22:25a
But: The Greek conjunction often translated as “and” or “but” introduces this verse. It is sometimes not translated, as in the New International Version. The Berean Standard Bible translates the Greek conjunction here as But because the Berean Standard Bible, as well as some other English versions, see contrast between what the commander commanded in 22:24 and what Paul said here. Other English versions do not see contrast here. For example:
And (King James Version)
-or-
When they tied Paul… (New Living Translation (2004))
they stretched him out: The soldiers prepared to flog Paul by putting his hands forward and up around a post. They were preparing to tie his wrists to the post and flog his back. Some ways you might say this are:
they stretched out his arms/hands to tie them ⌊to a post⌋ and then whip him
-or-
they stretched his arms out and began to tie him up so they could whip him ⌊on his back⌋
to strap him down: There are two ways to interpret the Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to strap him down:
(1) They indicate that the soldiers were preparing to flog Paul. For example:
for the whips (English Standard Version)
(New International Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, NET Bible, English Standard Version)
(2) They indicate that he was tied with leather straps. For example:
with the thongs (Revised Standard Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, King James Version, God’s Word)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the soldiers had already put chains on Paul’s wrists (21:33). They would probably use those to tie Paul to the whipping post.
22:25b
centurion: The centurion was an officer in the Roman army who usually led one hundred soldiers. Translate this word as you did in 10:1 (“centurion”).
22:25c
Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?: The Greek words are literally “If a man/person (is a) Roman and uncondemned, it is lawful for you(plur) to flog him?” There are two issues here:
Issue 1: Meaning
There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as without a trial:
(1) It means have a trial and the judge declares a person not guilty of a crime. It implies that all appeals are completed and the judgment of “not guilty” still stands. For example:
Do you have the right to beat a Roman citizen who has not been proven guilty? (New Century Version)
(Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, English Standard Version, King James Version)
(2) It means not have a trial. For example:
Is it legal for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and has not been brought to trial? (New Jerusalem Bible)
(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, NET Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) because the Greek word is the negation of “to condemn as guilty;” it is not the negation of the Greek word that means “to judge.”
Other ways to translate these words following interpretation (1) are:
Does the law allow you to flog a Roman citizen, and an unconvicted one at that? (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Do you have the right to beat a Roman citizen who has not been proven guilty (New Century Version)
-or-
Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who has not been judged guilty in court
-or-
Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen to whom the judge has not yet said, “You are guilty of this crime.”
Roman law protected Roman citizens from being flogged before a judge said someone was guilty and deserved to be punished. If the person appealed his case, they were also not allowed to punish him until the appeal upheld the judge’s decision. In some languages, this will not be clear. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
Roman law stated that a Roman citizen should not be flogged unless a judge first decided he was guilty and all court appeals agreed with the judge.
Issue 2: Rhetorical Question
This rhetorical question implies that the soldiers should not flog Paul. The centurion knew that a judge first had to decide that a Roman citizen was guilty of a crime before that person could be flogged. Translate these clauses with that meaning. Some ways are:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned? (English Standard Version)
• As a statement. For example:
⌊You and I both know that⌋ it is not legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been judged guilty.
Is it lawful: This phrase refers to what the law permits. It implies the Roman law here. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
Is it legal (New International Version)
-or-
Does the law allow (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Do you have the right (New Century Version)
-or-
Does your/Roman law say that
a Roman citizen: The word citizen indicates that the Roman government considered Paul to belong to Rome. He had rights as a Roman. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
a Roman by right
-or-
have Roman citizenship
-or-
legally a person of Rome
-or-
belong to Rome
-or-
on the list of Roman people
General Comment on 22:25c
Paul clearly implied here that he was a Roman citizen. In 22:26 the centurion showed that he understood that implied information. In some languages the implied information will not be clear. If that is true in your language, you may want to:
• Include the implied information in your translation. For example:
If someone ⌊like me⌋ is a Roman citizen and no judge has declared him guilty, is it legal for you(plur) to flog him?
-or-
Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen, ⌊like me,⌋ who hasn’t even been found guilty?
-or-
⌊I am⌋ a Roman citizen. Is it legal for you to flog ⌊me⌋ when ⌊I⌋ have not even been found guilty?
• Translate literally and explain it in a footnote. An example footnote is:
With this question, Paul clearly implied that he was a Roman citizen (see 22:26).
• Allow 22:26 to explain the implied information.
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