Paul addresses the Sanhedrin; Plot to kill him; Transferred
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¶ And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren,
I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
.2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. .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? 4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 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. |
3 -
God
shall smite thee May be seen as fulfilled in his assassination.
(Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 2.17.9.)
3 - Whited wall Or "hypocrite" mt2327. 5 - Wist not Or "did not know." A possible reason for Paul's not knowing who his judge was is that the office of high priest had been in flux. His reference was to ex2228. |
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¶ 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.
.7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. .8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 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. 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. .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. |
8 -
Resurrection
See lu2037.
9 - Scribes Other manuscripts read "some of the scribes." 9 Then a great clamor arose; and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?" (RSV) 9 - If a spirit or an angel The Sadducees didn't believe in either. 10 - Castle The Tower of Antonia ac2224. 11 - The Lord stood by him See ac0905, ac2217. The "good cheer" was certainly a blessing. When we are in such circumstances we may know that the Lord will be with us, too he1305. 11 - Rome Paul was intending to go ac1921. |
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¶ 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.
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. .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. 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 enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. 16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. 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. |
12
- Jews ... bound themselves Remember that these were people
professing to be followers of the true God. Paul knew he would not be killed
from what the Lord had told him v11. This was not evidence of freedom from
torture. We wonder how the men got along without food and water. Satan
may have provided the curse. He often abuses those who serve him. The Scriptures
do not say.
15 - Council The Sanhedrin. They could not inflict the death penalty. See on jn1831; ac0758. If they had that power, Paul's Roman citizenship would probably have excluded him from their jurisdiction. |
| 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.
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?  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 enquire somewhat
of him more perfectly.
.21 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. 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. 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; 24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. 23 - Caesarea This was the seat of the Roman government in Palestine and was about 63 miles (101 km.) away. See map. Illustration
© GoodSalt, Inc., 2001
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| 25 And he wrote a letter
after this manner:
.26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. 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. 28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: 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. 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. 31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: 33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him. |
29 - Questions of their law It had become clear that this was not a case for civil law. |
| 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;
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. |
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