Acts 22:24 - Exposition

Bidding for and bade, A.V.; for what cause for wherefore, A.V.; so shouted for cried so, A.V. The chief captain (see Acts 21:31 , note). The castle (see Acts 21:34 , note). Examined ; ἀνετάζεσθαι , only here and in Acts 22:29 . In 6:29 (Codex Alexandrinus) and in the Hist. of Susanna 14 the verb has the simple sense of "inquiring." The classical word for "examining" and especially by torture, is ἐξετάζειν . By scourging ( μάστιξιν ). The μάστιξ was in Latin the flagellum, the m st severe implement of flogging, though even with the lighter virga, the rod of the lictor, slaves and others were beaten to death ( usque ad necem ) . It was not lawful to beat a Roman citizen even with the virga ( ῥάβδος ); Acts 16:22 , Acts 16:35 , Acts 16:37 , notes. The μάστιξ , or scourge, was that with which our Lord was scourged at the bidding of Pilate. Doubtless Lysias had not understood Paul's Hebrew speech, and so had not known what it was which provoked so fierce an uproar among the people.