Bible Strands
Acts 23:34
The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Roman governor acts immediately after Jerusalem horsemen deliver Paul and a written accusation. He reads the document and questions Paul to determine his provincial origin before proceeding.
The words — ἀναγνοὺς (anagnous) literally means "having read," and ἡγεμών (hēgemōn) denotes the ruling governor. These terms mark the precise moment the official transitions from receiving evidence to initiating inquiry.
The thread — The inquiry into Paul’s provincial roots connects to his earlier claim of citizenship in Tarsus, Cilicia (Acts 21:39), and aligns with Roman administrative focus on provincial jurisdiction (Acts 25:1; Esther 1:1). The text establishes geographic and legal identity as a prerequisite for trial.
Why it lands — The passage requires the reader to observe how legal procedure dictates the handling of a prisoner. It demonstrates that official inquiry into identity and origin must precede judicial 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
And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
Cross-references
- Acts 21:39 But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”
- Acts 25:1 Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
- Esther 1:1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
- Esther 8:9 At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language.
- Daniel 2:49 And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to manage the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.
- Daniel 6:1 Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom,
- Luke 23:6 When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean.
- Acts 6:9 But resistance arose from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. They disputed with Stephen,
- Acts 15:41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.