1.
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
Verse 1
Earnestly beholding; looking around upon the assembly with an air of confidence and conscious innocence.
2.
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
Verse 2
Offended at so bold and decided an assertion of his innocence.
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?
Verse 3
Thou whited wall; thou hypocrite. Ananias did, in fact, afterwards come to a violent and miserable death, by the hands of assassins.
4.
And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
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.
Verse 5
I wist not--that he was the high priest. He was not high priest officially, though he had held the office at a former period, and still retained the title. On this account it may have been that there was nothing in his dress, or in his situation in the assembly, to designate his rank.
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.
Verse 6
Of the hope, &c. Here was another artifice, (Acts 21:26;) for, although what Paul said was strictly true, as he had actually met with opposition on this account, still it was not this, but other and very different charges, (Acts 21:28,Acts 22:22,) which had been the exciting cause of the present tumult; so that, at this time, such a statement was adapted to give a false impression. The conduct of Paul in this, and in the former case, has generally been approved,--the cases having been regarded as examples of commendable adroitness. But whether it was best to resort to these indirect measures, rather than to take the bold and perfectly honest course usually characteristic of him, ought not to be considered as settled simply by the fact that he did resort to them. We was liable to fall into error and sin in his conduct and measures, as well as all other inspired men. We observe that no permanent good resulted from the artifices in either case.
7.
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
Verse 8
No resurrection; no future existence.
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.
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.
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.
Verse 11
At Rome; thus implying that he was to be rescued from the danger which threatened him, and enabled to execute his purpose of going to Rome. (Acts 19:21.)
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.
Verse 12
Under a curse; under an oath.
13.
And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
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.
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.
Verse 15
And we, &c.; that is, they were to lay wait for him and assassinate him on the way.
16.
And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
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.
Verse 17
Thus Paul appealed to a military a man for protection, which, if granted, he knew must necessarily be military. His example is of no absolutely binding authority; but the case shows, at least, how he understood the gospel in respect to the right of human governments to exercise such powers, for the purposes of public and private protection.
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.
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?
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.
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.
22.
So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
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;
Verse 23
To Caesarea; in order to remove him effectually from the scene of danger. The foot-soldiers were only to accompany him a part of the way, until he should have reached a safe distance from the city.
24.
And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
Verse 24
The governor; the governor of Judea, a successor of Pilate.
25.
And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26.
Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
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.
Verse 27
Having understood that he was a Roman. Lysias misrepresented the facts in his own favor. He speaks as if his taking Paul was a rescue prompted by his zeal to protect the rights of a Roman citizen. By this means, he thought he should exhibit himself in a favorable light before the governor; whereas the fact was, that he arrested Paul as a criminal, and was going to put him to the torture, he accidentally learned that he was a Roman. (Acts 22:24-30.)
28.
And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
Verse 28
When I would have known; that is, in order that I might know.
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.
Verse 29
Of bonds; imprisonment.
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.
31.
Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32.
On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
Verse 32
And returned; as the prisoner was now so far from the city as to be out of immediate danger.
33.
Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.
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;
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.
Verse 35
In Herod's judgment-hall; in a place of confinement connected with it. This hall was a celebrated public edifice erected by Herod.