Acts 23:30
in Acts 23When 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.
KJV
And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
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This verse in Acts 23
Commentary
11 notes on this verseI sent straightway to thee - As the proper person before whom this business should ultimately come, and by whom it should be decided. Farewell - Ερῥωσο, Be in good health.
This site's exposition
to understand their charges against him
on Acts 23:28-30
Lysias reports to Felix that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment. Roman officials reach the same finding again at 25:18-19 and 26:31-32.
This site's exposition
I sent him to you at once
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the order to the accusers was given after Lysias wrote, before the letter reached Felix. John Chrysostom explains why the accusers were sent at all. A stricter hearing before the governor would clear Paul more fully.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
"About to have been killed of them:" so set upon his death were they. First, "I came with the army, and rescued him:" then also "I brought him down unto them:" and not even so did they find anything to lay to his charge: and when they ought to have been stricken with fear and shame for the former act, they again attempt to kill him, insomuch that again his cause became all the more clear. "And his accusers," he says, "I have sent unto thee:" that at the tribunal where these things are more strictly examined, he may be proved guiltless.
"And he wrote a letter after this manner: Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Fare ye well." See how the letter speaks for him as a defence-for it says, "I found nothing worthy of death," but as accusation against them rather than against him.
A commentator
John ChrysostomCATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 23.28-30 · Written before 407.
proposed
See how Paul is reckoned innocent through the vote of the foreigners, like Christ with Pilate. See how their evil intentions are defeated: they handed him over, so that he might be killed and condemned, but the opposite happened, and he was saved and found innocent. If things did not go this way, [Paul] would have been torn into pieces, would have perished, would have been condemned.
If he was acquitted of the charge, why did the tribune send the accusers? That the enquiry might be more strict: that the man might be the more entirely cleared.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Now that Paul was brought before them he thought to have faced them down, but could not, such was their wicked impudence. However, now was fulfilled in him what God promised to Ezekiel ( ch. iii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And when it was told me,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Claudius--the Roman name he would take on purchasing his citizenship. Lysias--his Greek family name. the most excellent governor--an honorary title of office.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
gave commandment to his accusers . . . to say before thee--This was not done when he wrote, but would be before the letter reached its destination. 31, 32. brought him . . . to Antipatris--nearly forty miles from Jerusalem, on the way to Cæsarea; so named by Herod in honor of his father, Antipater.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
The words behind it
22 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μηνυθείσης | menutheises | When was being disclosed | G3377 → | |
| δέ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μοι | moi | to me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐπιβουλῆς | epiboules | a plot that | G1917 → | 4 times |
| εἰς | eis | against | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἄνδρα | andra | man | G435 → | 216 times |
| ἔσεσθαι | esesthai | going to happen | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἐξαυτῆς | exautes | at once | G1824 → | 6 times |
| ἔπεμψα | epempsa | I sent [him] | G3992 → | 79 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| σὲ | se | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| παραγγείλας | parangeilas | having instructed | G3853 → | 31 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τοῖς | tois | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κατηγόροις | kategorois | accusers | G2725 → | 4 times |
| λέγειν | legein | to speak | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| τὰ | ta | the [things] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρὸς | pros | against | G4314 → | 700 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | before | G1909 → | 883 times |
| σοῦ. | sou | you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
μηνυθείσηςWhen was being disclosed
menutheisesG3377 →
δέthen
deG1161 →2765 times
μοιto me
moiG3165 →1936 times
ἐπιβουλῆςa plot that
epiboulesG1917 →4 times
εἰςagainst
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἄνδραman
andraG435 →216 times
ἔσεσθαιgoing to happen
esesthaiG1510 →2333 times
ἐξαυτῆςat once
exautesG1824 →6 times
ἔπεμψαI sent [him]
epempsaG3992 →79 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
σὲyou
seG4771 →2973 times
παραγγείλαςhaving instructed
parangeilasG3853 →31 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τοῖςto the
toisG3588 →19766 times
κατηγόροιςaccusers
kategoroisG2725 →4 times
λέγεινto speak
legeinG3004 →1325 times
τὰthe [things]
taG3588 →19766 times
πρὸςagainst
prosG4314 →700 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐπὶbefore
epiG1909 →883 times
σοῦ.you.
souG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
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.
it leads to
- John 7:51
“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
- Deuteronomy 19:17–18
both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time.
- Acts 25:4–5
But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.
- Proverbs 18:17
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
- John 7:51
Through
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.
it leads to
- Acts 23:14–15
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.
- Psalms 12:2
They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
- Acts 23:1
Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
- Acts 23:14–15
Through
Acts 24:19who ought to appear before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me.
it leads to
- Acts 25:16
I 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 25:16
Where this verse is studied
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 49; John Chrysostom, CATENA ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 23.28-30; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.