The Acts of The Apostles

Acts was taught by Dr. James Modlish

 

Chapter Twenty Three
(23:1-35)

The narrative of the next few chapters moves very quickly. Most of the many doctrinally controversial verses are now behind us. The last six chapters disclose the final days of Paul the Apostle. God had Instructed Paul to go to the Gentiles, had told him that he would bear Jesus' name before kings, and through God's permissive will Paul disobeys the warning of God, but still ends up In Rome where God had sent him In the first place (Romans 8:28) (Acts 23:11).

Vs. 1-10

Paul had much to say about conscience in his writings. (1 Tim. 1:5,19; Acts 24:16; Rom. 9:1; 1 Tim. 3:9, 2 Tim. 1:3; Heb. 13:18)

The Council (vs. 1) is as usual, dedicated to getting rid of the truth, all in the name of Religion and Worship. See (Matt. 10:17)

Vs. 2

"smite him on the mouth".; (Matt. 26:67; 1 Kings 22:24; Jer. 20:2) Throughout history, God's prophets have been smitten countless times because of their message.

Vs. 3

Compare Paul's reply with Jesus' reply in (Jn. 18:22,23)

"Whited wall"; Paul is not doing any thing more than Christ did, in reviling the High Priest (Matt. 23:37; Eze. 13:10,11), but at Christ's "official trial" (Matt. 26:63) he refused to revile (1 Pet. 2:23)

Vs. 4

(Ex. 22:28; Jn. 18:22)

Vs. 3-8

Paul is not going to get a fair trial and he knows it, thus Paul decides he's going to say his peace. He takes a jab at the high priest, whom he must have known. After all, Paul was a Pharisee himself, studying under Gamaliel (Acts 5:34; 22:3). After lying (vs. 5) he resorts to trickery by splitting his opposition into two camps concerning an Issue that is only remotely related to the situation - the Resurrection.
See: (Matt. 22:23-33; Matt. 23)

The scribes are immediately fooled by Paul's diversion and comes to his defense (Acts 5:39). The captain sees that Paul is about to be torn limb from limb, orders the Roman soldiers to step In and escort him from the council placing him In protective custody.

Paul must have had a genuine burden for his people. After all of the persecution he had suffered at their hands, he asks permission to go before them (Acts 22:30).

(Acts 23:1) says "earnestly beholding".

Vs. 11-22

This is called a "Theophony" by the theologians, or an appearance of the Lord. (Acts 27:23)

Paul's Invitation had been a complete failure (it seemed). The preacher had to be rushed out of the row to save his life, and the congregation was left to "duke" It out amongst themselves.

The Lord Jesus appears to Paul and tries to lift his discouraged spirits and give him some very personal (to Rome) direction in his ministry. No doubt Paul would have gone back to the council for more. God had to use 470 Roman soldiers to get him to do his will (vs. 23).

Vs. 11

Compare (Rom. 1:10; Acts 19:21)

The chief priests are consenting to the conspiracy of the assassination of Paul. Which was, of course, against Roman and their own Jewish law.

The 40 plus men who conspired against Paul did one of two things .... starved to death or broke their vow because the Lord saw to It that they didn't even touch him again.

The conspiracy is foiled by Paul's nephew as he gets wind of the plot. He informs the chief captain who takes action to send him to the governor of the province, Felix.

Paul Is held up from his commission for more than two years (Acts 24:27) because of this self-willed (bound In the spirit) trip to Jerusalem against four warnings of the Lord.

Vs. 23-35

Paul gets smuggled out of town at night. Lysias contacts the council AFTER Paul has gotten out of town. Lysias is a typical politician. He is looking to make some points with the governor. Informing them if, they want start trouble again they can do it in a Roman Law Court and before a Roman Governor (vs. 30). Paul is brought before Antipatris and there he is taken to Caesarea (vs. 33).

Vs. 27

Lysias shows up on the scene (Acts 21:31) only because he knew there was an uproar. When he rescued Paul, he did not know that he was a Roman (Acts 21:31-33; 22:25-8). Lysias is relating this story to make him appear a little more patriotic than he actually was.

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