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So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
Acts 23:22 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
  • KJV So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
  • NKJV So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
  • NASB Then the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”
  • NLT “Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The commander dismisses the young man, charging him to tell no one that he has reported the plot. He acts to keep the rescue secret and effective.

Overview

By swearing the youth to silence, Lysias guards the secrecy needed to outmaneuver the conspirators. His prudence ensures the plotters will not learn their scheme has been exposed. The quiet, careful steps God ordains will soon bring Paul safely out of Jerusalem.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 2

  • Mark 1:44“See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
  • Josh 2:14“Our lives for your lives!” the men agreed. “If you do not report our mission, we will show you kindness and faithfulness when the LORD gives us the land.”

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Acts videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Acts 23:22YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ActsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.

How Acts 23:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.