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| 1 And Paul having earnestly beheld the sanhedrim, said, 'Men, brethren, I in all good conscience have lived to God unto this 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 and the chief priest Ananias commanded those standing by him to smite him on 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 Paul said unto him, 'God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall, and thou thou dost sit judging me according to the law, and, violating law, dost order me to be smitten!' |
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 And those who stood by said, 'The chief priest of God dost thou revile ' |
Revilest – Answerest. R4486:2, 3190:2
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| 5 and Paul said, 'I did not know, brethren, that he is chief priest: for it hath been written, Of the ruler of thy people thou shalt not 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 and Paul having known that the one part are Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, cried out in the sanhedrim, 'Men, brethren, I am a Pharisee son of a Pharisee concerning hope and rising again of dead men I am 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 And he having spoken this, there came a dissension of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, and the crowd was divided, |
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 for Sadducees, indeed, say there is no rising again, nor messenger, nor spirit, but Pharisees confess 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 And there came a great cry, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part having arisen, were striving, saying, 'No evil do we find in this man; and if a spirit spake to him, or a messenger, we may not fight against God;' |
But if a spirit – Greek, pneuma; E313
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| 10 and a great dissension having come, the chief captain having been afraid lest Paul may be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiery, having gone down, to take him by force out of the midst of them, and to bring [him] to 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 And on the following night, the Lord having stood by him, said, 'Take courage, Paul, for as thou didst fully testify the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so it behoveth thee also at 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 And day having come, certain of the Jews having made a concourse, did anathematize themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink till they may kill Paul; |
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| 13 and they were more than forty who made this conspiracy by oath, |
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 near to the chief priests and to the elders said, 'With an anathema we did anathematize ourselves to taste nothing till we have killed Paul; |
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| 15 now, therefore, ye, signify ye to the chief captain, with the sanhedrim, that to-morrow he may bring him down unto you, as being about to know more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before his coming nigh, are ready to put him to death.' |
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| 16 And the son of Paul's sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the castle, told Paul, |
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| 17 and Paul having called near one of the centurions, said, 'This young man lead unto the chief captain, for he hath something to tell 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 He indeed, then, having taken him, brought him unto the chief captain, and saith, 'The prisoner Paul, having called me near, asked [me] this young man to bring unto thee, having something to say to thee.' |
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| 19 And the chief captain having taken him by the hand, and having withdrawn by themselves, inquired, 'What is that which thou hast to tell me ' |
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| 20 and he said 'The Jews agreed to request thee, that to-morrow to the sanhedrim thou mayest bring down Paul, as being about to enquire something more exactly concerning him; |
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| 21 thou, therefore, mayest thou not yield to them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who did anathematize themselves not to eat nor to drink till they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from thee.' |
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| 22 The chief captain, then, indeed, let the young man go, having charged [him] to tell no one, 'that these things thou didst shew unto me;' |
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| 23 and having called near a certain two of the centurions, he said, 'Make ready soldiers two hundred, that they may go on unto Caesarea, and horsemen seventy, and spearmen two hundred, from the third hour of the night; |
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| 24 beasts also provide, that, having set Paul on, they may bring him safe unto 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 he having written a letter after this description: |
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| 26 'Claudius Lysias, to the most noble governor Felix, hail: |
Claudius Lysias – Chief Captain or Colonel of the Roman soldiers in the Castle Antonio. R4485:1, 3188:6
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| 27 This man having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them having come with the soldiery, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman; |
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| 28 and, intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their sanhedrim, |
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| 29 whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, and having no accusation worthy of death or bonds; |
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| 30 and a plot having been intimated to me against this man about to be of the Jews at once I sent unto thee, having given command also to the accusers to say the things against him before thee; be strong.' |
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| 31 Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that directed them, having taken up Paul, brought him through the night to Antipatris, |
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| 32 and on the morrow, having suffered the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the castle; |
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| 33 those having entered into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, did present also Paul to him. |
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| 34 And the governor having read [it], and inquired of what province he is, and understood that [he is] from Cilicia; |
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| 35 'I will hear thee said he when thine accusers also may have come;' he also commanded him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod. |
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