Acts 23:28
New International Version
I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin.

New Living Translation
Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him.

English Standard Version
And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.

Berean Standard Bible
and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

Berean Literal Bible
And resolving to know the charge on account of which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council,

King James Bible
And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

New King James Version
And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council.

New American Standard Bible
And wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I brought him down to their Council;

NASB 1995
“And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council;

NASB 1977
And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council;

Legacy Standard Bible
And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin;

Amplified Bible
And wanting to know the exact charge which they were making against him, I brought him down to their Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court);

Christian Standard Bible
Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin.

American Standard Version
And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:

Contemporary English Version
I wanted to find out what they had against him. So I brought him before their council

English Revised Version
And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I wanted to know what they had against him. So I took him to their Jewish council

Good News Translation
I wanted to know what they were accusing him of, so I took him down to their Council.

International Standard Version
I wanted to know the exact charge they were making against him, so I had him brought before their Council.

Majority Standard Bible
and since I wanted to know their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

NET Bible
Since I wanted to know what charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down to their council.

New Heart English Bible
Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when I would have known the cause for which they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

Weymouth New Testament
And, wishing to know with certainty the offense of which they were accusing him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrin,

World English Bible
Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to their council.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin,

Berean Literal Bible
And resolving to know the charge on account of which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council,

Young's Literal Translation
and, intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their sanhedrim,

Smith's Literal Translation
And wishing to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down to this council:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And meaning to know the cause which they objected unto him, I brought him forth into their council.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And wanting to know the reason that they objected to him, I brought him into their council.

New American Bible
I wanted to learn the reason for their accusations against him so I brought him down to their Sanhedrin.

New Revised Standard Version
Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And because I wanted to know the cause for which they accused him, I took him down to their council.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And when I sought to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But wishing to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrin.

Godbey New Testament
and wishing to know the cause on account of which they clamored against him, I led him into their sanhedrim:

Haweis New Testament
And desirous of knowing the crime of which they accused him, I brought him down into their sanhedrim

Mace New Testament
having been informed he was a Roman, I had him brought before their Sanhedrim, to hear what crime they laid to his charge.

Weymouth New Testament
And, wishing to know with certainty the offense of which they were accusing him, I brought him down into their Sanhedrin,

Worrell New Testament
And, wishing to know clearly the cause for which they were accusing him, I led him down into their Sanhedrin;

Worsley New Testament
But desiring to know the cause for which they accused him, I brought him down into their council:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul Sent to Felix
27This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen, 28and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin. 29I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.…

Cross References
Acts 22:24-30
the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him. / But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?” / On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.” ...

Acts 25:26-27
I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write. / For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”

Acts 21:33-34
The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. / Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.

Acts 24:22-23
Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “When Lysias the commander comes, I will decide your case.” / He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard, but to allow him some freedom and permit his friends to minister to his needs.

Acts 26:31-32
On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.” / And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Acts 19:38-40
So if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open and proconsuls are available. Let them bring charges against one another there. / But if you are seeking anything beyond this, it must be settled in a legal assembly. / For we are in jeopardy of being charged with rioting for today’s events, and we have no justification to account for this commotion.”

Acts 16:37-39
But Paul said to the officers, “They beat us publicly without a trial and threw us into prison, even though we are Roman citizens. And now do they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! Let them come themselves and escort us out!” / So the officers relayed this message to the magistrates, who were alarmed to hear that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. / They came to appease them and led them out, requesting that they leave the city.

Acts 25:18-19
But when his accusers rose to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. / They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

Acts 18:14-15
But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio told the Jews, “If this matter involved a wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, it would be reasonable for me to hear your complaint. / But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”

Acts 28:18
They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.

Acts 15:1-2
Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” / And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

Acts 9:29-30
He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. / When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Acts 5:26-28
At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them. / They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them. / “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”

Acts 4:5-7
The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, / along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family. / They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Acts 6:12-14
So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin, / where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. / For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”


Treasury of Scripture

And when I would have known the cause why they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

Jump to Previous
Accused Accusing Ascertain Attack Cause Certainty Charge Council Desiring Forth Intending Offense Reason Sanhedrim Sanhedrin Wanted Wanting Wherefore Wishing
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Accused Accusing Ascertain Attack Cause Certainty Charge Council Desiring Forth Intending Offense Reason Sanhedrim Sanhedrin Wanted Wanting Wherefore Wishing
Acts 23
1. As Paul pleads his cause,
2. Ananias commands them to strike him.
7. Dissension among his accusers.
11. God encourages him.
14. The Jews' vow to kill Paul,
20. is declared unto the chief captain.
27. He sends him to Felix the governor.














and wanting to understand
The phrase "wanting to understand" reflects a desire for clarity and truth. In the Greek, the word for "wanting" (βουλόμενος, boulomenos) implies a deliberate intention or will. This indicates that the Roman commander, Claudius Lysias, was not acting out of mere curiosity but had a purposeful intent to discern the truth of the accusations against Paul. This reflects a broader biblical principle of seeking wisdom and understanding, as seen in Proverbs 4:7, "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."

their charges against him
The "charges" refer to the accusations made by the Jewish leaders against Paul. In the historical context, these charges were serious, as they pertained to matters of Jewish law and customs, which the Romans often allowed the Jewish authorities to handle internally. The Greek word for "charges" (κατηγορία, katēgoria) is a legal term, emphasizing the formal nature of the accusations. This highlights the tension between Roman law and Jewish religious law, a recurring theme in Acts, where Paul often finds himself navigating these complex legal and cultural landscapes.

I brought him down
The act of bringing Paul "down" to the Sanhedrin signifies a transfer of jurisdiction. The Greek verb used here (κατήγαγον, katēgagon) suggests a movement from a higher place to a lower one, both physically and metaphorically. This reflects the Roman commander's decision to allow the Jewish council to address the matter, recognizing their authority in religious disputes. It also underscores the humility and vulnerability of Paul, who, despite being a Roman citizen, submits to the Jewish authorities for the sake of the Gospel.

to their Sanhedrin
The "Sanhedrin" was the supreme council and tribunal of the Jews during post-exilic times, composed of 71 members, including the high priest. The term comes from the Greek word συνέδριον (synedrion), meaning "assembly" or "council." This body held significant religious and political power, and its decisions were respected by the Roman authorities. The Sanhedrin's involvement in Paul's case highlights the gravity of the situation and the deep-seated opposition he faced from Jewish leaders. Historically, the Sanhedrin was responsible for maintaining Jewish law and order, and their interactions with Paul throughout Acts reveal the early church's struggles and the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy that His followers would face persecution from religious authorities (Matthew 10:17).

Verse 28. - Desiring to know for when 1 would have known, A.V.; down unto for forth into, A.V.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
and
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.

since I wanted
βουλόμενός (boulomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1014: To will, intend, desire, wish. Middle voice of a primary verb; to 'will, ' i.e. be willing.

to understand
ἐπιγνῶναι (epignōnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1921: From epi and ginosko; to know upon some mark, i.e. Recognize; by implication, to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge.

[their]
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

charges
αἰτίαν (aitian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 156: From the same as aiteo; a cause, i.e. reason, crime.

[against]
ἐνεκάλουν (enekaloun)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1458: To bring a charge against, accuse. From en and kaleo; to call in, i.e. Bring to account.

him,
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

I brought [him] down
κατήγαγον (katēgagon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2609: From kata and ago; to lead down; specially, to moor a vessel.

to
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

Sanhedrin.
συνέδριον (synedrion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4892: A council, tribunal; the Sanhedrin, the meeting place of the Sanhedrin.


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NT Apostles: Acts 23:28 Desiring to know the cause why they (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 23:27
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