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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Acts 23:5

ACTS—NOTE ON Acts 23:5 I did not know. Paul possibly did not recognize the high priest because he had not been to Jerusalem for many years. He also may have had poor eyesight (see Galatians 4:12).

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See also Acts 23:5 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Acts 23:5. _I WIST NOT, BRETHREN, THAT HE WAS THE HIGH PRIEST_] After all the learned labour that has been spent on this subject, the simple meaning appears plainly to be this:- St. Paul did n...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEN SAID PAUL, I WIST NOT - I know not; I was ignorant of the fact that he was high priest. Interpreters have been greatly divided on the meaning of this expression. Some have supposed that Paul said...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ACTS 22:30 TO ACTS 23:10. PAUL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN. This is a difficult section, and does not advance the action. Unless the proceedings took place in Greek, the tribune would scarcely secure his obj...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE STRATEGY OF PAUL (Acts 23:1-10)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    Paul fixed his gaze on the Sanhedrin and said, "Brethren, I have lived before God with a completely pure conscience up to this day." The high priest Ananias ordered those who stood by him to strike hi...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WIST. knew. Greek. _oida._ App-132. THE. Omit. IS WRITTEN. has been written, or standeth written. See Exodus 22:28. EVIL. Greek. _kak_. _s_. Compare App-128. Compare John 18:23.James 4:3 (ami

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest_ Several explanations have been given of this statement of St Paul. Some think that it may have been true that St Paul from defect of sight, with whi...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΟΥ̓Κ ἬΙΔΕΙΝ, ἈΔΕΛΦΟΊ, ὍΤΙ ἘΣΤῚΝ�, _I knew not, brethren, that he was the high priest_. Several explanations have been given of this statement of St Paul. Some think that it may have been true that St...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Acts 23:1-10. ST PAUL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN. DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _PAUL'S DEFENSE BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN ACTS 23:1-5:_ Paul appeared before the Sanhedrin to try to resolve the charge of profaning the Temple. He pictured again his religious situation before becoming a...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΦΗ _impf._/aor. _ind. act. от_ ΦΗΜΊ (G5346) говорить, ΉΔΕΙΝ _plperf. ind. act. от_ ΟΙΔΑ (G1492) знать. Def. perf. со _знач. praes._; с _plperf._ образует форму прошедшего времени (VA, 281-87). Возмо...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    I WIST NOT, BRETHREN, THAT HE WAS THE HIGH PRIEST:— Animated on a sudden by the secret impulse of a prophetic Spirit, which bore him, as it were, for that moment beyond himself, St. Paul delivered the...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    e. Paul addresses the council. Acts 23:1-10. Acts 23:1 And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day. Acts 23:2 And the...

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 3...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _ 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._ Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the hi...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    21 Here we have the cause of Israel's apostasy laid bare. They were to be a channel of blessing to the other nations, but, instead, they kept all Jehovah's gifts to themselves and refused to share the...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    23:5 written, (b-17) See Exodus 22:28 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    As the high priest, when present, presided over the Sanhedrin, it is somewhat strange that St. Paul should not have known who Ananias was. A possible explanation is that St. Paul was somewhat short-si...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ST. PAUL SENT TO CÆESAREA 1. St. Paul often asserts his good conscience before God and man: see Acts 22:3; Acts 24:16....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 23 PAUL SPEAKS TO THE *SANHEDRIN, 23:1-11 V1 Paul looked straight at the *Sanhedrin. He said, ‘My brothers, my conscience feels good about how...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    I WIST NOT, BRETHREN, THAT HE WAS THE high priest. — These words admit of three different explanations: — (1) We may take them as stating that St. Paul, either from defective sight (see Notes on Acts...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    οὐκ ᾔδειν : the subject of ἐστιν is not expressed as in A. and R.V., in the Greek it is simply “I wist not that it was the high priest (who spoke)”. If it be said that St. Paul could scarcely have bee...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    DIVIDING HIS PERSECUTORS Acts 23:1 The behavior of the judge was quite unworthy of his office, but Paul's epithet cannot be defended. The best of men are but men at the best. Paul was thrown off his...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    By action of the Roman governor, Paul was arraigned before the Jewish Sanhedrin. Hardly had he commenced before he was interrupted and insulted. It was a most trying ordeal for the apostle. It is easi...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Paul's Second Defense As he stood before the council, or Sanhedrin, Paul told them he had lived in good until that very time (Compare 1 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Timothy 1:3). At this, Ananias commanded the...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (4) 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. (4) We must willingly and from the heart give honour to...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    I knew not, &c. Some think St. Paul here speaks ironically, or to signify that now he could be no longer high priest since the Mosaic law, with its rites and ceremonies, was abolished. But St. John Ch...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    THE HIGH PRIEST 1-6. Paul hears the order to smite him on the mouth, but did not know who spake. When it turned out to be the high priest, he apologized. In the gospel dispensation (1 Peter 2), we see...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day. (2) And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smi...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The closing Chapter s from 21 to the end of the book are devoted to an episode full of interest and profit Paul's course from Jerusalem to Rome. And here we find ourselves in an atmosphere considerabl...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    − 5._I knew not, brethren. _Those who think that this excuse of Paul hath in it no figure, do not well mark the contrary objections wherewith their error is refuted. They say that Paul knew not the hi...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    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...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN SAID PAUL, I WIST NOT, BRETHREN, THAT HE WAS THE HIGH PRIEST,.... Or I did not know that he was the high priest; and the sense is, that he did not really know him, either because he had been long...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 5. _I wist not, brethren_] Whether he spake seriously...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And Paul, earnestly beholding the council_ At whose bar he was placed; manifesting a clear conscience by his very countenance; and likewise waiting to see whether any of them was minded to ask him an...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    WIST NOT; knew not. At this time the occupancy of the high-priesthood had become very irregular. If Ananias actually was then the high-priest, it is probable that Paul either did not know the fact, or...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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. The hearing had been opened by the Roman tribune, Lysias. Th...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE HEARING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SANHEDRIN. Paul rebukes the high priest:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    In this hearing the chief captain did not take the place of an adjudicator, nor was there any other judicial authority present to keep order. Paul then takes advantage of the occasion to speak earnest...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    And those who stood by said, " Do you revile God ' S HIGH PRIEST? " 5 THEN PAUL SAID, " I DID NOT KNOW, BRETHREN, THAT HE WAS THE HIGH PRIEST; FOR IT IS WRITTEN, _‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest": This infers that Paul did not personally know Ananias and that Ananias on this occasion was not wearing his high priestly outfit. Some writers con...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 fro...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I WIST NOT, BRETHREN, THAT HE WAS THE HIGH PRIEST; Paul does not here ironically say this, because the high priest had, contrary to his place and office, caused him to be smitten; but either: 1. Beca...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Cyprian Epistle LIV -although they had begun to be sacrilegious, and impious, and bloody, the Lord having already been crucified, and had no longer retained anything of the priestly honour and author...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 23:5 Then G5037 Paul G3972 said G5346 (G5713) not G3756 know G1492 (G5715) brethren G80 that...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people'.” ' Paul immediately admitted his fault. He informed them th...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 23:5. 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. What is meant by these words? ‘I wist not (ου ̓ κ...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    I WIST NOT (ουκ ηιδειν). Second past perfect of οιδα used as an imperfect. The Greek naturally means that Paul did not know that it was the high priest who gave the order to smite his mouth. If this...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Paul before the Sanhedrin. The conspiracy to kill Paul and its defeat. Paul sent to Felix. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Paul, Ananias, Pharisees, Sadduces, Paul's sister's son, centurion, chief...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 23:2. _Smite him on the mouth._ Ananias the highpriest commanded this, when he heard Paul profess a good conscience, and determined to persevere in preaching Christ. So Ahab commanded Micaiah to...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    TO STRIKE HIM ON THE MOUTH. This is not the Annas of Acts 4:7, but the son of Nebedaeus, whom Herod had appointed to be high priest. He served from 47 - 59 A.D. He flares up in anger when Paul claims...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren._ PAUL BEFORE THE COUNCIL 1. The history of apostolic missions is finished; but before the parchment is rolled up, the line of one l...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 23:1. EARNESTLY BEHOLDING, or _looking steadfastly on,_ describes the eager, anxious gaze with which the apostle was accustomed to scan those to whom he spoke—perhaps arising f...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 23:1 _Looking steadfastly on _for _earnestly beholding, _A.V.; _brethren _for _men and brethren, _A.V._; I have lived before God, _etc., for _I have lived, _etc., _before God, _A.V. L...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And so Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day (Acts 23:1). Paul was indeed a remarkable man. As Paul is writing to...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Peter 2:10; Acts 24:17; Ecclesiastes 10:20; Exodus 22:28; Jude 1:8;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    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 fr...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    Did Paul lie when he said he didn’t know the high priest? PROBLEM: The high priest Ananias commanded that Paul be struck on the mouth. Paul rebuked him for doing so, and those who stood by condemned P...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Several interpretations are given by expositors of these words, I WIST not, brethern, that he was the high-priest. 1. SOME THINK THAT ST. PAUL DID NOT REALLY KNOW THE HIGH-PRIEST, HAVING BEEN GONE SO...

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