Acts 23:3

Wetstein sees in the words the customary formula of malediction among the Jews. But we need not regard Paul's words as an imprecation of evil on the high priest, but only an expression of the firm belief that such conduct would meet with punishment, cf. Knabenbauer, in loco. The terrible death of Ananias was a fulfilment of the words. On the paronomasia and other instances of the same figure see Blass, Gram., p. 292. τοῖχε κεκον., cf. Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:44, the expression may have been proverbial, in LXX, cf. Proverbs 21:9. A contrast has been drawn between St. Paul's conduct and that of our Lord under provocation, as, e.g., by St. Jerome, Adv. Pelag., iii., 1, but there were occasions when Christ spoke with righteous indignation, and never more severely than when He was condemning the same sin which St. Paul censured hypocrisy. καὶ σύ, emphatic, cf. Mark 4:13; Luke 10:29. καὶ at the commencement of a question expressing indignation or astonishment (Page). κάθῃ κρίνων, later form for κάθησαι, cf. for the phrase Luke 22:30. παρανομῶν : only here in N.T., but cf. LXX, Psalms 75:4, 118 :51; the verb also occurs several times in 4 Macc.