Acts 21:37
New International Version
As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.

New Living Translation
As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, “May I have a word with you?” “Do you know Greek?” the commander asked, surprised.

English Standard Version
As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?

Berean Standard Bible
As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.

Berean Literal Bible
And being about to be brought into the barracks, Paul says to the commander, "Is it permitted to me to say something to you?" Then he was saying, "Do you know Greek?

King James Bible
And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

New King James Version
Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?” He replied, “Can you speak Greek?

New American Standard Bible
As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?

NASB 1995
As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?

NASB 1977
And as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?

Legacy Standard Bible
As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?

Amplified Bible
Just as Paul was about to be taken into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” And the man replied, “Do you know Greek?

Christian Standard Bible
As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say something to you? ” He replied, “You know how to speak Greek?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As he was about to be brought into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, “Am I allowed to say something to you?” He replied, “Do you know Greek?

American Standard Version
And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith unto the chief captain, May I say something unto thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when he approached to enter the encampment, Paulus said to the Chiliarch, “If you allow me, I shall speak with you”, but he said to him, “Do you know Greek?”

Contemporary English Version
When Paul was about to be taken into the fortress, he asked the commander, "Can I say something to you?" "How do you know Greek?" the commander asked.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith to the tribune: May speak something to thee? Who said: Canst thou speak Greek?

English Revised Version
And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith unto the chief captain, May I say something unto thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the officer, "May I say something to you?" The officer replied to Paul, "Can you speak Greek?

Good News Translation
As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the fort, he spoke to the commander: "May I say something to you?" "You speak Greek, do you?" the commander asked.

International Standard Version
Just as Paul was about to be taken into the barracks, he asked the tribune, "May I say something to you?" The tribune asked, "Oh, do you speak Greek?

Literal Standard Version
And Paul being about to be led into the stronghold, says to the chief captain, “Is it permitted to me to say anything to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?

Majority Standard Bible
As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I speak to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.

New American Bible
Just as Paul was about to be taken into the compound, he said to the cohort commander, “May I say something to you?” He replied, “Do you speak Greek?

NET Bible
As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commanding officer, "May I say something to you?" The officer replied, "Do you know Greek?

New Revised Standard Version
Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” The tribune replied, “Do you know Greek?

New Heart English Bible
As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, "May I speak something to you?" He said, "Do you know Greek?

Webster's Bible Translation
And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said to the chief captain, May I speak to thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

Weymouth New Testament
When he was about to be taken into the barracks, Paul said to the Tribune, "May I speak to you?" "Do you know Greek?" the Tribune asked.

World English Bible
As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding officer, “May I speak to you?” He said, “Do you know Greek?

Young's Literal Translation
And Paul being about to be led into the castle, saith to the chief captain, 'Is it permitted to me to say anything unto thee?' and he said, 'Greek dost thou know?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul Speaks to the People
36For the crowd that followed him kept shouting, “Away with him!” 37As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38“Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the ‘Assassins’ into the wilderness?”…

Cross References
Acts 21:34
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 22:24
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.

Acts 23:10
The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

Acts 23:16
But when the son of Paul's sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.


Treasury of Scripture

And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said to the chief captain, May I speak to you? Who said, Can you speak Greek?

Acts 21:19
And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

Acts 19:30
And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

Matthew 10:18-20
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles…

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Acts 21
1. Paul calls at the house of Philip, whose daughters prophesy.
10. Agabus, foretelling what should befall him at Jerusalem,
13. he will not be dissuaded from going thither.
17. He comes to Jerusalem;
27. where he is apprehended, and in great danger, but by the chief captain is rescued;
37. and requests, and is permitted to speak to the people.














(37) Canst thou speak Greek?--The chiliarch apparently expected his prisoner to have spoken Hebrew, i.e., Aramaic, and was surprised to hear Greek; the people expected Greek, and were surprised at Hebrew (Acts 22:2). Nothing could better illustrate the familiarity of the population of Jerusalem with both languages.

Verse 37. - About to be brought for to be led, A.V.; saith for said, A.V.; say something for speak, A.V,; and he for who, A.V.; dost thou know for canst thou speak, A.V. About to be brought into the castle. He had nearly reached the top of the stairs, and there was, perhaps, a brief halt while the gates of the castle-yard were being opened. Paul seized the opportunity to address Lysias in Greek. Dost thou know Greek? (Ἑλληνιστὶ γινώσκεις;). According to some, λαλεῖν is to be understood, "Dost thou know how to speak Greek?" after the analogy of Λαλοῦντες Ἀζωτιστί, and Οὐκ εἰσὶν ἐπιγινώσκοντες λαλεῖν Ιουδαι'στί, in Nehemiah 13:24. But others (Meyer, Alford, etc.) say that there is no ellipse of λαλεῖν, but that Ἐλληνιστὶ γινώσκειν Συριστὶ ἐπισταμένους (Xenophon), "Graece nescire" (Cicero), mean to know or not to know the Greek and Syrian languages.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

they were about
Μέλλων (Mellōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3195: A strengthened form of melo; to intend, i.e. Be about to be, do, or suffer something.

to take
εἰσάγεσθαι (eisagesthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 1521: To lead in, bring in, introduce. From eis and ago; to introduce.

Paul
Παῦλος (Paulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3972: Paul, Paulus. Of Latin origin; Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle.

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

the
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.

barracks,
παρεμβολὴν (parembolēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3925: From a compound of para and emballo; a throwing in beside, i.e., battle-array, encampment or barracks.

he asked
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

commander,
χιλιάρχῳ (chiliarchō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5506: A commander of a thousand men, a military tribune. From chilioi and archo; the commander of a thousand soldiers

“May
ἔξεστίν (exestin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1832: It is permitted, lawful, possible.

I
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

say
εἰπεῖν (eipein)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

something
τι (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

you?”
σέ (se)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

“Do you speak
γινώσκεις (ginōskeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

Greek?”
Ἑλληνιστὶ (Hellēnisti)
Adverb
Strong's 1676: In the Greek language. Adverb from the same as Hellenistes; Hellenistically, i.e. In the Grecian language.

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

replied.
ἔφη (ephē)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5346: To say, declare. Properly, the same as the base of phos and phaino; to show or make known one's thoughts, i.e. Speak or say.


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NT Apostles: Acts 21:37 As Paul was about to be brought (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
Acts 21:36
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