Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 23:11

ΙΙαῦλε omitted with אABCE. Not represented in Vulg.

11. τῇ δὲ ἐπιούση νυκτί, and the night following. The Apostle was now, though not rightly a prisoner, yet kept, that he might be out of harm’s way, under the charge of the Roman soldiers. The hearing of his case having been interrupted, another time was to be appointed when the examination should be completed.

ἐπιστὰς αὐτῷ ὁ κύριος, the Lord stood by him. Appearing in a vision as before at Corinth. Cf. on Acts 18:9.

For the verb ἐπιστάς see above on Acts 12:13.

θάρσει, be of good cheer. The Apostle could hardly be otherwise than downcast with the events of the previous day. He had entered the Temple and undertaken the Nazirite vow with a view of conciliating the Jews and he had only been saved from being torn in pieces of them through the interference of the Roman commander.

οὕτω σε δεῖ καὶ εἰς Ῥώμην μαρτυρῆσαι, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. St Paul had already written to the Roman Church of his ‘longing to see them,’ and that ‘oftentimes he had purposed to come unto them’ (Romans 1:11-13), and St Luke (Acts 19:21) records the intention in the history of St Paul’s stay at Ephesus. The way to compass such a visit had not yet been found, but now it is pointed out by the Lord Himself.

The preposition εἰς implies, as in other instances, that the Apostle is to go to Rome, and then bear his testimony. See note on Acts 8:40.

In διαμαρτυρέω in this verse there seems to be an allusion to the thoroughness and zeal of St Paul’s work hitherto.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 23:11

Old Testament

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