Acts 23:1
Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.”
(a) A perfectly good conscience. Paul was able to stand before the murderous men of the Sanhedrin because he his conscience was fully submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit. There was nothing they could say that could shake his confidence before God.
See entry for Conscience.
Acts 23:3
Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”
The Law refers to the Law of Moses, the commandments, ordinances, punishments, and ceremonial observances given to the nation of Israel through Moses (Jos. 8:31, John 1:17). This law is sometimes referred to as the law of commandments (Eph. 2:15) or the law of the Jews (Acts 25:8). See entry for The Law.
Acts 23:5
And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’”
I was not aware… that he was high priest. The high priest was appointed by Rome and changed from year to year (see John 18:13). Several high priests are named in the New Testament including Annas, Caiaphas, and Ananias.
Much is made of Paul’s ignorance of the high priest, but Paul had been out of the loop. Having been away from Judea for so long, how was he to know who had come and gone from the office of high priest? Since there was no need for the high priest to wear his ceremonial robes in Council meetings, the current incumbent was not obvious out until he gave the order to strike Paul (Acts 23:2).
Acts 23:35
he said, “I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.
Herod’s Praetorium. This hall, which was in Caesarea, should not be confused with the praetorium in Jerusalem where Jesus was tried (Matt. 27:27).
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