Bible Strands
Acts 23:19
The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Roman commander speaks to a young man immediately after a centurion delivers him to the general. This moment occurs just before the young man will report a Jewish conspiracy to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin.
The words — ἐπιλαβόμενος (epilabomenos) literally means “having taken hold,” describing the commander’s physical gesture of grasping the young man’s hand. χιλίαρχος (chiliarchos) identifies the speaker as the Roman military commander.
The thread — The commander’s direct inquiry follows the pattern of authority figures requesting a subject’s petition in Nehemiah 2:4, Esther 5:3, and Esther 7:2.
Why it lands — The text records a private, physical drawing aside followed by a demand for a direct answer, establishing that confidential counsel precedes official action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 2:4 “What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven
- Esther 5:3 “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
- Esther 7:2 and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
- Esther 9:12 who said to Queen Esther, “In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what further do you request? It will be fulfilled.”
- Jeremiah 31:32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.
- Mark 8:23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.
- Mark 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
- Mark 10:51 “What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me see again.”