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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Acts 23:3

Verse Acts 23:3. God shall smite thee, thou whited wall] Thou hypocrite! who sittest on the seat of judgment, pretending to hear and seriously weigh the defense of an accused person, who must in justice and equity be presumed to be innocent till he is proved to be guilty; and, instead of acting according to the law, commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law, which always has the person of the prisoner under its protection; nor ever suffers any penalty to be inflicted but what is prescribed as the just punishment for the offense. As if he had said: "Thinkest thou that God will suffer such an insult on his laws, on justice, and on humanity, to pass unpunished?"

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See also Acts 23:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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 d...

  • 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

    SHALL. is about to. WHITED. whitewashed. Greek. _koniao._ Only here and Matthew 23:27. See note there. WALL. Greek. _toichos._ The wall of. building, not the wall of. city (_teichos_). Only here. T...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _God shall smite thee, thou whited wall_ Here we may see how very far even the excellence of St Paul comes short of the behaviour of the Divine Master, who when he suffered threatened not, and when re...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΤΎΠΤΕΙΝ ΣΕ ΜΈΛΛΕΙ Ὁ ΘΕΌΣ, ΤΟΙ͂ΧΕ ΚΕΚΟΝΙΑΜΈΝΕ, _God shall smite thee, thou whited wall_. Here we may see how very far even the excellence of St Paul comes short of the behaviour of the Divine Master, w...

  • 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

    ΕΙΠΕΝ _aor. ind. act., см._ Acts 23:1. ΜΈΛΛΕΙ _praes. ind. act. от_ ΜΈΛΛΩ (G3195) собираться, с _inf._ указывает на ближайшее будущее; здесь является вариантом предсказания проклятия (LC). ΤΟΊΧΕ _vo...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    GOD SHALL SMITE THEE, THOU WHITED WALL, &C.— Alluding to the beautiful outside of some walls which are full of dirt and rubbish within. See on Matthew 23:27 and Luke 11:44. The account which Josephus...

  • 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

    3-5. For once in the history of his persecution, the provocation was too great for Paul, and found vent in a burst of anger. (3) "_Then said Paul to him, God shall smite thee, thou whitewashed wall. A...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? _ Then said Paul unto him, God shall...

  • 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...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    GOD SHALL SMITE THEE] St. Paul's angry retort has often been contrasted with our Lord's mild words on a similar occasion (John 18:23). But St. Paul's rebuke was well deserved. _Thou_ WHITED WALL] i.e....

  • 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

    GOD SHALL SMITE THEE, THOU WHITED WALL. — The phrase is interesting as showing either that our Lord, in likening the Pharisees to “whitened sepulchers” (see Notes on Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:44), had us...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    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 bel...

  • 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

    (3) Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, [thou] (b) whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten (c) contrary to the law? (3) It is lawful for us...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    God will strike thee, thou whited wall. [1] These words are rather by way of a prophecy. (Witham) --- Whited wall. That is, hypocrite, for pretending to judge me according to law; whereas, against all...

  • 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

    − 3._God shall smite thee. _Paul cannot put up that injury, but he must, at least, with sharp words reprehend the high priest, − (524) and denounce God’s vengeance unto him. For it is no curse, as app...

  • 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 UNTO HIM, GOD SHALL SMITE THEE,.... Which may be considered either as a prophecy of what would be, that God would smite him with some judgment here, or with death quickly, or with etern...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, _thou_ whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? Ver. 3. _God shall smite thee_] He...

  • 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)

    SMITE THEE; visit in judgment. WHITED WALL; hypocrite....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THEN SAID PAUL UNTO HIM, GOD SHALL SMITE THEE, THOU WHITED WALL; FOR SITTEST THOU TO JUDGE ME AFTER THE LAW, AND COMMANDEST ME TO BE SMITTEN CONTRARY TO THE LAW?...

  • 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 said to him, " God will strike you, _you_ whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law? " 1. Paul responds in anger...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "God is going to strike you": Compare with Acts 13:10. "You whitewashed wall!": "The metaphor suggests. tottering wall whose precarious condition has been disguised by. generous coat of whitewash" (Br...

  • 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

    THOU WHITED WALL; an excellent similitude to represent wicked men, especially hypocrites, by, who counterfeit God's glory and worship, whilst they intend only their own profit or grandeur. Thus our Sa...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    3-5. For once in the history of his persecution, the provocation was too great for Paul, and found vent in a burst of anger. (3) "_ Then said Paul to him, God shall smite thee, thou whitewashed wall....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 23:3 Then G5119 Paul G3972 said G2036 (G5627) to G4314 him G846 God G2316 will G3195 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘Then said Paul to him, “God will smite you, you whited wall. And do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law?” ' But Paul knew his Law. And he knew t...

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

    Acts 23:3. THEN SAID PAUL UNTO HIM, GOD SHALL SMITE THEE, THOU WHITED WALL. These strange words, spoken no doubt in hot anger and excitement by the indignant prisoner, must of course be understood not...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THOU WHITED WALL (τοιχε κεκονιαμενε). Perfect passive participle of κονιαω (from κονια, dust or lime). The same word used in Matthew 23:27 for "whited sepulchres" (ταφο κεκονιαμενο) which see. It is...

  • 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 ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    ACTS—NOTE ON ACTS 23:3 Paul, like Jesus, used the metaphor of whitewash for hypocrisy (see Matthew 23:27). Ananias was a particularly bad high priest. For the illegal nature of Ananias’s action, see...

  • 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

    Amos 5:7; Deuteronomy 25:1; Deuteronomy 25:2; Ecclesiastes 3:16;...

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

    Shall smite thee [τ υ π τ ε ι ν σ ε μ ε λ λ ε ι]. More strictly, is about to smite. The words are not an imprecation, but a prophecy of punishment for his violent dealing. According to Josephus, in th...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Then said Paul — Being carried away by a sudden and prophetic impulse. God is about to smite thee, thou whited wall — Fair without; full of dirt and rubbish within. And he might well be so termed, not...

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