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Summarized Bible Commentary

Acts 23:1-35

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 captain, Lysias, Felix.

Conclusion: Many are the troubles of the righteous, but some way or other, the Lord delivereth them out of them all. God is able to bring the hidden things to light and make conspirators' own tongues betray them, and above all to make the persecutions of His servants to turn to the wider spread of the Gospel.

Key Word: Dissension (Acts 23:7) and conspiracy (Acts 23:13).

Strong Verses: Acts 23:11.

Striking Facts: It is the will of Christ that His servants should often suffer with Him, but in their trials He would have them to be «cheerful,» and in the consciousness of His presence, how can one be otherwise? If He is with us, all secular events will be ordered to give opportunity to witness for Christ.

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See also Acts 23:1-35 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

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  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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 Ac...

  • 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

    EARNESTLY BEHOLDING. Greek. _atenizo._ App-133. COUNCIL. See note on Acts 22:30. MEN AND BRETHREN. See note on Acts 1:11. LIVED. Greek. _politeuomai,_ to live as. citizen. Only here and Philippi

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Acts 23:1. St Paul before the Sanhedrin. Disagreement between the Pharisees and Sadducees 1. _And Paul, earnestly beholding the council_ The verb is one which St Luke very frequently employs to note a...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

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

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ἈΤΕΝΊΣΑΣ ΔΈ, _and earnestly beholding_. The verb is one which St Luke very frequently employs to note a speaker’s expression at the commencement of a speech, and it is one of those features in the Act...

  • 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

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  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    MEN AND BRETHREN, I HAVE LIVED, &C.— St. Paul could not intend by this to intimate, that he thought himself free from guilt while persecuting the Christians, since he so expressly declares the contrar...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

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  • Combined Bible Commentary

    XXIII: 1, 2. No sooner had the prisoner and the Sanhedrim come face to face, than the chiliarch must have perceived that he was again to be disappointed in his efforts to understand the case; for, ins...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

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

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  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    23:1 Brethren, (a-10) Lit. 'Men brethren,' as ch. 1.16....

  • 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

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    XXIII. (1) AND PAUL, EARNESTLY BEHOLDING THE COUNCIL. — We note once more the characteristic word for the eager anxious gaze with which St. Paul scanned the assembly. He had not seen it since he had s...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἀτενίσας, see on chap. Acts 1:10, “looking stedfastly,” R.V. The word denotes the fixed stedfast gaze which may be fairly called a characteristic of St. Paul. On this occasion the Apostle may well hav...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

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

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  • 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

    And (1) Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. (1) Paul, against the false accusations of his enemies, display...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

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  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

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  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

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  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

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  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

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  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

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  • 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

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  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

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  • 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)

    LIVED IN ALL GOOD CONSCIENCE; done what I thought to be right....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND PAUL, EARNESTLY BEHOLDING THE COUNCIL, SAID, MEN AND BRETHREN, I HAVE LIVED IN ALL GOOD CONSCIENCE BEFORE GOD UNTIL THIS DAY....

  • 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

    Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, " Men _and_ brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. " 1. Paul looks his audience in the eye. He speaks directly to...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

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  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

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  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    ACTS CHAPTER 23 ACTS 23:1 Paul, pleading his integrity, is smitten at the command of the high priest, whom he reproveth of injustice. ACTS 23:6 By declaring himself a Pharisee, and questioned for the...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

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  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 23:1 Then G1161 Paul G3972 earnestly G816 (G5660) council G4892 said G2036 (G5627) Men G435 brethren...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Paul, looking steadfastly on the council, said, “Men, brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.” Paul began his defence fearlessly and immediately by declaring that...

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

    _St. Paul brought before the Sanhedrim by the Roman Officials in JerusalemHe defends himself before the Great Council, 1-10_. Acts 23:1. AND PAUL, EARNESTLY BEHOLDING THE COUNCIL. The Greek word άτενι...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    LOOKING STEADFASTLY (ατενισας). See on this word Acts 1:10; Acts 3:12; Acts 6:15; Acts 7:55;...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

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  • The Bible Study New Testament

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  • The Biblical Illustrator

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  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

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  • The Pulpit Commentaries

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  • 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

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  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

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  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And Paul earnestly beholding the council — Professing a clear conscience by his very countenance; and likewise waiting to see whether any of them was minded to ask him any question, said, I have lived...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Here we have observable the apostle's sober and ingenuous profession and protestation, Ananias's insolent and injurious injunction, St. Paul's zealous answer and contestation. Observe, 1. The apostle'...

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