John Calvin Commentary Acts 22:24

"the chief captain commanded him be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him." — Acts 22:24 (ASV)

The chief captain. It was well and wisely done of the chief captain thus to withdraw Paul from the sight of the people, since his presence stirred and further provoked those who were already excessively agitated. For by this means, he provides for the life of the holy man and partly appeases the madness of the people.

But when he commands him to be scourged, against whom he had heard no specific crime laid, he seems to deal unjustly. And yet this injustice was not without some pretext, because it was likely that it was not without cause that all the people had conspired to put one man to death.

Therefore, a strong presumption was the cause of such a rigorous examination. But we must note that this is a common custom among politicians: they are just judges as far as it is expedient for them; but if they are diverted by profit, then they depart from what is right.

Nevertheless, it is sufficient for them to disguise their wickedness with the title of wisdom, because they hold that general principle: that the world cannot be governed without some show or appearance of justice. But in all actions, that subtlety of which I spoke prevails, so that they consider what is profitable rather than what is fair and right.