Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” Acts 23:19

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A literal translation is, “And the commander, having taken his hand, and having withdrawn in private, inquired, ‘What is it that you have to tell me?’”

In the previous verse, the centurion had taken Paul’s nephew to the commander so that he could convey a message to him. Next, it says, “And the commander, having taken his hand.”

These words certainly imply that Paul’s nephew was very young. It can almost be felt in the words that he feared even being in the presence of the military, and so to calm him and assure him that all was well, the commander literally took him by the hand. The gesture would not go beyond a child in his early teens. Understanding this, it next says, “and having withdrawn in private.”

This tells us that the commander was wary of anyone, even his own men. If they were spendthrifts, as soldiers often are, they would be hard up for money. Someone in authority among the Jews could take advantage of this and bribe them for information.

If the matter was important enough for Paul to send the boy to him directly, it meant that it was something that could affect his life. Attempts to kill him had already taken place on several occasions. To succeed in an assignation while Paul was in Roman custody would be a giant success for their cause. Therefore, the commander took him aside and “inquired, ‘What is it that you have to tell me?’”

It appears that the commander was favorable toward receiving the message before it was even spoken. In other words, he had seen what transpired between Paul and his accusers. He also knew that Paul was a citizen who had almost been beaten illegally by his own men.

In reassuring the boy, he does everything possible to guarantee that whatever was important enough to be brought to his personal attention by Paul was important enough to be done with tenderness and in a private setting. The commander had made a grievous mistake in having Paul bound and prepared for scourging. He did not want any such thing that could bring personal harm to Paul to happen again.

Life application: The words of this verse appear to reveal that Luke personally interviewed the commander. He could not otherwise know such minute detail, such as his taking the boy by his hand, unless he either witnessed it or was told it from the commander, one of the centurions, or Paul or his nephew. But what was said in private would only have been known by the commander or the nephew.

Think about such things as you read Acts. It is a carefully detailed record of things that actually transpired. It was then judiciously checked out by Luke, ensuring that we have the most accurate details possible. This is just what Luke claims at the beginning of his gospel account –

“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” Luke 1:1-4

As many details that we may have expected to be included are left out, and as many seemingly insignificant details are included, we can be assured that the Spirit was directing Luke each step of the way to come to an account that is exactly what God intended for us to receive.

Therefore, be assured that the word we are reading is truly the word of God. It is there for us to know and defend the faith we profess. Use it as such, to the glory of God.

Lord God, may we be aware of the contents of Your precious word and then be willing to defend our faith before others, using this word as the source of our understanding of what You have done, are doing, and will continue to do for the redemption of man. Thank You, O God, for this precious word. Amen.