Acts Chapter 23
(Acts 23:1)And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
- As was stated before, councils are rarely good in Scripture and nearly always against God and God's people
COUNCILS
THE GOOD COUNCIL
(Psalms 68:27)
There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
THE BAD COUNCILS
(Matthew 5:22)
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
(Matthew 10:17)
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
(Matthew 12:14)
¶ Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
(Matthew 26:59)
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
(Mark 13:9)
¶ But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
(Mark 14:55)
And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
(Mark 15:1)
And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
(Luke 22:66)
¶ And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
(John 11:47)
¶ Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
(Acts 4:15)
But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
(Acts 5:21)
And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
(Acts 5:27)
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
(Acts 5:34)
Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
(Acts 5:41)
¶ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
(Acts 6:12)
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
(Acts 6:15)
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
(Acts 22:30)
On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.
(Acts 23:1)
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
(Acts 23:6)
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
(Acts 23:15)
Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
(Acts 23:20)
And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
(Acts 23:28)
And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
(Acts 24:20)
Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,
(Acts 25:12)
Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.
(Acts 23:2)
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
- So did Ananias command him to be smacked in the mouth because Paul lived in good conscience? Or because Paul lived in good conscience before God? Or because Ananias could order it(power lust)?
- Paul only said he lived before Gods in good conscience, not a reason to smite him in the mouth, the part we speak with
(Acts 23:3)
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?
- Remember that they are trying Paul before the Law, while violating the same law!
- He is hit in the mouth even before the trial starts, as they did with Jesus Christ Himself
(Exodus 22:28)
¶ Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
(Matthew 26:67)
Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
(Acts 23:4)
And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
- Paul had to know that this was the high priest in Israel at that time because
- Had been before many councils
- Was a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee
- Paul was "blameless concerning the law"
- An Hebrew of the Hebrews
- Raised at the feet of the chief rabbi Gamaliel
- The High Priest wore special clothing
- The High Priest would be the only one sitting
- If the Chief priests were told to assemble (they were), then one who is over them has to be the high priest, simple as that
- Paul already knew THE High Priest, the LORD Jesus Christ, who had replaced this man decades earlier
- Paul was simply angry and in the flesh is all
(Acts 23:5)
Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
- Paul knew that Ananias was not THE High Priest (the LORD Jesus Christ is), but he knew Ananias was A high priest is all
- Paul most certainly would have known the name of who the high priest was, being a Jew
(Acts 23:6)
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
- The reason for the trial is given in Acts 21:28, but Paul is pointing out the bottom line here, the real issue with them is the Messiah, the Risen King of Israel
(Acts 21:28)
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
(Acts 23:7-8)
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
- Imagine being a Jewish religious leader, a leader over God's chosen people, of the line of Levi, descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, knowing all of the Old Testament, with its miracles, visits to Abraham and Moses by God, and then completely denying the spiritual world, just like any atheist today!
- United: Let's kill Paul. Divided: There is an unseen, spiritual realm outside of this physical world
- This is two different things here, the Resurrection and angels/spirits
(Acts 23:9)
And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
- Apparently they thought not that Paul was an eyewitness to the risen Christ, but that Paul had gotten a word in his ears from an angel
- This is the difference in believing in a resurrection and believing in the Resurrection
- They can find no evil in the man they had just said needed to be executed, as he was "not fit to live"!
- An angel is a messenger, usually in the form of a man in Scripture, speaking a language of people
(Acts 22:22)
And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
(Acts 23:10)
And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
- Sometimes, in order to protect someone, you have to violently remove them from a situation because they are either unaware of that situation, unaware of the events about to unfold, or unafraid
- Think of how many men it would take to pull someone into pieces, or did they intend to use horses to "draw and quarter" Paul?
(Acts 23:11)
And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
- The LORD stood by Paul, as he will with us in these times
- This is either an incarnation, or Jesus speaking and/or acting on Paul's behalf
(Acts 23:12)
And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
- How much hatred for Christians and specifically Jesus Christ Himself must one have to do this?
- One thing to note is that there is no record of a bunch of Jewish men starving themselves to death or killing themselves by thirst in recorded history. In other words, they meant it sincerely-up until, of course, they found out it could not happen, since Paul was now removed from the area and no longer available for his own execution!
- This is the religious people, not the pagan Romans. These are God's people. Now think what us as Christians are capable of in our own flesh-hatred, murder, envying, etc.
(Acts 23:13)
And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
- This is a lot of men and, even if it was a small core to start with, they had followers!
(Acts 23:14)
And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
- Now, to include the leaders in this conspiracy
- There can be no greater conspiracy than binding oneself with many others in 100% agreement, as leadership, to do an evil acts and fasting until it gets done
(Acts 23:15)
Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
- You will notice that this conspiracy was brought before the leaders, and there is zero indication that they rejected the plan, no mention made, no rejection, no pondering, no waiting, and so the plan with forty plus men and leaders is set, the trap is intended to be sprung to kill an innocent man merely for preaching the Gospel
(Acts 23:16)
And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
- But God...it did not have to be a nephew, it could have been anyone
- If God had no more plans for Paul in this life, this plan of the council would have succeeded
- Since God had more plans for Paul, then He intervened, placed the nephew at the right place, the right time, and sent him to uncover the plan to the potential victim Paul
(Acts 23:17)
Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
- So now, rejected by his own people, it will finally be "off to see the Romans"
- God will here literally use one of His enemies (the empire of Rome) to safely get his will done with Paul, attempting to be completely thwarted by His other enemy, His own people, Israel
(Acts 23:18)
So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
- Paul is now called "Paul the prisoner", as opposed to Paul of Tarshish, Paul the evangelist, Paul the Jewish Christian, etc.
(Acts 23:19)
Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?
- Seems to be very hush hush here, since whatever this kid might say could be embarrassing to the empire and, specifically, the chief captain personally
- Could it be he thought that the kid was about to offer him a bribe to let "Paul the prisoner" out?
(Acts 23:20-21)
And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
- Translation: "You are being hoodwinked!"
(Acts 23:22)
So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
- In order for Paul to escape, the Jews must not know that anyone is on to them.
(Acts 23:23)
And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
- A centurion was one over 100 soldiers, so two means 300 soldiers, as it says
- This many with spears, on horseback, Paul is apparently a very precious prisoner!
- This many men could easily take on forty to fifty assassins
- When God rescues us from the flames, he sometimes goes all out. But if this had been Paul's time, then he would have been toast, the nephew would have had no influence
- The third hour of the night is dark, 9 P.M.
(Acts 23:24)
And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
- In addition to the protective detail, there is the ride
(Acts 23:25-26)
And he wrote a letter after this manner: Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
- Nothing remarkable here, just the standard greeting which might be used even today
(Acts 23:27)
This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.
- In case you have not heard of Paul...
- In relating the story, a little patting oneself on the back
- In addition, a little legal information as to why this execution/assassination would have been illegal in the first place
(Acts 23:28)
And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
- "He sort of had a trial with them"
(Acts 23:29)
Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
- "He didn't even need to win the trial, because he ended up not being accused even"
(Acts 23:30)
And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
- "I rescued him from them, and then told them a second trial would be held in your court, if they wanted one"
- Today we would call this person a "brown noser"
(Acts 23:31-32)
Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
- Apparently Antipatris was some sort of keeper/holder person in charge of captive prisoners
- Either the timing was "right at night" or they needed the cover of night for protection
(Acts 23:33)
Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
- In addition to being the keeper, Antipatris is a deliverer of people for trials, like a deputy or marshal today
(Acts 23:34)
And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
- Tarshish is the city, Cilicia is the province (or county or state, today)
(Acts 23:35)
I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
- Paul is held without bail, pending trial
- This will give Paul and others time to ask God for deliverance, words to speak, etc.
Acts Chapter 24
