Acts 23:19

¹⁷ Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

¹⁸ So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

²⁰ He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

²¹ Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”
KJV: 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?
WEB: The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
ASV: And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me?
DARBY: And the chiliarch having taken him by the hand, and having gone apart in private, inquired, What is it that thou hast to report to me?
BLB: Then the commander, having taken hold of his hand and having withdrawn in private, began to inquire, “What is it that you have to report to me?”

ÅB: Den øverste høvedsmann tok ham da ved hånden og gikk til side og spurte: Hva er det du har å melde meg?
OTB: Kommandanten tok ham i hånden, trakk ham til side og spurte privat: «Hva har du å rapportere til meg?»
B1930: Den øverste høvedsmann tok ham da ved hånden og gikk til side og spurte: Hvad er det du har å melde mig?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Nehemiah 2:4
“What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven
Read in context
Esther 9:12
who said to Queen Esther, “In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what further do you request? It will be fulfilled.”
Read in context
Esther 5:3
“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
Read in context
Mark 9:27
But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
Read in context
Esther 7:2
and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
Read in context
Mark 10:51
“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me see again.”
Read in context
Mark 8:23
So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then He spit on the man’s eyes and placed His hands on him. “Can you see anything?” He asked.
Read in context
Jeremiah 31:32
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt— a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD.
Read in context