Acts 21:37

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, 'May I say something to you?' The commander replied, 'Do you speak Greek?'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Μέλλων τε εἰσάγεσθαι εἰς τὴν παρεμβολὴν ὁ Παῦλος, λέγει τῷ χιλιάρχῳ, Εἰ ἔξεστίν μοι εἰπεῖν πρός σέ; Ὁ δὲ ἔφη, Ἑλληνιστὶ γινώσκεις;

Transliteration

Mellōn te to be eisagesthai into the parembolēn the Paulos, legei to the chiliarchō, If exestin to me to eipein pros you? The de ephē, Hellēnisti ginōskeis?

Grammar Details

• *Mellōn*: present participle, nominative, masculine, singular - being about to/intending to
• *te*: connective particle - and/both
• *eisagesthai*: present passive infinitive - to be led/brought in
• *parembolēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - barracks/fortress
• *Paulos*: nominative, masculine, singular - Paul
• *legei*: present active, 3rd singular - says/speaks
• *chiliarchō*: dative, masculine, singular - commander/tribune
• *exestin*: present active, 3rd singular, impersonal - it is permitted/lawful
• *eipein*: aorist active infinitive - to speak/say
• *pros*: preposition + accusative - to/toward
• *de*: postpositive particle - but/and
• *ephē*: imperfect active, 3rd singular - said/was saying
• *Hellēnisti*: adverb - in Greek
• *ginōskeis*: present active, 2nd singular - you know

Word Meanings

• *Mellōn*: being about to/intending to/on the point of
• *parembolēn*: barracks/fortress/garrison
• *chiliarchō*: commander/tribune (leader of a thousand men)
• *exestin*: it is permitted/it is lawful/it is possible
• *Hellēnisti ginōskeis*: Do you know Greek?/Can you speak Greek?

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

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

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  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?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And as Paul shuld have bene caryed into the castle he sayde vnto the hye Captayne: maye I speake vnto the? Which sayde: canst thou speake Greke?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Whan Paul was now to be caried in to the castell, he sayde vnto ye captayne: Maye I speake vnto the? He sayde: Canst thou Greke?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And as Paul should haue bene led into the castell, he sayd vnto the chiefe Captaine, May I speake vnto thee? Who sayd, Canst thou speake Greeke?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when Paul began to be caryed into the castle, he saide vnto the hye captaine: May I speake vnto thee? Who sayde: Canst thou speake Greke?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  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 (1862/1898)

  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?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And when Paul was about to be taken into the building, he said to the chief captain, May I say something to you? And he said, Have you a knowledge of Greek?

• World English Bible (2000)

  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?

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  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?

Referenced Verses

• Matt 10:18-20 : 18 You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19 When they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you should say, for what you are to say will be given to you at that time. 20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
• Luke 21:15 : 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
• Acts 19:30 : 30 Paul wanted to go in before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him.
• Acts 21:19 : 19 After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of everything God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
• Acts 21:34 : 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another. Because the commander could not get at the truth due to the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.