This verse is related to the preceding account by taking up the same theme which has been introduced in verse 24, namely, the commander’s desire to find out precisely why the Jews had accused Paul so vehemently.

In Greek, verse 30 is one sentence beginning with the phrase “so the next day.” For the sake of the English reader the sentence has been broken in the Good News Translation into two sentences, the order rearranged, participants in the narrative made explicit (the commander, Paul, Paul’s), and certain participles made into finite verbs (wanted and took).

Had Paul’s chains taken off is understood by some to mean that Paul was released from prison (see Jerusalem Bible “he freed Paul”), since they believe that Paul’s chains would have been taken off the previous day as soon as the Roman officer found out that Paul was a Roman citizen. He had Paul’s chains taken off must, of course, be understood as a causative, “he caused the soldiers to take off Paul’s chains” or “he ordered the soldiers, Take the chains off Paul.” One normally cannot employ a so-called possessive expression with “chains.” They were not the chains that belonged to Paul, but the chains which were used to bind him.

In speaking of the whole Council, it may be necessary to say “the Council of all the Jewish leaders.” This is, in fact, precisely the phrase used in some languages for the Sanhedrin.

Took Paul may be rendered in some languages as “caused Paul to go” or “had him led.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .