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| 1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until 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 high priest Ananias commanded them that stood 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 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? |
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 they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? |
Revilest – Answerest. R4486:2, 3190:2
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| 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. |
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 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. |
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 so said, there arose a dissension between 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 the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the 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 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. |
But if a spirit – Greek, pneuma; E313
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| 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. |
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 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. |
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, 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. |
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| 13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. |
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 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. |
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| 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 inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. |
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| 16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. |
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| 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. |
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 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. |
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| 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? |
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| 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 inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. |
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| 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.
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| 22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me. |
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| 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; |
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| 24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and 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 And he wrote a letter after this pattern: |
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| 26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth 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 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. |
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| 28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. |
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| 32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: |
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| 33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him. |
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| 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; |
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| 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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