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| 1 And Paul, fixing his eyes on the council, said, Brethren, I have walked in all good conscience with 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 But the high priest Ananias ordered those standing by him to smite his 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 to him, God will smite thee, whited wall. And *thou*, dost thou sit judging me according to the law, and breaking the law commandest 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 that stood by said, Dost thou rail against the high priest of God? |
Revilest – Answerest. R4486:2, 3190:2
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| 5 And Paul said, I was not conscious, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evilly of the ruler of thy people. |
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 But Paul, knowing that the one part of them were of the Sadducees and the other of the Pharisees, cried out in the council, Brethren, *I* am a Pharisee, son of Pharisees: *I* am judged concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead. |
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 when he had spoken this, there was a tumult of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the multitude 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 say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees confess both of them. |
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 was a great clamour, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part rising up contended, saying, We find nothing evil in this man; and if a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel... |
But if a spirit – Greek, pneuma; E313
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| 10 And a great tumult having arisen, the chiliarch, fearing lest Paul should have been torn in pieces by them, commanded the troop to come down and take him by force from the midst of them, and to bring him into the fortress. |
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 But the following night the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good courage; for as thou hast testified the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so thou must bear witness at Rome also. |
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 when it was day, the Jews, having banded together, put themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they should kill Paul. |
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| 13 And they were more than forty who had joined together in this 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 and they went to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have cursed ourselves with a curse to taste nothing until we kill Paul. |
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| 15 Now therefore do ye with the council make a representation to the chiliarch so that he may bring him down to you, as about to determine more precisely what concerns him, and we, before he draws near, are ready to kill him. |
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| 16 But Paul's sister's son, having heard of the lying in wait, came and entered into the fortress and reported it to Paul. |
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| 17 And Paul, having called one of the centurions, said, Take this youth to the chiliarch, for he has something to report 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 He therefore, having taken him with him, led him to the chiliarch, and says, The prisoner Paul called me to him and asked me to lead this youth to thee, who has something to say to thee. |
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| 19 And the chiliarch having taken him by the hand, and having gone apart in private, inquired, What is it that thou hast to report to me? |
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| 20 And he said, The Jews have agreed together to make a request to thee, that thou mayest bring Paul down to-morrow into the council, as about to inquire something more precise concerning him. |
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| 21 Do not thou then be persuaded by them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have put themselves under a curse neither to eat nor drink till they kill him; and now they are ready waiting the promise from thee. |
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| 22 The chiliarch then dismissed the youth, commanding him, Utter to no one that thou hast represented these things to me. |
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| 23 And having called to him certain two of the centurions, he said, Prepare two hundred soldiers that they may go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen, and two hundred light-armed footmen, for the third hour of the night. |
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| 24 And he ordered them to provide beasts, that they might set Paul on them and carry him safe through 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, couched in this form: |
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| 26 Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix, greeting. |
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, I came up with the military and took out of their hands, having learned that he was a Roman. |
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| 28 And desiring to know the charge on which they accused him, I brought him down to their council; |
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| 29 whom I found to be accused of questions of their law, but to have no charge laid against him making him worthy of death or of bonds. |
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| 30 But having received information of a plot about to be put in execution against the man by the Jews, I have immediately sent him to thee, commanding also his accusers to say before thee the things that are against him. Farewell. |
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| 31 The soldiers therefore, according to what was ordered them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris, |
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| 32 and on the morrow, having left the horsemen to go with him, returned to the fortress. |
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| 33 And these, having entered into Caesarea, and given up the letter to the governor, presented Paul also to him. |
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| 34 And having read it, and asked of what eparchy he was, and learned that he was of Cilicia, |
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| 35 he said, I will hear thee fully when thine accusers also are arrived. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's praetorium. |
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