When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.

ACTS 22:26KJV
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Acts 22:26 (KJV)

What does Acts 22:26 mean?

Acts 22:26 describes how a Roman centurion, upon learning that Paul was a Roman citizen, immediately warned his commanding officer to be careful about how they treated Paul. The centurion recognized that mistreating a Roman citizen could have serious consequences under Roman law.

In this scene, Paul has just revealed his Roman citizenship to the soldiers who were about to interrogate him. The centurion (a mid-level officer) hears this and goes straight to the chief captain (the higher-ranking officer) to report the situation. The verse highlights the seriousness with which Roman citizenship was regarded and shows the officers' concern to avoid violating Roman legal protections.

The Greek behind Acts 22:26

  • ῥωμαῖος (Rhōmaios, "Roman"): This word identifies Paul as a Roman citizen, a status that carried significant legal rights and protections in the Roman Empire. The centurion’s reaction shows how important this status was.
  • βλέπε (blepe, "take heed"): This Greek word means to look, see, or pay attention. Here, it is a warning to the chief captain to be careful, emphasizing the potential danger of mishandling a Roman citizen.
  • μέλλεις ποιεῖν (melleis poiein, "what thou doest"): This phrase combines two Greek words that together mean "what you are about to do." It stresses the need for caution before taking any action against Paul.

Why Acts 22:26 matters

  • The verse clears up that Roman citizenship was a powerful legal shield, and even mid-level officers like centurions took it very seriously.
  • Acts 22:26 connects to the wider story by showing how Paul’s citizenship changed the course of events, protecting him from unlawful punishment.
  • The verse helps explain why Roman officials in Acts often hesitated or changed their approach when they discovered someone’s citizenship status, highlighting the rule of law in the Roman Empire.

Where else these words appear

“Roman” Greek G4514 · used in 13 verses

  • John 11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
  • Acts 16:38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
  • Acts 23:27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

“centurion” Greek G1543 · used in 21 verses

  • Matthew 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
  • Luke 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
  • Acts 24:23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

“captain” Greek G5506 · used in 22 verses

  • Mark 6:21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
  • Acts 22:27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
  • Acts 23:19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

“told” Greek G518 · used in 44 verses

  • Matthew 2:8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
  • Luke 8:20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
  • Acts 11:13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;