Acts 22:30

The Chief Captain brings Paul before the Sanhedrin

30. because he would have known Literally and better (with Rev. Ver.) "desiring to know." The Chief Captain was anxious as a Roman officer, that justice should be done, and this could only be by having both sides before some authoritative council.

he loosed him from his bands The oldest MSS. do not contain the last three words, but they are to be understood, whether expressed or not.

and commanded the chief priests He had discovered thus much that the offence charged against his prisoner was concerning the religion of the Jews. He therefore summons the chief religious authorities as those who were best able to decide whether any wrong had been done.

and all their council The oldest text omits "their." The council intended was the whole Jewish Sanhedrin.

to appear i.e. to be assembled in some place to which he might bring Paul, and have the case fairly discussed. The place where the Sanhedrin met for their own consultations was called Lishkath-Haggazithand was a hall built of cut stone so situate that one half was built on holy, the other half on the profane ground, and it had two doors, one to admit to each separate section. T. B. Joma25 a. But whether this was the place of meeting at this time we have no means of deciding.

brought Paul dawn The castle was situate on the highest part above the temple, so that wherever he had to go, the Chief Captain must come down.

set him before them He appears to have left him there (see Acts 23:10) and to have given him over to them for examination, though still taking care that he should not be the victim of mob-law.