Bible Commentaries
Acts 23

Introduction

Overview

Acts 23:1, As Paul pleads his cause, Acts 23:2, Ananias commands them to smite him; Acts 23:7, Dissension among his accusers; Acts 23:11, God encourages him; Acts 23:14, The Jews’ laying wait for Paul, Acts 23:20. is declared unto the chief captain; Acts 23:27, He sends him to Felix the governor.

Verse 1

earnestly: Acts 23:6, Acts 6:15, Acts 22:5, Proverbs 28:1

Men: Acts 22:1

I have: Acts 24:16, 1 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Timothy 1:3, Hebrews 13:18, 1 Peter 3:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:1 - walk Isaiah 58:4 - and to smite Jeremiah 37:18 - General Matthew 10:17 - for Mark 13:9 - take Luke 1:6 - walking Acts 1:16 - Men Acts 5:27 - set Acts 25:8 - Neither Acts 28:17 - though Romans 2:15 - their conscience Galatians 2:11 - because 1 Timothy 1:5 - a good

Verse 2

Ananias: Acts 24:1

to smite: 1 Kings 22:24, Jeremiah 20:2, Micah 5:1, Matthew 26:67, John 18:22

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 18:23 - Zedekiah Job 16:10 - they have smitten Isaiah 58:4 - and to smite Jeremiah 37:15 - the princes Mark 13:9 - take Mark 14:65 - General Luke 6:29 - smiteth 1 Corinthians 4:11 - and are buffeted

Verse 3

God: God did smite him in a remarkable manner; for about five years after this, after his house had been reduced to ashes, in a tumult raised by his own son, he was besieged and taken in the royal palace; where having attempted in vain to hide himself, he was dragged out and slain.

thou whited: Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:28

for: Leviticus 19:35, Psalms 58:1, Psalms 58:2, Psalms 82:1, Psalms 82:2, Psalms 94:20, Ecclesiastes 3:16, Amos 5:7, Micah 3:8-11

smitten: Deuteronomy 25:1, Deuteronomy 25:2, John 7:51, John 18:24

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:28 - nor curse Numbers 20:10 - General Deuteronomy 16:19 - wrest 2 Chronicles 18:23 - Zedekiah Job 34:18 - General Jeremiah 37:15 - the princes Matthew 26:67 - and others Luke 9:55 - Ye know Luke 11:44 - for John 18:22 - struck

Verse 4

Reciprocal: John 18:22 - Answerest

Verse 5

I wist: Soon after the holding of the first council at Jerusalem, Ananias, son of Nebedenus, was deprived of the high priest's office, for certain acts of violence, and sent to Rome, whence he was afterwards released, and returned to Jerusalem. Between the death of Jonathan, who succeeded him and was murdered by Felix, and the high priesthood of Ismael, who was invested with that office by Agrippa, an interval elapsed in which this dignity was vacant. This was the precise time when Paul was apprehended; and the Sanhedrin being destitute of a president, Ananias undertook to discharge the office. It is probable that Paul was ignorant of this circumstance. Acts 24:17

Thou: Exodus 22:28, Ecclesiastes 10:20, 2 Peter 2:10, Jude 1:8, Jude 1:9

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:29 - wist 2 Samuel 15:3 - there is 2 Samuel 16:9 - curse 2 Samuel 19:6 - thou regardest Job 34:18 - General Psalms 138:1 - before John 18:22 - Answerest Titus 3:2 - speak

Verse 6

Paul: Matthew 10:16

I am: Acts 26:5, Philippians 3:5

of the hope: Acts 24:15, Acts 24:21, Acts 26:6-8, Acts 28:20

Reciprocal: Psalms 55:9 - divide Jeremiah 38:27 - and he told Matthew 3:7 - the Pharisees Matthew 16:1 - Sadducees Matthew 22:23 - the Sadducees Mark 12:18 - say Luke 18:10 - a Pharisee Luke 20:27 - the Sadducees John 11:24 - I know Acts 1:16 - Men Acts 4:1 - the Sadducees Acts 5:17 - all Acts 22:1 - brethren Acts 22:3 - taught Acts 23:1 - earnestly Acts 23:29 - questions Philippians 3:11 - attain Colossians 1:5 - the hope Hebrews 6:2 - resurrection Hebrews 11:35 - that they

Verse 7

there: Acts 14:4, Psalms 55:9, Matthew 10:34, John 7:40-43

Reciprocal: Zechariah 11:14 - I cut John 7:43 - General John 10:19 - General Acts 5:34 - stood Acts 7:2 - Men

Verse 8

Acts 4:1, Matthew 22:23, Mark 12:18, Luke 20:27

Reciprocal: Psalms 104:4 - Who maketh Matthew 16:12 - but John 1:24 - were of John 12:29 - An angel Acts 23:9 - if 1 Corinthians 15:13 - General

Verse 9

We: Acts 25:25, Acts 26:31, 1 Samuel 24:17, Proverbs 16:7, Luke 23:4, Luke 23:14, Luke 23:15, Luke 23:22

if: Acts 23:8, Acts 9:4, Acts 22:7, Acts 22:17, Acts 22:18, Acts 26:14-19, Acts 27:23, John 12:29

let: Acts 5:39, Acts 11:17, 1 Corinthians 10:22

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 12:5 - ye have Psalms 35:1 - fight Jeremiah 26:16 - General Matthew 2:4 - scribes Matthew 15:1 - scribes Luke 20:39 - thou Ephesians 3:3 - by 2 Timothy 2:24 - strive

Verse 10

fearing: Acts 23:27, Acts 19:28-31, Acts 21:30-36, Psalms 7:2, Psalms 50:22, Micah 3:3, James 1:19, James 3:14-18, James 4:1, James 4:2

to take: Acts 22:24

Reciprocal: Psalms 83:2 - lo Proverbs 24:11 - General Jeremiah 26:24 - that Matthew 27:23 - But Luke 23:5 - they John 18:12 - the captain Acts 21:34 - into Acts 24:6 - whom Acts 24:7 - great Acts 26:17 - Delivering Acts 26:22 - obtained Acts 27:43 - willing 2 Corinthians 6:5 - in tumults 2 Timothy 3:11 - but

Verse 11

the Lord: Acts 2:25, Acts 18:9, Acts 27:23, Acts 27:24, Psalms 46:1, Psalms 46:2, Psalms 109:31, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 41:14, Isaiah 43:2, Jeremiah 15:19-21, Matthew 28:20, John 14:18, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10

Be: Acts 27:22, Acts 27:25, Matthew 9:2, Matthew 14:27, John 16:33

for: Acts 19:21, Acts 20:22, Acts 22:18, Acts 28:23-28, Romans 1:15, Romans 1:16, Philippians 1:13, 2 Timothy 4:17

must: Acts 28:30, Acts 28:31, Isaiah 46:10, John 11:8-10

Reciprocal: Psalms 31:15 - My times John 7:44 - no man John 15:27 - ye also Acts 2:10 - strangers Acts 22:15 - thou shalt Acts 24:11 - but Acts 25:12 - unto Caesar shalt Acts 26:16 - in the Acts 26:22 - obtained Acts 27:1 - when Acts 28:16 - Rome 1 Corinthians 1:6 - the 1 Corinthians 9:1 - have 2 Corinthians 12:1 - visions Galatians 2:2 - by 2 Timothy 2:25 - instructing

Verse 12

certain: Acts 23:21, Acts 23:30, Acts 25:3, Psalms 2:1-3, Psalms 64:2-6, Isaiah 8:9, Isaiah 8:10, Jeremiah 11:19, Matthew 26:4

bound: 1 Kings 19:2, 2 Kings 6:31, Matthew 27:25, Mark 6:23-26

under a curse: or, with an oath of execration, Leviticus 27:29, Joshua 6:26, Joshua 7:1, Joshua 7:15, Nehemiah 10:29, Matthew 26:74,*Gr: 1 Corinthians 16:22, Galatians 3:13

that: Such execrable vows as these were not unusual among the Jews, who, from their perverted traditions, challenged to themselves a right of punishing without any legal process, those whom they considered transgressors of the law; and in some cases, as in the case of one who had forsaken the law of Moses, they thought they were justified in killing them. They therefore made no scruple of acquainting the chief priests and elders with their conspiracy against the life of Paul, and applying for their connivance and support; who, being chiefly of the sect of the Sadducees, and the apostle's bitterest enemies, were so far from blaming them for it, that they gladly aided and abetted them in this mode of dispatching him, and on its failure they soon afterwards determined upon making a similar attempt - Acts 25:2, Acts 25:3. If these were, in their bad way, conscientious men, they were under no necessity of perishing for hunger, when the providence of God had hindered them from accomplishing their vow; for their vows of abstinence from eating and drinking were as easy to loose as to bind, any of their wise men or Rabbis having power to absolve them, as Dr. Lightfoot has shown from the Talmud. 1 Samuel 14:24, 1 Samuel 14:27, 1 Samuel 14:28, 1 Samuel 14:40-44, Psalms 31:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 28:20 - vowed Genesis 37:18 - conspired Exodus 1:10 - wisely Leviticus 5:4 - to do evil Leviticus 27:28 - no devoted Numbers 30:2 - swear Deuteronomy 23:23 - hast vowed Judges 21:1 - There 1 Kings 20:10 - The gods 2 Kings 6:13 - spy where Nehemiah 4:8 - all Nehemiah 4:11 - They shall not Esther 2:22 - the thing Job 5:12 - their hands Job 24:5 - rising Psalms 11:2 - that Psalms 26:10 - In Psalms 36:4 - deviseth Psalms 56:6 - gather Psalms 83:5 - For Psalms 102:8 - sworn Proverbs 12:6 - words Proverbs 27:10 - better Jeremiah 11:9 - General Jeremiah 20:10 - we shall Jeremiah 44:25 - We will Hosea 5:2 - profound Hosea 6:8 - polluted with blood Micah 2:1 - to Habakkuk 1:4 - for Matthew 10:17 - beware Matthew 27:23 - But Mark 6:24 - The head Acts 6:11 - they Acts 9:24 - their Acts 12:11 - all Acts 14:6 - were Acts 20:3 - the Jews Acts 23:20 - The Jews Acts 26:21 - the Jews Romans 15:31 - I may 2 Corinthians 11:26 - in perils by mine 2 Timothy 3:11 - but 1 John 3:15 - hateth

Verse 13

which: 2 Samuel 15:12, 2 Samuel 15:31, John 16:2

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 6:31 - if the head Nehemiah 4:8 - all Psalms 83:5 - For Mark 6:24 - The head Galatians 5:11 - why

Verse 14

Psalms 52:1, Psalms 52:2, Isaiah 3:9, Jeremiah 6:15, Jeremiah 8:12, Hosea 4:9, Micah 7:3

Reciprocal: Numbers 30:2 - to bind Judges 11:35 - I cannot Esther 5:14 - the thing Psalms 64:2 - secret Proverbs 18:7 - his lips Acts 23:21 - an oath 1 Corinthians 16:22 - Anathema Galatians 1:8 - accursed Galatians 5:11 - why 1 John 3:15 - hateth

Verse 15

that he: Acts 25:3, Psalms 21:11, Psalms 37:32, Psalms 37:33, Proverbs 1:11, Proverbs 1:12, Proverbs 1:16, Proverbs 4:16, Isaiah 59:7, Romans 3:14-16

Reciprocal: Judges 16:2 - kill him 2 Samuel 13:5 - Lay thee Nehemiah 6:7 - Come now Esther 5:14 - the thing Psalms 35:20 - but Psalms 59:4 - run Psalms 64:2 - secret Proverbs 12:6 - words Micah 2:1 - when Acts 22:30 - commanded Acts 23:20 - as

Verse 16

when: Job 5:13, Proverbs 21:30, Lamentations 3:37, 1 Corinthians 3:19

he went: 2 Samuel 17:17

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 19:2 - Jonathan 1 Samuel 23:9 - David Proverbs 24:15 - Lay Jeremiah 36:19 - General Jeremiah 37:20 - lest Acts 21:34 - into Acts 23:30 - it was Acts 26:22 - obtained

Verse 17

one: Acts 23:23, Acts 22:26, Proverbs 22:3, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:9, Matthew 10:16

Reciprocal: Matthew 8:5 - a centurion Matthew 27:54 - the centurion Luke 7:2 - centurion's Luke 7:8 - under John 18:12 - the captain Acts 21:31 - chief Acts 22:25 - the centurion Acts 27:1 - a centurion

Verse 18

Paul: Acts 16:25, Acts 27:1, Acts 28:17, Genesis 40:14, Genesis 40:15, Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 4:1, Philemon 1:9

something: Luke 7:40

Reciprocal: Judges 3:19 - a secret 2 Kings 9:6 - he arose

Verse 19

took: Jeremiah 31:32, Mark 8:23, Mark 9:27

What: Nehemiah 2:4, Esther 5:3, Esther 7:2, Esther 9:12, Mark 10:51

Reciprocal: Judges 3:19 - a secret 2 Kings 9:6 - he arose

Verse 20

The Jews: Acts 23:12

as: Acts 23:15, Psalms 12:2, Daniel 6:5-12

Reciprocal: Acts 5:9 - have

Verse 21

do not: Exodus 23:2

for: Acts 23:12-14, Acts 9:23, Acts 9:24, Acts 14:5, Acts 14:6, Acts 20:19, Acts 25:3, 2 Corinthians 11:26, 2 Corinthians 11:32, 2 Corinthians 11:33

an oath: Acts 23:14, Romans 9:3

Reciprocal: Numbers 30:2 - to bind Numbers 35:20 - by laying Deuteronomy 23:23 - hast vowed Joshua 8:4 - lie in wait Nehemiah 4:11 - They shall not Nehemiah 10:29 - entered Psalms 10:9 - He lieth Psalms 59:3 - they Psalms 119:95 - wicked Ephesians 4:14 - lie

Verse 22

Joshua 2:14, Mark 1:44

Verse 23

two centurions: Acts 23:17

at: About nine o'clock in the evening, for the greater secrecy, and to elude the cunning, active malice of the Jews. Matthew 14:25, Luke 12:38

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 16:13 - cast dust Proverbs 24:11 - General Proverbs 27:10 - better Matthew 8:5 - a centurion Matthew 27:54 - the centurion Luke 7:8 - under Acts 8:40 - Caesarea Acts 10:1 - in Acts 17:10 - the brethren Acts 18:22 - Caesarea Acts 21:8 - Caesarea Acts 21:32 - took Acts 23:31 - as Acts 24:7 - the chief Acts 24:11 - but

Verse 24

beasts: Nehemiah 2:12, Esther 8:12, Luke 10:34

Felix: Acts 23:26, Acts 23:33-35, Acts 24:3, Acts 24:10, Acts 24:22-27, Acts 25:14

the governor: Matthew 27:2, Luke 3:1

Reciprocal: Acts 17:10 - the brethren Acts 21:32 - took Acts 23:31 - as Acts 27:43 - willing Acts 28:7 - the chief

Verse 25

Reciprocal: Acts 23:33 - delivered

Verse 26

the most: Acts 24:3, Acts 26:25,*Gr: Luke 1:3

greeting: Acts 15:23, James 1:1, 3 John 1:14

Reciprocal: Ezra 4:17 - Peace Luke 2:2 - governor Luke 3:1 - Pontius Pilate Luke 7:8 - under Acts 23:24 - Felix

Verse 27

was taken: Acts 23:10, Acts 21:31-33, Acts 24:7

having: Acts 22:25-29

Reciprocal: Acts 7:57 - they cried Acts 18:14 - If Acts 21:32 - and ran Acts 21:39 - a citizen Acts 22:24 - The chief Acts 22:26 - Take

Verse 28

Acts 22:30

Reciprocal: John 18:29 - What

Verse 29

questions: Acts 23:6-9, Acts 18:15, Acts 24:5, Acts 24:6, Acts 24:10-21, Acts 25:19, Acts 25:20

but: Acts 25:7, Acts 25:8, Acts 25:11, Acts 25:25, Acts 26:31

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 21:22 - General Jeremiah 26:16 - General John 18:35 - Amos I Acts 25:10 - as thou

Verse 30

it was: Acts 23:16-24

and gave: Acts 24:7, Acts 24:8, Acts 25:5, Acts 25:6

Farewell: Acts 15:29, 2 Corinthians 13:11

Reciprocal: Acts 23:12 - certain Acts 23:35 - when Acts 24:1 - Ananias Acts 24:19 - General

Verse 31

as: Acts 23:23, Acts 23:24, Luke 7:8, 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:4

Verse 32

Reciprocal: Acts 24:11 - but

Verse 33

delivered: Acts 23:25-30

presented: Acts 28:16

Reciprocal: Matthew 10:18 - be Acts 8:40 - Caesarea Acts 10:1 - in Acts 15:30 - delivered Acts 23:24 - Felix Acts 24:11 - but Acts 28:17 - was

Verse 34

he asked: Acts 25:1, Esther 1:1, Esther 8:9, Daniel 2:49, Daniel 6:1, Luke 23:6

Cilicia: Acts 15:41, Acts 21:39

Reciprocal: Ezra 2:1 - the children Matthew 10:18 - be Acts 6:9 - Cilicia Acts 22:3 - a city Galatians 1:21 - Cilicia

Verse 35

when: Acts 23:30, Acts 24:1, Acts 24:10, Acts 24:22, Acts 24:24-27, Acts 25:16

in: Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:3, Matthew 2:16

judgment: Matthew 27:27, John 18:28

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 38:13 - Jeremiah Acts 24:8 - Commanding 2 Corinthians 6:5 - imprisonments