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Vincent's Word Studies in the NT

Acts 23:1

Earnestly beholding. See on Luke 4:20. Some, who hold that Paul's eyesight was defective, explain this steadfast look in connection with his imperfect vision.

Men and brethren. He addresses the Sanhedrim as an equal.

I have lived [π ε π ο λ ι τ ε υ μ α ι]. Lit., have lived as a citizen, with special reference to the charge against him that he taught men against the law and the temple. He means that he has lived as a true and loyal Jew.

Conscience [σ υ ν ε ι δ η σ ε ι]. See on 1 Peter 3:16.

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See also Acts 23:1 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER XXIII. _Paul defending himself before the high priest, he commands him_ _to be smitten on the mouth_, 1, 2. _Paul sharply reproves him, and, being reproved for this by one_ _of the attenda...

  • 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

    ΆΤΕΝΊΣΑΣ _aor. act. part. (temp.) от_ ΆΤΕΝΊΖΩ (G816) смотреть пристально, вглядываться. "В то время, как Павел пристально смотрел на синедрион..." ΕΊΠΕΝ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΛΈΓΩ (G3004) говорить, ΣΥΝ...

  • 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

    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

    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

    And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. Paul before the Sanhedrim (23:1-5) And Paul, earnestly beholding the...

  • 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)

    23:1 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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    _ With an entire good conscience. With an upright sincerity. But St. Paul is far from excusing himself from all sin. He laments elsewhere his blind zeal in persecuting the Christians. See 1 Corinthian...

  • 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...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS Paul pleadeth his Cause before the Council. A Dissension takes place in consequence of it among his Accusers. He is sent to Felix....

  • 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

    − 1._Looking earnestly. _Paul beginneth with the testimony of a good conscience, that all the whole multitude may understand that he is unjustly charged with such an heinous offense, as if he had gone...

  • 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

    AND PAUL EARNESTLY BEHOLDING THE COUNCIL,.... Fastening his eyes upon them, looking wistly and intently at them, and thereby discovering a modest cheerfulness, and a becoming boldness, confidence, and...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men _and_ brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. Ver. 1. _In all good conscience_] Good, both with the goodness of i...

  • 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

    "Paul, looking intently at the Council": "We note once more the word for. piercing look that has become characteristic of Paul (Acts 13:9). Paul is looking over the Sanhedrin. He had not seen it since...

  • 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

    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

    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...

  • 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;...

  • 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

    PAUL LOOKED STRAIGHT AT THE COUNCIL. He speaks to them, not as judges, but as fellow countrymen. He probably knew some of those who formed the Council. MY CONSCIENCE IS PERFECTLY CLEAR. His whole life...

  • 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

    1 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 3:16; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 2 Corinthians 4:2;...

  • 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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Old Testament