19. Took him by the hand. To hear the message of the nephew more privately and to encourage him to speak freely. He had come to Lysias as an emissary of a Roman citizen under accusation. Evidently the “chief captain” thought better of Paul than he did of Paul’s accusers (see 26-33). The Romans routinely treated Paul with greater fairness and consideration than did the Jews.
Privately. This may be understood as referring to the asking rather than to the taking aside.