Paragraph 23:10
23:10a
The dispute grew so violent: This clause in Greek is literally “And much became the dispute.” It emphasizes the word “much.” The dispute that began in 23:7 became angrier and louder. Other ways to translate this clause are:
When the argument became so great (NET Bible)
-or-
The argument became fierce (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Everyone started yelling and arguing more and more
Some English versions see the meaning of “much” as being described by “they would tear Paul to pieces” (23:10b). So they see it implying violence. For example:
The argument became so violent (Good News Translation)
-or-
The argument was beginning to turn into such a fight that the commander was afraid the Jews would tear Paul to pieces (New Century Version)
23:10b
the commander: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as commander means “leader of one thousand.” A thousand soldiers is implied here. See how you translated this word in 21:31 or 22:30.
they would tear Paul to pieces: This clause is active. Some languages must use a passive clause. For example:
Paul would be torn to pieces by them (New International Version)
they: Here the pronoun they refers to the Pharisees and Sadducees.
tear…to pieces: This phrase refers to pulling on something so hard that it tears into two pieces. Here the Sadducees were wanting to arrest him and the Pharisees were wanting to rescue him from the Sadducees. The commander and his soldiers probably rescued Paul before anyone actually hurt Paul.
23:10c
He: Here the pronoun He refers to the commander.
the soldiers: Here the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as soldiers refers to a small group of soldiers, perhaps as few as five or as many as twenty men. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
the detachment (NET Bible)
-or-
some soldiers
-or-
a group of soldiers
go down: This phrase indicates that the soldiers were on higher ground than Paul was. They went downhill or down steps. The soldiers probably also had to enter the mob to reach Paul.
23:10d
remove him by force: The Berean Standard Bible adds the phrase by force. The Sadducees and the Pharisees had no right to keep Paul away from the Roman soldiers. So it is not clear that force was needed in this context. For example:
to…get Paul away from them (Good News Translation)
-or-
pull him out of the crowd (Revised English Bible)
him: Here the pronoun him refers to Paul.
23:10e
bring him: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bring can also mean “take” or “lead.” The commander was probably in the room with Paul and the Sanhedrin. For example:
take him (Good News Translation)
barracks: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as barracks means “a place where soldiers lived.” Here it refers to the stone fortress next to the temple. See how you translated this word in 22:24.
General Comment on 23:10c–e
23:10c–e implies that the soldiers did what the commander ordered them to do. Some languages need to say this explicitly in the translation. For example:
He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. ⌊And they did.⌋
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