Acts 23
Acts 23 is part of “Paul's Trials and Journey to Rome” (22–28) in the outline of Acts.
Acts 23 summary
The close of the foregoing chapter left Paul in the high priest's court, into which the chief captain (whether to his advantage or no I know not) had removed his cause from the mob; and, if his enemies act there against him with less noise, yet it is with more subtlety. Now here we have, I. Paul's protestation of his own integrity, and of a civil respect to the high priest, however he had upon a sudden spoken warmly to him, and justly (Act 23:1-5). II.
Read the full introduction
The close of the foregoing chapter left Paul in the high priest's court, into which the chief captain (whether to his advantage or no I know not) had removed his cause from the mob; and, if his enemies act there against him with less noise, yet it is with more subtlety. Now here we have, I. Paul's protestation of his own integrity, and of a civil respect to the high priest, however he had upon a sudden spoken warmly to him, and justly (Act 23:1-5). II. Paul's prudent contrivance to get himself clear of them, by setting the Pharisees and Sadducees at variance one with another (Act 23:6-9). III. The governor's seasonable interposal to rescue him out of their hands likewise (Act 23:10). IV. Christ's more comfortable appearing to him, to animate him against those difficulties that lay before him, and to tell him what he must expect (Act 23:11). V. A bloody conspiracy of some desperate Jews to kill Paul, and their drawing in the chief priests and the elders to be aiders and abettors with them in it (Act 23:12-15). VI. The discovery of this conspiracy to Paul, and by him to the chief captain, who perceived so much of their inveterate malice against Paul that he had reason enough to believe the truth of it (Act 23:16-22). VII. The chief captain's care of Paul's safety, by which he prevented the execution of the design; he sent him away immediately under a strong guard from Jerusalem to Caesarea, which was now the residence of Felix, the Roman governor, and there he safely arrived (Act 23:23-35).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Acts 23 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
Paul Before the Council
1And Paul behelde earnestly the Councill, and sayde, Men and brethren, I haue in all good conscience serued God vntill this day. 2Then the hie Priest Ananias commanded them that stood by, to smite him on the mouth. 3Then sayd Paul to him, God will smite thee, thou whited wall: for thou sittest to iudge me according to the Lawe, and transgressing the Lawe, commaundest thou me to be smitten? 4And they that stood by, sayd, Reuilest thou Gods hie Priest? 5Then sayd Paul, I knewe not, brethren, that he was the hie Priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speake euill of the ruler of thy people. 6But when Paul perceiued that the one part were of the Sadduces, and the other of the Pharises, hee cried in the Council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharise, the sonne of a Pharise: I am accused of the hope and resurrection of the dead. 7And when hee had saide this, there was a dissension betweene the Pharises and the Sadduces, so that the multitude was deuided. 8For the Sadduces say that there is no resurrection, neither Angel, nor spirit: but the Pharises confesse both. 9Then there was a great crye: and the Scribes of the Pharises part rose vp, and stroue, saying, Wee finde none euill in this man: but if a spirit or an Angel hath spoken to him, let vs not fight against God. 10And when there was a great dissension, the chiefe captaine, fearing lest Paul should haue bene pulled in pieces of them, commanded the souldiers to go downe, and take him from among them, and to bring him into the castel. 11Nowe the night folowing, the Lord stoode by him, and saide, Be of good courage, Paul: for as thou hast testified of mee in Hierusalem, so must thou beare witnesse also at Rome.
A Plot to Kill Paul
12And when the day was come, certaine of the Iewes made an assemblie, and bounde themselues with a curse, saying, that they woulde neither eate nor drinke, till they had killed Paul. 13And they were more then fourtie, which had made this conspiracie. 14And they came to the chiefe Priestes and Elders, and said, We haue bound our selues with a solemne curse, that wee will eate nothing, vntill we haue slaine Paul. 15Nowe therefore, ye and the Council signifie to the chiefe captaine, that hee bring him foorth vnto you to morow: as though you would know some thing more perfectly of him, and we, or euer he come neere, will be readie to kill him. 16But when Pauls sisters sonne heard of their laying awaite, he went, and entred into the castel, and tolde Paul. 17And Paul called one of the Centurions vnto him, and said, Take this yong man hence vnto the chiefe captaine: for he hath a certaine thing to shewe him. 18So hee tooke him, and brought him to the chiefe captaine, and saide, Paul the prisoner called mee vnto him, and prayed mee to bring this yong man vnto thee, which hath some thing to say vnto thee. 19Then the chiefe captaine tooke him by the hande, and went apart with him alone, and asked him, What hast thou to shewe me? 20And he saide, The Iewes haue conspired to desire thee, that thou wouldest bring foorth Paul to morow into the Council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly: 21But let them not perswade thee: for there lie in waite for him of them, more then fourtie men, which haue bound themselues with a curse, that they will neither eate nor drinke, till they haue killed him: and nowe are they readie, and waite for thy promise. 22The chiefe captaine then let the yong man depart, after hee had charged him to vtter it to no man, that he had shewed him these things.
Paul Sent to Felix
23And he called vnto him two certaine Centurions, saying, Make readie two hundred souldiers, that they may go to Cæsarea, and horsemen three score and ten, and two hundred with dartes, at the thirde houre of the night. 24And let them make readie an horse, that Paul being set on, may be brought safe vnto Felix the Gouernour. 25And he wrote an epistle in this maner: 26Claudius Lysias vnto the most noble Gouernour Felix sendeth greeting. 27As this man was taken of the Iewes, and shoulde haue bene killed of them, I came vpon them with the garison, and rescued him, perceiuing that he was a Romane. 28And when I would haue knowen the cause, wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their Council. 29There I perceiued that hee was accused of questions of their Lawe, but had no crime worthy of death, or of bondes. 30And when it was shewed me, how that the Iewes layd waite for the man, I sent him straightway to thee, and commanded his accusers to speake before thee the thinges that they had against him. Farewell. 31Then the souldiers as it was commanded them, tooke Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32And the next day, they left the horsemen to goe with him, and returned vnto the Castel. 33Now when they came to Cæsarea, they deliuered the epistle to the Gouernour, and presented Paul also vnto him. 34So when the Gouernour had read it, hee asked of what prouince he was: and when he vnderstoode that he was of Cilicia, 35I will heare thee, said he, when thine accusers also are come, and commanded him to bee kept in Herods iudgement hall.