mentione atque usurpatione civitatis assequi potuit? "Whosoever he might be whom thou wert hurrying to the rack, were he even unknown to thee, if he said that he was a Roman citizen, he would necessarily obtain from thee, the Praetor, by the simple mention of Rome, if not an escape, yet at least a delay of his punishment." The whole of the sixty-fourth and sixty-fifth sections of this oration, which speak so pointedly on this subject, are worthy of consideration. Of this privilege he farther says, Ib. in cap. lvii., Illa vox et exclamatio, Civis Romanus sum, quae saepe multis in ultimis terris opem inter barbaros et salutem tulit, &c. That exclamation, I am a Roman citizen, which often times has brought assistance and safety, even among barbarians, in the remotest parts of the earth, &c. PLUTARCH likewise, in his Life of Pompey, (vol. iii. p. 445, edit. Bryan,) says, concerning the behaviour of the pirates, when they had taken any Roman prisoner, ekeino de hn ubristikwtaton k. t. l. what was the most contumelious was this; when any of those whom they had made captives cried out, rwmaiov einai, THAT HE WAS A ROMAN, and told them his name, they pretended to be surprised, and be in a fright, and smote upon their thighs, and fell down (on their knees) to him, beseeching him to pardon them! It is no wonder then that the torturer desisted, when Paul cried out that he was a Roman; and that the chief captain was alarmed, because he had bound him.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 29. Then straightway they departed from him, which should have examined him , etc.] By scourging; namely, the soldiers, who under the inspection of the centurion, and by the order of the chief captain, were binding him with thongs to scourge him, and thereby extort from him his crime, which was the cause of all this disturbance; but hearing that he was a Roman, either of their own accord, or rather at the order of their officers, either the centurion or chief captain, or both, left binding him, and went their way: and the chief captain also was afraid after he knew that he was a Roman ; lest he should be called to an account for his conduct, and his commission should be taken from him: chiefly, and because he had bound him ; not only had commanded him to be bound with thongs to a pillar, in order to be scourged, but he had bound him with two chains, when first seized him; and, as before observed, (see Gill on Acts 22:25); it was a heinous crime to bind a Roman.
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
ευθεως 2112 ADV ουν 3767 CONJ απεστησαν 868 5627 V-2AAI-3P απ 575 PREP αυτου 846 P-GSM οι 3588 T-NPM μελλοντες 3195 5723 V-PAP-NPM αυτον 846 P-ASM ανεταζειν 426 5721 V-PAN και 2532 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM χιλιαρχος 5506 N-NSM δε 1161 CONJ εφοβηθη 5399 5675 V-AOI-3S επιγνους 1921 5631 V-2AAP-NSM οτι 3754 CONJ ρωμαιος 4514 A-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S και 2532 CONJ οτι 3754 CONJ ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S αυτον 846 P-ASM δεδεκως 1210 5761 V-RAP-NSM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
22:29 {Departed from him} (apestesan ap' autou). Second aorist active indicative (intransitive) of afistemi, stood off from him at once. {Was afraid} (efobeqe). Ingressive aorist passive indicative of fobeomai, became afraid. He had reason to be. {That he was a Roman} (hoti romaios estin). Indirect assertion with tense of estin retained. {Because he had bound him} (hoti auton en dedekws). Causal hoti here after declarative hoti just before. Periphrastic past perfect active of dew, to bind.
