AND PAUL, EARNESTLY BEHOLDING - ἀτενίσας atenisas. Fixing his eyes intently on the council. The word denotes “a fixed and earnest gazing; a close observation.” See Luke 4:20. Compare the notes on Acts 3:4. Paul would naturally look with a keen and attentive observation on the council. He was arrai... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE HIGH PRIEST ANANIAS - This Ananias was doubtless the son of Nebedinus (Josephus, _Antiq._, book 20, chapter 5, section 3), who was high priest when Quadratus, who preceded Felix, was president of Syria. He was sent bound to Rome by Quadratus, at the same time with Ananias, the prefect of the... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD SHALL SMITE THEE - God shall punish thee. God is just; and he will not suffer such a manifest violation of all the laws of a fair trial to pass unavenged. This was a remarkably bold and fearless declaration. Paul was surrounded by enemies. They were seeking his life. He must have known that such... [ Continue Reading ]
REVILEST THOU ... - Dost thou reproach or abuse the high priest of God? is remarkable that they, who knew that he was not the high priest, should have offered this language. He was, however, in the place of the high priest, and they might have pretended that respect was due to the office.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 it in irony, as if he had said, “Pardon me, brethren, I did not consider that this was the high pri... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN PAUL PERCEIVED - Probably by his former acquaintance with the men who composed the council. As he had been brought up in Jerusalem, and had been before acquainted with the Sanhedrin Acts 9:2, he would have an acquaintance, doubtless, with the character of most of those present, though he ha... [ Continue Reading ]
A DISSENSION - A dispute, or difference. AND THE MULTITUDE - The council. Compare Acts 14:4. The Pharisees embraced, as he desired and expected, his side of the question, and became his advocates, in opposition to the Sadducees, who were arrayed against him.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SADDUCEES SAY - They believe. NO RESURRECTION - Of the dead. By this doctrine they also understood that there was no future state, and that the soul did not exist after death. See the notes on Matthew 22:23. NEITHER ANGEL - That there are no angels. They deny the existence of good or bad a... [ Continue Reading ]
A GREAT CRY - A great clamor and tumult. THE SCRIBES - The learned men. They would naturally be the chief speakers. OF THE PHARISEES’ PART - Who were Pharisees, or who belonged to that party. The scribes were not a distinct sect, but might be either Pharisees or Sadducees. WE FIND NO EVIL IN THIS... [ Continue Reading ]
A GREAT DISSENSION - A great tumult, excitement, or controversy. INTO THE CASTLE - See the notes on Acts 21:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD STOOD BY HIM - Evidently the Lord Jesus. See the notes on Acts 1:24. Compare Acts 22:18. The appearance of the Lord in this case was a proof that he approved the course which Paul had taken before the Sanhedrin. BE OF GOOD CHEER - It would not be remarkable if Paul, by these constant persec... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAIN OF THE JEWS - Some of the Jews. They were more than forty in number, Acts 23:13. BANDED TOGETHER - Made an agreement or compact. They conspired to kill him. AND BOUND THEMSELVES UNDER A CURSE - See the margin. The Greek is, “they anathematized themselves”; that is, they bound themselves by... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HAD MADE THIS CONSPIRACY - This oath συνωμοσίαν sunōmosian, this agreement, or compact. This large number of desperate men, bound by so solemn an oath, would be likely to be successful, and the life of Paul was therefore in special danger. The manner in which they purposed to accomplish thei... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CAME ... - Probably by a deputation. TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS - The members of the Great Council, or Sanhedrin. It is probable that the application was made to the party of the Sadducees, as the Pharisees had shown their determination to defend Paul. They would have had no prospect... [ Continue Reading ]
YE, WITH THE COUNCIL - With the concurrence or request of the Sanhedrin. It was only by such a request that they had any hope that the chief captain would remove Paul from the castle. SIGNIFY TO THE CHIEF CAPTAIN - Send a message or request to him. THAT HE BRING HIM DOWN UNTO YOU - That he bring h... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL’S SISTER’S SON - This is all that we know of the family of Paul. Nor do we know for what purpose he was at Jerusalem. It is possible that Paul might have a sister residing there; though, as Paul himself had been sent there formerly for his education, it seems more probable that this young man w... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED ONE OF THE CENTURIONS - Who might at that time have had special charge of the castle, or been on guard. Paul had the most positive divine assurance that his life would be spared, and that he would yet see Rome; but he always understood the divine promises and purposes as being consistent with... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PRAYED ME - And asked me.... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK HIM BY THE HAND - As an expression of kindness and civility. He did it to draw him aside from the multitude, that he might communicate his message privately.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID ... - In what way this young man had received intelligence of this, we can only conjecture. It is not improbable that he was a student under some one of the Jewish teachers, and that he might have learned it of him. It is not at all probable that the purpose of the 40 men would be very c... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOKING FOR A PROMISE FROM THEE - Waiting for your consent to bring him down to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CALLED UNTO HIM TWO CENTURIONS ... - Each centurion had under him 100 men. The chief captain resolved to place Paul beyond the power of the Jews, and to protect him as became a Roman citizen. TWO HUNDRED SOLDIERS - These foot soldiers were designed only to guard Paul until he was safely out... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PROVIDE THEM BEASTS - One for Paul, and one for each of his attendants. The word translated “beasts” κτήνη ktēnē is of a general character, and may be applied either to horses, camels, or donkeys. The latter were most commonly employed in Judea. UNTO FELIX THE GOVERNOR - The governor of Judea... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE MOST EXCELLENT GOVERNOR FELIX - The most honored, etc. This was a mere title of office. GREETING - A term of salutation in an epistle wishing health, joy, and prosperity.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OF THEM - Was about to be killed by them. The life of Paul had been twice endangered in this manner, Acts 21:30; Acts 23:10. WITH AN ARMY - With a band of soldiers, Acts 23:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
QUESTIONS OF THEIR LAW - So he understood the whole controversy to be. WORTHY OF DEATH - By the Roman law. He had been guilty of no crime against the Roman people. OR OF BONDS - Of chains, or of confinement.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO ANTIPATRIS - This town was anciently called Cafar-Saba. Josephus says (_Antiq._, Acts 13:23) that it was about 17 miles from Joppa. It was about 26 miles from Caesarea, and, of course, about 35 miles from Jerusalem. Herod the Great changed its name to Antipatris, in honor of his father Antipater.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY LEFT THE HORSEMEN - As they were then beyond the danger of the conspirators, the soldiers who had guarded them thus far returned to Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHAT PROVINCE HE WAS - Greek: of what heparchy ἐπαρχίας eparchias he was. He knew from the letter of Lysias that he was a Roman, but he was not informed of what place or province he was. This he doubtless did in order to ascertain whether he properly belonged to his jurisdiction. Roman province... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HEROD’S JUDGMENT HALL - Greek: in the praetorium of Herod. The word used here denoted formerly “the tent of the Roman praetor”; and since that was the place where justice was administered, it came to be applied to “halls (courts) of justice.” This had been raised probably by Herod the Great as hi... [ Continue Reading ]