The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
19. Taking him by the hand. In that the chief captain did show himself so courteous to the young man, in that he led him by the hand into a secret place, in that he vouchsafeth to hear him so gently, all this must be attributed to the grace of God, who promised to give his people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, (Exodus...
Malice that cannot gain its end by tumult or law will turn to the knife. Forty men bound themselves by oath to murder Paul, their hearts filled with hatred because he preached to Gentiles. Satan had stirred them in the night; by daylight they were ready to kill. But Christ appeared to Paul in darkness to shield him, and God was awake before His enemies rose.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 23:12-35
And he said, the Jews have agreed to desire thee,.... By the Jews are meant, the Jewish sanhedrim, for the young man had not only intelligence of the conspiracy, and lying in wait of the forty men or more; but also of the agreement which the sanhedrim at the motion of these men were come into, to make the following request to the chief captain...