The Bible Says Commentary on Acts 23
Please choose a passage in Acts 23
Acts 23:1-10 describes Paul’s trial before the Council of priests and rabbis. He declares his innocence, and the high priest orders a soldier to hit him in the mouth. Paul realizes the trial is a sham, and turns the Pharisees against the Sadducees by declaring that he is on trial for teaching that God will resurrect the dead. The Sadducees do not believe in life after death, angels, or anything of that sort. The Pharisees do. Some scribes stand in defense of Paul. A heated debate erupts. The Romans pull Paul back to the barracks when the priests mob him.
Acts 23:11-15 contains a vision of Jesus seen by Paul. Jesus tells Paul to be encouraged, because Paul will go to Rome and preach the gospel there. This means that Paul will not die in Jerusalem. The following morning, more than forty Jews make an oath to neither eat nor drink until they have murdered Paul. They collude with the chief priests to request a second trial for Paul. When the Romans are escorting Paul to the Council chambers, the assassins will ambush him.
Acts 23:16-22 details how Paul’s nephew learns about the plot to assassinate Paul. He visits Paul in the Roman barracks and tells his uncle and the Roman commander about this plot. The Roman commander tells Paul’s nephew not to tell anyone that he has revealed this information to the Romans.
Acts 23:23-30 describes how the Roman commander gathers four hundred and seventy soldiers and cavalry to escort Paul out of Jerusalem that very night. The plan is to take Paul all the way to Caesarea, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where Governor Felix can investigate the matter. The commander writes an explanatory letter to Felix, noting a mob tried to kill Paul, that Paul has Roman citizenship, and that some have planned to assassinate Paul. The only accusation against Paul has something to do with Jewish Law, but he is no criminal.
Acts 23:31-35 depicts how Paul’s military escort takes him first to the town of Antipatris, then the foot soldiers fall back to Jerusalem. The Roman cavalry takes Paul the rest of the way to Caesarea. Governor Felix learns about the case and agrees to hold a trial, as soon as Paul’s accusers come to Caesarea. In the meantime, Paul is imprisoned in the palace.
Paul is examined by the Council of priests and rabbis. He declares his innocence, and the high priest orders a soldier to hit him in the mouth. Paul realizes the trial is a sham, and turns the Pharisees against the Sadducees by declaring that he is on trial for teaching that God will resurrect the dead. The Sadducees do not believe in life after death, angels, or anything of that sort. The Pharisees do. Some stand in defense of Paul. A heated debate erupts. The Romans pull Paul back to the barracks when the priests mob him.
Jesus appears to Paul. He tells Paul to be encouraged, because Paul will go to Rome and preach the gospel there. This means that Paul will not die in Jerusalem. The following morning, more than forty Jews make an oath to neither eat nor drink until they have murdered Paul. They collude with the chief priests to request a second trial for Paul. When the Romans are escorting Paul to the Council chambers, the assassins will ambush him.
Paul’s nephew learns about the assassination plot. He visits Paul in the Roman barracks and tells his uncle and the Roman commander about the plan to lure Paul out and ambush him. The Roman commander tells Paul’s nephew not to tell anyone that he has revealed this information to the Romans.
The Roman commander gathers four hundred and seventy soldiers and cavalry to escort Paul out of Jerusalem that very night. The plan is to take Paul all the way to Caesarea on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where Governor Felix can investigate the matter. The commander writes an explanatory letter to Felix, noting a mob tried to kill Paul, that Paul has Roman citizenship, and that some have planned to assassinate Paul. The only accusation against Paul has something to do with Jewish Law, but he is no criminal.
Paul’s military escort takes him first to the town of Antipatris, then the foot soldiers fall back to Jerusalem. The Roman cavalry takes Paul the rest of the way to Caesarea. Governor Felix learns about the case and agrees to hold a trial, as soon as Paul’s accusers come to Caesarea. In the meantime, Paul is imprisoned in the palace.
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