Acts 23

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Acts 23
  chapter 22
chapter 24  
P048-Act-23 11-17-III.jpg
Acts 23:11–17 in Papyrus 48, written about AD 250.
Book Acts of the Apostles
Category Church history
Christian Bible part New Testament
Order in the Christian part5

Acts 23 is the twenty-third chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the period of Paul's imprisonment in Jerusalem and then in Caesarea. The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that Luke composed this book as well as the Gospel of Luke. [1]

Contents

Text

The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 35 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

Locations

Israel relief location map.jpg
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Jerusalem
Red pog.svg
Antipatris
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Caesarea
Three locations of Paul's detainment

The events in this chapter took place in Jerusalem, Antipatris and Caesarea.

Paul before the Sanhedrin (verses 1–10)

This section continues the record of Paul's trial before the Sanhedrin from the previous chapter. The tribune ordered the Sanhedrin to meet (22:30) in an advisory capacity to help him "determine whether or not Paul had a case to answer" under the Jewish law. [2]

Verse 2

And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. [3]

Verse 5

Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people'." [4]

The quoted text is taken from Exodus 22:28:

You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. [5]

Paul quotes from the Jewish law to show his willingness to abide by that law. [6]

Verse 6

But when Paul perceived that 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; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!" [7]

Plots and counterplots (verses 11–22)

After the trial, Paul received 'private reassurance' that things happening to him 'are part of God's plan' (verse 11) and the first indication that "his 'witness' in Rome will not be as missionary but as prisoner". [2] When 'the Jews' (the term used by Luke for 'those who are opposed to Paul') decide to assassinate Paul (verses 12–15), and Paul's nephew (verse 16) relays this information to Paul (and Luke), Paul receives 'a high-quality escort' to Caesarea (verses 23–24). [2]

Verse 11

But the following night the Lord stood by him and said,
"Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." [8]

For years Paul has the ambition to preach the gospel in Rome, the great capital of the empire (Romans 1:13; Romans 15:23), [9] and the comforting word of Jesus ("Be of good cheer") reflects what Jesus had 'promised and foretold' in John 16:33 ("In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace"). [10]

Paul sent to Caesarea (verses 23–30)

The necessity and extent of the military escort for Paul's transfer from Jerusalem to Caesarea (verses 23–24) indicate the danger on the roads at this period, which is corroborated by the historian Flavius Josephus (Josephus. Antiquities. 20.160-6, 185–8; Jewish War. 2.253-65). [2] The tribune, Claudius Lysias, 'wrote a letter' (verse 25), telling 'the story in a way more flattering to himself' (verse 27), but 'otherwise repeats for the governor's benefit' what the readers had known. [2]

Verses 23–24

23 And he called for two centurions, saying, "Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; 24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor."

The journey to Caesarea (23:31–35)

Caesarea is located about 110 kilometer from Jerusalem by road, and Antipatris (verse 31) is about half-way, 'at the point where the hill-country road intersects with the road running north from Lydda along the coastal plain'. [11] Paul was then detained in Herod's praetorium (verse 35), where some scholars have suggested is the place the Epistle to the Philippians could have been written (cf. Philippians 1:13), as an alternative opinions to Rome as the traditional origin. [11]

Verse 31

Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. [12]

Verse 33

When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. [14]

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acts 9</span> Chapter of the New Testament

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acts 11</span> Chapter of the New Testament

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acts 13</span> Chapter of the New Testament

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acts 21</span> Chapter of the New Testament

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acts 22</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Acts 22 is the twenty-second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the events leading to Paul's imprisonment in Jerusalem. The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that Luke composed this book as well as the Gospel of Luke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acts 24</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Acts 24 is the twenty-fourth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the period of Paul's imprisonment in Caesarea. The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that Luke composed this book as well as the Gospel of Luke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acts 25</span> Chapter of the New Testament

Acts 25 is the twenty-fifth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the period of Paul's imprisonment in Caesarea. The book containing this chapter is anonymous but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that Luke composed this book as well as the Gospel of Luke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acts 28</span> Chapter of the New Testament

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References

  1. Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Alexander 2007, p. 1056.
  3. Acts 23:2 KJV
  4. Acts 23:5: New International Version
  5. Exodus 22:28: New King James Version
  6. Barnes, A. (1834), Barnes' Notes on Acts 23, accessed 1 June 2024
  7. Acts 23:6: NKJV
  8. Acts 23:11 NKJV
  9. Ellicott, C. J. (Ed.) Ellicott's Bible Commentary for English Readers. Acts 23. London : Cassell and Company, Limited, [1905-1906] Online version: (OCoLC) 929526708. Accessed 28 April 2019.
  10. Poole, Matthew, A Commentary on the Holy Bible. "Acts 23". Accessed 22 February 2019.
  11. 1 2 Alexander 2007, p. 1057.
  12. Acts 23:31: NKJV
  13. Meyer's NT Commentary on Acts 23. Accessed 24 April 2019.
  14. Acts 23:33: NKJV
  15. Greek Text Analysis: Acts 23:33. Biblehub
  16. Exell, Joseph S.; Spence-Jones, Henry Donald Maurice (Editors). On "Acts 23". In: The Pulpit Commentary . 23 volumes. First publication: 1890. Accessed 24 April 2019.

Sources