Actschapter 23
35 verses · BSBActs book hub →
A.Before the Council: Be of Good Cheer, Paulvv. 1-11
1 Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.” 2 At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.” 4 But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!” 5 “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’” 6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 7 As soon as he had said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is neither a resurrection, nor angels, nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 A great clamor arose, and some scribes from the party of the Pharisees got up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks. 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
B.Forty Men Vow to Kill Him; a Nephew Overhearsvv. 12-22
12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty of them were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.” 16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. 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.” 19 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.” 22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
C.A Night Ride to Caesarea Under Heavy Guardvv. 23-35
23 Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night. 24 Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.” 25 And he wrote the following letter: 26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen, 28 and since I wanted to understand their charges against him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin. 29 I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also instructed his accusers to present their case against him before you. 31 So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him. 33 When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.
Chapter summary
Before the Sanhedrin.
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
Chapter summary
Before the Sanhedrin.
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
Before the Sanhedrin. Pharisees and Sadducees divided on resurrection. The Lord stands by Paul by night: 'be of good cheer, Paul … so must thou bear witness also at Rome.' A plot to ambush; Paul's nephew; transfer to Felix at Caesarea.
Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.
Context
History · Luke — Acts overview
- A. 1–11 Before the Council: Be of Good Cheer, Paul
- B. 12–22 Forty Men Vow to Kill Him; a Nephew Overhears
- C. 23–35 A Night Ride to Caesarea Under Heavy Guard
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
Acts 2311 verses
- Acts 23:1Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
- Acts 23:10The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.
- Acts 23:12When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
- Acts 23:14They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
- Acts 23:20He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.
- Acts 23:21Do 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.”
- Read Acts 23: 5 more there →
Acts 247 verses
- Acts 24:1Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.
- Acts 24:6and he even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.
- Acts 24:10When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.
- Acts 24:15and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
- Acts 24:16In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
- Acts 24:19who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.
- Read Acts 24: 1 more there →
Acts 226 verses
- Acts 22:7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’
- Acts 22:17Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
- Acts 22:24the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.
- Acts 22:25But as they stretched him out to strap him down, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it lawful for you to flog a Roman citizen without a trial?”
- Acts 22:26On hearing this, the centurion went and reported it to the commander. “What are you going to do?” he said. “This man is a Roman citizen.”
- Acts 22:30The next day the commander, wanting to learn the real reason Paul was accused by the Jews, released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul down and had him stand before them.
- Read Acts 22 →
Acts 256 verses
- Acts 25:1Three days after his arrival in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
- Acts 25:3to grant them a concession against Paul by summoning him to Jerusalem, because they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.
- Acts 25:5So if this man has done anything wrong, let some of your leaders come down with me and accuse him there.”
- Acts 25:14Since they were staying several days, Festus laid out Paul’s case before the king: “There is a certain man whom Felix left in prison.
- Acts 25:16I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
- Acts 25:25But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
- Read Acts 25 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
Acts 263 verses
- Acts 26:5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.
- Acts 26:25But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.
- Acts 26:31On their way out, they said to one another, “This man has done nothing worthy of death or imprisonment.”
- Read Acts 26 →
John 72 verses
- John 7:40On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.”
- John 7:51“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
- Read John 7 →
Acts 182 verses
- Acts 18:9One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
- Acts 18:15But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”
- Read Acts 18 →
Matthew 142 verses
- Matthew 14:25During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.
- Matthew 14:27But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
- Read Matthew 14 →
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.