23:1 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
Obviously they did not know how to charge him. So Paul spoke first: "Men and brethren..." (23:1a) my fellow Jews. "I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day..." (23:1b ) "I have conducted myself so as to maintain a good conscience. I have done what I believed to be right.” (Barnes) From the beginning of his religious experience, Paul had acted in this way so that “when God opened his eyes to see the nature of Christianity, he became a Christian, because God persuaded his conscience that it was right for him to become one... The apostle means, therefore, that there was no part of his life in which he acted as a dishonest or hypocritical man…” (Clarke Commentary), against what he considered to be the right biblical doctrine.
Ananias commanded that Paul be struck on the mouth (2) “to express their indignation at what he had said… A similar instance of violence occurred on the trial of the Saviour, John 18:22.” (Barnes’ Notes) Paul responded: God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! "The coat of whitewash was intended to cover the flimsiness and the filth beneath." (Kretzmann) God will strike you… if not in this world, in the one to come "for his hypocritical behavior; for there he was sitting as one of the judges according to the Law (even as high priest), and against that Law he commanded Paul to be struck... ; Deuteronomy 25:1-2.” (Kretzmann)
4 And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” 5 Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ [Exodus 22:28]”
"'Do you revile God"s high priest?': The bystanders were shocked by Paul's outburst. The high priest while sitting in judgment was God’s representative (Deuteronomy 17:8 ff)."( Dunagan Commentary) It sounds like Paul did not know that Ananias was high priest, but it is more likely that he did not recognize his authority. These were not of God- they were merely seventy elders of Israel who did not believe that Jesus had come in the flesh. Yet Paul believed it and more. He “knew now no high priest on earth, but only Christ in heaven to be our High Priest, Hebrews 8:1.” (Trapp) By thus speaking, he kept a “good conscience before God.”
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 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. 8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
When Paul perceived... (6) by their speech, that there was a mix of religious party, he said: "I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee;" (6) "he was not only brought up in that sect from his youth, and lived according to it before his conversion, but he was still a Pharisee; wherefore he does not say, I 'was', but I 'am' a Pharisee; for whatever distinguished the Pharisee from the Sadducee, whether in principle, or in practice, and manner of living, which agreed with Christianity, the apostle still retained..." (Gill)
Of the hope and resurrection of the dead, I am called in question. (6) "Israel's national hope of deliverance by her Messiah rested on the resurrection of that Messiah as predicted in the Hebrew Scriptures." (Dr. Thomas Constable) "and, by Him, of all mankind..." (Coke)— some unto condemnation but others unto eternal life. (John 5:29; Daniel 12:2) This hope of resurrection unto life is an ancient hope of Israel: “as old as the fall, renewed to the patriarchs, repeated by the prophets and psalmist. In all its vicissitudes Israel had been supported by this hope, and men were eagerly waiting for its fulfilment when Christ came." (J. W. Burn)
Paul had testified that Jesus, who had died but risen from the dead, appeared to him on the way to Damascus to persecute Christian.
The Sadducees would not believe this. They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, nor spirits, nor angels. (8)
"The Pharisees, on the other hand, were entirely Scriptural and orthodox and believed in the resurrection of the dead... They also believed in angels created by God and sent forth to be ministers to men." (H. A. Ironside)
9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” 10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
The Pharisees were influenced to relax their hatred for Paul, "while the Sadducees were all the more determined in their opposition, being resentful even of the suggestion of an angel or spirit speaking to Paul, for they denied their existence.” (L. M. Grantt) Paul’s testimony was proof of the doctrine of the resurrection. So now the source of the enmity of the laypeople and the populace is revealed. These unbelieving Jews- their leaders, without a reverence for Scriptures, threaten harm to Paul again.
Acts 23: Paul Encouraged for the Path
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.”
”The Lord stood by him - evidently the Lord Jesus." (Barnes) Before He had spoken to Paul from heaven, but here He stood by him on earth to comfort him for the journey ahead. "Paul was strengthened with an oracle." (Calvin) Be of good cheer = Take courage. Greek. tharseo. Here; Matthew 9:2, Matthew 9:22; Matthew 14:27. Mark 6:50; Mark 10:49. Luke 8:48. John 16:33.” (Bullinger) "So true it is what our Saviour had promised and foretold, John 16:33, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace.'" (Poole) "Though he was now a prisoner in the castle; and though the high priest, and the Sadducees especially, were enraged against him; and though a plot was about to be formed to take away his life; for this exhortation seems to be designed to prepare him for further trials, and to prevent discouragement under them; which shows the great care of Christ over him, his concern for him, and love to him.” (Gill)
This verse belongs to us. In fact, Jesus Himself stands with us- His people… and turns all of our prisons into palaces, “as likewise he did to Algerius, Christ’s prisoner, and Master Philpot, thus to his friends. Though I tell you I am in hell in the judgment of this world, assuredly I feel in the same the consolation of heaven, I praise God; and this loathsome and horrible prison is as pleasant to me as the walk in the garden of the King’s Bench." (Trapp)
Paul was going an all-expense paid trip to Rome courtesy of the government. “The bar of Cæsar was his only retreat from foes so powerful; and Rome was the city which Paul had long desired to see.” (Sutcliffe) “This was pleasing intelligence to Paul, who had long desired to see that city, and preach the Gospel of Christ there. He appears to have had an intimation that he should see it; but how, he could not tell; and this vision satisfied him that he should be sent thither by God himself. This would settle every fear and scruple concerning the issue of the present persecution." (Clarke) What is it that your heart desires? As your will is conformed unto His will, be it unto you according to your desire. Take courage!
Acts 23: The Vow Against Paul’s Life
12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.
These were "of the class of the sicarii... (similar to those afterwards called assassins), a class of fierce zealots, who took justice into their own hand; and who thought they had a right to despatch all those who, according to their views, were not orthodox in their religious principles." (Adam Clarke)
Through the fall of Adam, we all are under the curse of God, but there is a remanent in each generation who come to faith and inherit the blessing of eternal life. These sometimes, knowing with a certainly that something is the will of God, vow to perform it. Here, these unbelievers were certain that Yahweh wanted Paul to die for filling the world with his doctrine.
Thus rightly so: ”By the Jewish anathema a thing was sacredly devoted to God, either for service or for retribution and destruction. The form of the resolution was, 'According to my oath I will neither eat nor drink, whose eats or drinks is a double criminal.'" (Whedon Commentary) They bet everything on their oath and purpose and they were cursed indeed.
The forty sicari zealots come to this supreme jewish council to have the plans hollowed by their approval and blessing…. and the council at once approved it. And now the Sanhedrin were guilty of blood “for every man who consents to blood, is guilty of blood." (Trapp) See Genesis 9:6a... yet again, as in the case of the death of the Savior of Israel.
15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
"The plan was well and deeply laid; and nothing but an especial providence could have saved Paul." (Adam Clarke) "Note here that no conspiracies are or can be kept secret from God, who can both detect them, and defeat them at his pleasure." (Burkitt's Notes)
16 So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.” 19 Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. 21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”
“Note the remarkable providence of God in bringing this conspiracy to the knowledge of St. Paul's sister's son: he was perhaps by, when the conspirators were contriving the mischief, and overheard them. It is happy for the innocent, that the malicious cannot keep their own counsel.” (Burkitt's Notes) AND DO NOT MISS the importance of our prudence in matters of faith. ”Though St. Paul had the most positive assurance from Divine authority that he should be preserved, yet he knew that the Divine providence acts by reasonable and prudent means; and that, if he neglected to use the means in his power, he could not expect God's providence to work in his behalf. He who will not help himself, according to the means and power he possesses, has neither reason nor revelation to assure him that he shall receive any assistance from God." (Adam Clarke)
22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” 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.” 25 He wrote a letter in the following manner: 26 Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. 29 I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. 30 And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. 33 When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 And when the governor had read it,he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.