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| 1 Having looked intently and the Paul to the sanhedrim, said: Men brethren, I in all conscience good have been as a citizen to the God till this the day. |
Earnestly beholding – Another opportunity to witness the Gospel to the Jews; to their most learned body, to their most influential Court of Seventy. R5952:2, 4485:6
The council – Jewish Sanhedrin, of which the High Priest, Ananias, was president. R3190:2, 5952:1
It is quite generally supposed that at the time of the stoning of Stephen, Paul, then Saul of Tarsus, was a member of the Sanhedrin. R5952:2, 4486:1
I have lived – The Apostle had always lived in full harmony with the laws of his country; an honorable citizen. R3190:2
All good conscience – Paul had never ceased to maintain this attitude. R5952:6, 4486:4
Moral, upright, with a religious zeal which led him to persecute the Church. R2823:3
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| 2 The and high-priest Ananias gave a charge to those having been standing by him, to strike of him the mouth. |
And the high priest – It is not unfair to assume that the High Priest felt his own course in life especially condemned by Paul's words. R5952:3, 4486:2
Possibly thinking this as a reflection against himself, for he had an unsavory reputation. R3190:2
Ananias – Josephus charges Ananias with having been a hypocritical grafter of the baser sort, but so crafty that the public esteemed him. R5952:3, 4486:2
President of the Sanhedrin. R3190:2
Smite him – A special mark of indignity and a protest against the words uttered. R5952:3, 4486:1
An insult not at all uncommon in the East at that time. R3190:2
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| 3 Then the Paul to him said: To strike thee is about the God, O wall having been white washed; and thou sittest judging me according to the law, and violating the law thou orderest me to be struck? |
God shall smite thee – The prophecy came true; within two years, Ananias was deposed; within six years, he met a horrible death. R5952:3, 4486:2
Thou whited wall – The term applied to ordinary graves which were covered with a stone slab, whitewashed frequently. R5952:3, 4486:2
A symbol representing hypocrisy. R5952:3, 4486:2
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| 4 Those and having been standing by said: The high-priest of the God revilest thou? |
Revilest – Answerest. R4486:2, 3190:2
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| 5 Said and the Paul: Not I had known, brethren, that it is a high-priest; it is written for: A ruler of the people of thee not thou shalt speak evil. |
I wist not – The Apostle had never fully recovered his eyesight and could not discern clearly. R5952:3, 4486:2, 3190:2, 2118:4, 1540:4
Or he did not know that the indignity was suggested by Ananias. R5952:4, 4486:2
Or, he may have questioned the right of Ananias to the title of High Priest. R3190:3, 5952:5, 4486:2
The Apostle's words may have meant that he did not recognize that the true High Priest was present. R5952:5, 4486:3
Or he may have considered that the typical office of High Priest had ended. R3190:3, 310:2
Brethren – Thus putting himself on an equality with them, both in respect to religious zeal and general learning. R5952:2, 4486:1
High priest – A Sadducee. R3190:3
Not speak evil – The people of God should pre-eminently stand for law and order, with as much justice as may be obtainable, waiting for absolute justice until the King of kings shall take his Millennial throne. R5952:5, 4486:3
The attitude of the Lord's people should be a very conservative one in such matters. R3190:3
The Apostle did not make threats against them nor pray evil upon their heads, but he defended himself by appealing to the people. R3738:2
We are not authorized to retaliate. R3738:3
Ruler – Dignitaries. R3190:3
The gods, mighty ones, judges. (Exod. 22:28) E68
The tendency to speak evil of dignitaries, to belittle them, to caricature them, is a prevalent sin. R5952:5, 4486:3
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| 6 Knowing and the Paul, that the one part is of Sadducees, the and other of Pharisees, he cried out in the sanhedrim: Men brethren, I a Pharisee am, a son of a Pharisee; concerning hope and a resurrection of dead ones I being judged. |
When Paul perceived – The prejudice against him was such that no speech of his could affect his hearers. R5952:6, 4486:3
Sadducees – Practically unbelievers, of the wealthier, more respectable class. R4986:3
The Sadducees were the Higher Critics and infidels of that time; for they did not believe in angels or spirits or in the resurrection of the dead. R4961:4
I am a Pharisee – The word Pharisee means, "Wholly devoted, separated to God." R3124:5, 5952:6, 4486:4
Signifying holiness or completeness in the observance of the Law. R3190:4, 4986:3
Paul's experience on the way to Damascus had not changed his attitude of heart, of loyalty to God. R5952:6, 4486:4
A Sadducee, in violation of the Law, had just caused a Pharisee to be smitten in the mouth. He thus to some extent gained the sympathy of the Pharisees. R3190:6
Thus he appealed to the Pharisee element of the crowd, and set them more or less at variance with the Sadducees. R5897:6
With the thought that he could get the good will of the one part. R4961:5
Resurrection – Greek, anastasis; is without the Greek article of special emphasis, indicating the first or special resurrection, but indicating the general opportunity for life everlasting by a judgment-resurrection. R1512:1, 2
Of the dead – The hope of a personal future life by resurrection. R5468:4
There is no hope of a future life without a resurrection, and no hope of a resurrection except in Jesus. R2618:1
This hope was fulfilled, its realization made sure, in the resurrection of Christ. R751:2*, 1436:4*
"Preached through Jesus" ( Acts 4:2), because of the ransom he R241:3
"If there be no resurrection of the dead, then they that are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." (1 Cor. 15:13, 18) C117, E345
The early Christians were scattered abroad and went everywhere preaching Jesus and the resurrection. CR22:1; HG191:6
I am called in question – It is because I believe in the resurrection of the dead that I am here a prisoner. HG136:6
"And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked." ( Acts 17:32) HG347:4
Resurrection is regarded with dread, because of false teachings. The traditions of men made void the Word of God. F664; HG136:6
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| 7 This and of him having spoken, was a disciple of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and was divided the multitude. |
Pharisees – Ultra-orthodox, holiness-professing. R5952:6, 5389:2, 4961:5, 4486:4
Sadducees – Agnostic and higher-critical. R5952:6, 4486:4
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| 8 Sadducees indeed for say not to be a resurrection, nor a messenger, nor a spirit; Pharisees but confess the both. |
No resurrection – The Sadducees professed no faith in a future life. R5389:2
Nor spirit – Greek, pneuma; spirit-being. E313
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| 9 Was and an outcry great; and having arisen the scribes of the party of the Pharisees contended, saying: Nothing evil we find in the man this; if but a spirit spoke to him, or a messenger. |
But if a spirit – Greek, pneuma; E313
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| 10 Great and becoming dispute, fearing the commander lest would be torn to pieces the Paul by them, he ordered the armed force having gone down to take him from midst of them, to lead and into the castle. |
A great dissension – A tumult ensued, some seeking to take his life and others to protect it. R5953:1, 4486:4
The chief captain – The Roman commander, Lysias. R3190:4
Paul – Calm, alert, dignified, humble, self-possessed. R4486:5
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| 11 On the and next night having stood by him the Lord said: Take courage; as for thou didst testify the things concerning me in Jerusalem, so thee it behooves also in Rome to testify. |
Lord stood by him – And gave him the suitable words. R4499:5
Paul received special, individual encouragement from the Lord. R1558:3
The assurance was needed, for the Lord very rarely interposes miraculously in the course of events unless there is special necessity. R3190:1
The Lord constantly witnessed with him, by miracles and signs which mightily convinced the people. R1558:5
The Apostle's visions serve us as they served him, assuring us also that the Lord is with his people, and is able to care for, protect, guide and bless our efforts today. R3190:2
Be of good cheer – It was in this time of great mental stress that the Lord so graciously communicated with him by a dream. R3190:1
Throughout this entire experience Paul had the sympathy and approval of all the other apostles, and, above all, the Lord's continued favor. F227; R1526:5
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| 12 Becoming and day, having formed a conspiracy the Jews, they bound with a curse themselves, saying neither to eat nor drink till they might kill the Paul; |
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| 13 were and more forty those this the conspiracy having been engaged; |
More than forty – Deluded religious enthusiasts. R3190:5
Forty professed religionists, forgetful of the divine Law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Lev. 19:18) R5953:4, 4486:6
These forty men would assault and risk their lives to assassinate Paul. R3190:5
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| 14 who having come to the high-priests and the elders, said: With a curse we have cursed ourselves, of nothing to taste till we have killed the Paul. |
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| 15 Now therefore you make known to the commander with the sanhedrim, in order that him he may lead down to you, as being about to examine more accurately the things concerning him; we and, before of the to have come nigh him, ready we are of the to kill him. |
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| 16 Having heard but the son of the sister of Paul the lying in wait, having come near and having gone into the castle, he related to the Paul. |
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| 17 Having summoned and the Paul one of the centurions, he said: The young man this lead thou to the commander; he has for something to relate to him. |
Then Paul – Doing all that he could in proper self-defense and protection from the wiles of the Adversary. R3190:6, 3738:2, 954:3*
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| 18 Indeed then having taken him led to the commander, and said: The prisoner Paul having summoned me, asked this the young man to lead to thee, having something to say to thee. |
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| 19 Having taken and the hand of him the commander, and having related by himself, he inquired: What is it which thou hast to relate to me? |
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| 20 he said and: That the Jews agreed together of the to ask thee, that to-morrow into the sanhedrim thou mayest lead down the Paul, as being about something more accurately to investigate concerning him. |
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| 21 Thou therefore not shouldst be persuaded by the; lie in wait for him of them men more forty, who bound with a curse themselves, neither to eat nor to drink till they killed him; and now ready they are looking for the from thee promise. |
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| 22 The indeed then commander dismissed the young man, having charged to no one to speak out, that these things thou didst report to me. |
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| 23 And having summoned two certain of the centurions, he said: Make ready soldiers two hundred, that they may go to to Caesarea, and horsemen seventy, and spearmen two hundred, from third hour of the night; |
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| 24 animals and to have provided that having mounted the Paul they might convey safely to Felix the governor; |
Bring him safe – The commandant concluded that the wisest course would be to put his prisoner under the protection of Felix, the Roman Governor, at Caesarea. R5953:4, 4486:6
God prefers to use natural means rather than supernatural agencies. R5953:4, 4486:6
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| 25 having written a letter containing the form this: |
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| 26 Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix health. |
Claudius Lysias – Chief Captain or Colonel of the Roman soldiers in the Castle Antonio. R4485:1, 3188:6
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| 27 The man this having been seized by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them, having come suddenly with the armed force I rescued him, having learned that a Roman he is. |
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| 28 Wishing and to know the cause on account of which they were accusing him, I led down him into the sanhedrim of them; |
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| 29 whom I found being accused concerning questions of the law of them, nothing but worthy of death or bonds an accusation having. |
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| 30 Having been disclosed but to me a plot against the man to be about to be by the Jews, instantly I sent to thee, having commanded also the accusers to say the things against him before thee. Farewell. |
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| 31 The indeed therefore soldiers, according to that having been commanded them, having taken the Paul, they led through the night into the Antipatris. |
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| 32 On the and morrow having left the horsemen to go with him, they returned to the castle. |
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| 33 Who having come into the Caesarea, and having delivered the letter to the governor, presented and the Paul to him. |
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| 34 Having read and, and having asked from what province he is, and having understood that from Cilicia; |
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| 35 I will fully hear thee, he said, when also the accusers of thee may arrive. He commanded and him in the judgment-hall of the Herod to be kept. |
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