New Testament Commentary - Acts 23

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 23 Paul smitten at Ananias' order—The Lord again appears to Paul—Forty Jews plot his death—He is delivered over to Felix.
1 AND Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good ^aconscience before God until this day. 2 And the high priest ^aAnanias commanded them that stood by him to ^bsmite him on the mouth. 3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou ^awhited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4 And they that stood by said, ^aRevilest thou God's high priest? 5 Then said Paul, I ^awist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ^bruler of thy people.
6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a ^aPharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the ^bhope and ^cresurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8 For the ^aSadducees say that there is no ^bresurrection, neither angel, nor spirit^a: but the Pharisees confess both.	8^a there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit As to what the religion of the Sadducees did consist of is difficult to say, for if they believed not in angels, spirits or in a life after death, they are confined solely to the life now which has an end in death. Various modern day 'Christian' religions tend to come close to this as they neither believe in the administration of angels, nor the spirit of revelation and their concept of the resurrection is one without the renewal of the spirit to its body which defies all scriptural testimony as to the workings of God.
9 And there arose a great cry: and the ^ascribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an ^bangel hath spoken to him, let us not ^cfight against God. 10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11 And the night following the ^aLord ^bstood by him, and said, Be of good ^ccheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at ^dRome. 12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a ^acurse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had ^bkilled Paul. 13 And they were more than forty which had made this ^aconspiracy.
14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, ^aor ever he come near, are ready to kill him. 16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. 18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. 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?
20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. 21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an ^aoath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. 22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; 24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter after this manner: 26 Claudius ^aLysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. 27 This man was taken of the Jews, and ^ashould have been killed of them: then came I with an ^barmy, and rescued him, having understood that he was a ^cRoman.
28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they ^aaccused him, I brought him forth into their council: 29 Whom I perceived to be accused of ^aquestions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of ^bdeath or of bonds. 30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent ^astraightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: 33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of ^aCilicia; 35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's ^ajudgment hall.