Acts 23:18

18 The officer took him, led him to the commander, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to say to you."

Acts 23:18 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 23:18

So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain
Immediately, without any more to do, without curiously inquiring into the thing, or examining the young man about it; which showed him to be a man of a good disposition, and ready to do a kind office, even to a prisoner:

and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him;
either vocally or by some gesture, beckoned him to him:

and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something
to say unto thee;
in which may be observed the apostle's manner of address to the centurion, on this occasion; it was by way of entreaty; he asked it as a favour of him, to introduce his nephew to the chief captain; and the honour and modesty of the centurion, he did not seek by any methods to get the secret out, either of Paul or the young man; but readily undertakes the affair, honourably performs it, acquaints the captain with the circumstances of it, tells him the young man had something to say to him, he could not tell what, and then departs.

Acts 23:18 In-Context

16 But the son of Paul's sister heard about the plot; so he went to the fort and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the officers and said to him, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him."
18 The officer took him, led him to the commander, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to say to you."
19 The commander took him by the hand, led him off by himself, and asked him, "What do you have to tell me?
20 He said, "The Jewish authorities have agreed to ask you tomorrow to take Paul down to the Council, pretending that the Council wants to get more accurate information about him.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.