Acts 23

23:1 In addressing the high council, Paul insisted on his personal integrity before God—he had not violated God’s law or done the things they accused him of doing.

23:2 Ananias was the Jewish high priest from AD 47 to 58. • slap him: He apparently assumed that Paul was lying and tried to intimidate him.

23:3 you corrupt hypocrite: Cp. Ezek 13:10-17; Matt 23:27.

23:5 Why Paul did not recognize the high priest is not known. • Paul replied by quoting Exod 22:28, acknowledging the respect to which the high priest was entitled by virtue of his office.

23:6 Paul focused on the key issue in his trial, the hope of resurrection from the dead. His preaching was simply the outworking of that hope and the fact of Jesus’ resurrection, but the message was unacceptable to both groups of Jews because of its implications. Pharisees could not abide the inclusion of the Gentiles apart from circumcision and keeping the law of Moses (cp. 15:5), but that was what the resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Spirit had provided (Acts 2:39; 10:34-48). Sadducees could not stand the proclamation of the resurrection at all (cp. 4:1-2).

23:7-10 Paul’s statement (23:6) divided the council, with the Pharisees taking Paul’s side against the Sadducees. The resulting uproar was so great that the commander rescued Paul and took him back into the fortress of Antonia.

23:11 At this critical juncture, Jesus encouraged Paul to continue as his faithful witness by assuring him that he would go to Rome (see 19:21).

23:12-15 The plan to kill Paul was desperate, as a group of . . . more than forty took an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul (cp. 1 Sam 14:24-46; Matt 14:6-11; see also Deut 23:21-23; Matt 5:33-37; Jas 5:12).

23:16-22 Paul’s nephew thwarted the murderous plot by reporting it to one of the Roman officers.

23:23-35 A mounted escort took Paul safely to the Roman Governor Felix in Caesarea, the Roman headquarters for Judea. There Paul would have greater protection than in Jerusalem. The military operation was executed that night with secret efficiency and maximum security (23:31).

23:24 Antonius Felix was procurator (Governor) of Judea about AD 52–59, with responsibility for both military and civil affairs. Felix had a bad reputation (see 24:24-27) and was eventually recalled to Rome by Nero.

23:26-30 The letter of Claudius Lysias to Governor Felix is a typical Hellenistic letter, naming the writer and the person addressed, offering a greeting, and stating the business at hand (though there is no parting word of farewell; see study note on 15:29). It summarizes the events that preceded it and explains the action taken; it also suggests that the commander has followed proper Roman judicial procedure. • The title his Excellency was often applied to persons of high social, political, or economic status (Luke 1:3).

23:31 Antipatris, a city rebuilt by Herod the Great in 9 BC on the Plain of Sharon, was a convenient military control point between Jerusalem and Caesarea.

23:35 The governor followed the proper protocol and waited for Paul’s accusers to arrive before granting an official hearing. • Herod’s headquarters was Herod the Great’s palace at Caesarea; it subsequently became the residence of the Roman governors of Judea.