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Acts Chapter
Twenty-three
Acts 23
Paul addresses the council with the gravity and dignity of an upright man
accustomed to walk with God. It is not a testimony borne to them for their
good; but the appeal of a good conscience to their consciences, if they had
any. The immediate answer is an outrage on the part of the judge or chief of
the council. Paul, roused by this procedure, denounces judgment on him from
God; but, warned that he was the high priest (who was not so clothed as to be
recognised), he excuses himself by his ignorance of the fact, quoting the
formal prohibition of the law to speak evil of the ruler of the people. All
this was right and in place with regard to men; but the Holy Ghost could not
say, "I wist not." It is not the activity of the Spirit performing
the work of grace and of testimony. But it is the means of the final judgment
of God upon the people. It is in this character, as regards the Jews, that Paul
appears here. Paul makes a much better appearance than his judges, who thoroughly
disgrace themselves and manifest their dreadful condition; but he does not
appear for God before them. Afterwards he avails himself of the different
parties of which the council were composed to throw complete disorder into it,
by declaring himself to be a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and called in
question for a dogma of that sect. This was true; but it was below the height
of his own word, "that which was gain I counted loss for Christ's
sake." The Jews however fully manifest themselves. That which Paul said
raises a tumult, and the chief captain takes him from among them. God has all
things at His disposal. A nephew of Paul's, never mentioned elsewhere, hears of
an ambush laid for him and warns him of it. Paul sends him to the chief
captain, who expedites the departure of Paul under a guard to Caesarea. God
watched over him, but all is on the level of human and providential ways. There
is not the angel as in Peter's case, nor the earthquake as at Philippi. We are
sensibly on different ground.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Acts》
Acts 23
Chapter Contents
Paul's defence before the council of the Jews. (1-5)
Paul's defence. He receives a Divine assurance that he shall go to Rome. (6-11)
The Jews conspire to kill Paul, Lysias sends him to Cesarea. (12-24) Lysias's
letter to Felix. (25-35)
Commentary on Acts 23:1-5
(Read Acts 23:1-5)
See here the character of an honest man. He sets God
before him, and lives as in his sight. He makes conscience of what he says and
does, and, according to the best of his knowledge, he keeps from whatever is
evil, and cleaves to what is good. He is conscientious in all his words and
conduct. Those who thus live before God, may, like Paul, have confidence both
toward God and man. Though the answer of Paul contained a just rebuke and
prediction, he seems to have been too angry at the treatment he received in
uttering them. Great men may be told of their faults, and public complaints may
be made in a proper manner; but the law of God requires respect for those in
authority.
Commentary on Acts 23:6-11
(Read Acts 23:6-11)
The Pharisees were correct in the faith of the Jewish
church. The Sadducees were no friends to the Scripture or Divine revelation;
they denied a future state; they had neither hope of eternal happiness, nor
dread of eternal misery. When called in question for his being a Christian,
Paul might truly say he was called in question for the hope of the resurrection
of the dead. It was justifiable in him, by this profession of his opinion on
that disputed point, to draw off the Pharisees from persecuting him, and to
lead them to protect him from this unlawful violence. How easily can God defend
his own cause! Though the Jews seemed to be perfectly agreed in their
conspiracy against religion, yet they were influenced by very different
motives. There is no true friendship among the wicked, and in a moment, and
with the utmost ease, God can turn their union into open enmity. Divine
consolations stood Paul in the most stead; the chief captain rescued him out of
the hands of cruel men, but the event he could not tell. Whoever is against us,
we need not fear, if the Lord stand by us. It is the will of Christ, that his
servants who are faithful, should be always cheerful. He might think he should
never see Rome; but God tells him, even in that he should be gratified, since
he desired to go there only for the honour of Christ, and to do good.
Commentary on Acts 23:12-24
(Read Acts 23:12-24)
False religious principles, adopted by carnal men, urge
on to such wickedness, as human nature would hardly be supposed capable of. Yet
the Lord readily disappoints the best concerted schemes of iniquity. Paul knew
that the Divine providence acts by reasonable and prudent means; and that, if
he neglected to use the means in his power, he could not expect God's
providence to work on his behalf. He who will not help himself according to his
means and power, has neither reason nor revelation to assure him that he shall
receive help from God. Believing in the Lord, we and ours shall be kept from
every evil work, and kept to his kingdom. Heavenly Father, give us by thy Holy
Spirit, for Christ's sake, this precious faith.
Commentary on Acts 23:25-35
(Read Acts 23:25-35)
God has instruments for every work. The natural abilities
and moral virtues of the heathens often have been employed to protect his
persecuted servants. Even the men of the world can discern between the
conscientious conduct of upright believers, and the zeal of false professors,
though they disregard or understand not their doctrinal principles. All hearts
are in God's hand, and those are blessed who put their trust in him, and commit
their ways unto him.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Acts》
Acts 23
Verse 3
[3] Then
said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to
judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
Then said Paul —
Being carried away by a sudden and prophetic impulse.
God is about to smite thee, thou whited wall — Fair without; full of dirt and rubbish within. And he might well be so
termed, not only as he committed this outrage, while gravely sitting on the
tribunal of justice but also as, at the same time that he stood high in the
esteem of the citizens, he cruelly defrauded the priests of their legal
subsistence, so that some of them even perished for want. And God did
remarkably smite him; for about five years after this, his house being reduced
to ashes, in a tumult begun by his own son, he was besieged in the royal palace;
where having hid himself in an old aqueduct, he was dragged out and miserably
slain.
Verse 5
[5] Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it
is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
I was not aware, brethren, that it was the
high priest — He seems to mean, I did not advert to it,
in the prophetic transport of my mind: but he does not add, that his not
adverting to it proceeded from the power of the Spirit coming upon him; as
knowing they were not able to bear it. This answer admirably shows the
situation of mind he was then in, partly with regard to the bystanders, whom he
thus softens, adding also the title of brethren, and justifying their reproof
by the prohibition of Moses; partly with regard to himself, who, after that
singular transport subsided, was again under the direction of the general
command. Exodus 22:28.
Verse 6
[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 Pharisee, the son of a
Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: for
the hope of the resurrection of the dead am I called in question — So he was in effect; although not formally, or explicitly.
Verse 8
[8] For
the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but
the Pharisees confess both.
The Pharisees confess both — Both the resurrection, and the existence of angels and separate spirits.
Verse 9
[9] And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees'
part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or
an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
And the scribes of the Pharisees' side
arising — Every sect contains both learned and
unlearned. The former used to be the mouth of the party.
If a spirit —
St. Paul in his speech from the stairs had affirmed, that Jesus, whom they knew
to have been dead, was alive, and that he had spoken to him from heaven, and
again in a vision. So they add nothing, only they construe it in their own way,
putting an angel or spirit for Jesus.
Verse 11
[11] And
the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul:
for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also
at Rome.
And the night following, the Lord Jesus — What Paul had before purposed in spirit, Acts 19:21, God now in due time confirms.
Another declaration to the same effect is made by an angel of God, Acts 27:23. And from the 23d chapter the sum of
this book turns on the testimony of Paul to the Romans. How would the defenders
of St. Peter's supremacy triumph, could they find out half as much ascribed to
him! Be of good courage, Paul - As he laboured under singular distresses and
persecutions, so he was favoured with extraordinary assurances of the Divine
assistance.
Thou must testify —
Particular promises are usually given when all things appear desperate.
At Rome also —
Danger is nothing in the eyes of God: all hinderances farther his work. A promise
of what is afar off, implies all that necessarily lies between. Paul shall
testify at Rome: therefore he shall come to Rome; therefore he shall escape the
Jews, the sea, the viper.
Verse 12
[12] And
when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves
under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had
killed Paul.
Some of the Jews bound themselves — Such execrable vows were not uncommon among the Jews. And if they were
prevented from accomplishing what they had vowed, it was an easy matter to
obtain absolution from their rabbis.
Verse 15
[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, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
Now therefore ye —
Which they never scrupled at all, as not doubting but they were doing God
service.
Verse 17
[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.
And Paul —
Though he had an express promise of it from Christ, was not to neglect any
proper means of safety.
Verse 19
[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?
And the tribune taking him by the hand — In a mild, condescending way. Lysias seems to have conducted this whole
affair with great integrity, humanity, and prudence.
Verse 24
[24] And
provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix
the governor.
Provide beasts — If
a change should be necessary, to set Paul on - So we read of his riding once;
but not by choice.
Verse 27
[27] 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.
Having learned that he was a Roman — True; but not before he rescued him. Here he uses art.
Verse 31
[31] Then
the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to
Antipatris.
The soldiers brought him by night to
Antipatris — But not the same night they set out. For
Antipatris was about thirty-eight of our miles northwest of Jerusalem. Herod
the Great rebuilt it, and gave it this name in honour of his father Antipater:
Cesarea was near seventy miles from Jerusalem, and about thirty from
Antipatris.
Verse 35
[35] I
will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded
him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
In Herod's palace —
This was a palace and a court built by Herod the Great. Probably some tower
belonging to it might be used for a kind of state prison.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on
Acts》
Chapter 23. Vow to Kill Paul
Fulfill Duty to
God
In All Good conscience
I. Testify
Before the Sanhedrin
II. The Lord
Appears in the Night
III. Escape
from Conspiracy
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》