VERSES 1 – 23
PAUL BEFORE THE SANHIDREN
start at 2:34:05
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.”
Paul addressed the Sanhedrin with
courage and conviction.
Some members may have remembered him as
Saul a member of the Sanhedrin.
You will notice in this verse and in
verses 2 and 3 Paul refers to the members of the Sanhedrin as brethren.
This was an unusual way to address such members. People called them “rulers of the people” or
“Leaders of Israel”.
Why would Paul address these members of the Sanhedrin as
brothers?
This was not done by the common Jews, and by Paul
addressing them as brothers he placed himself on equal ground with them.
Indeed Paul was a Pharisee and as such a member of the
Sanhedrin
He therefore had the right to call them his brethren.
Josephus (37 – c.
100 CE), himself a Pharisee, estimated the total Pharisee population prior
to the fall of the Second Temple to be around
6,000 (‘exakischilio) [2] [5]
2 The High priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth.
This was a method of silencing a speaker in the eastern
culture.
This method of silencing someone is still used today in
middle eastern regions. [Hacket]
This action would have been the ultimate insult if the
High Priests command was carried out.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, white washed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me struck?”
The prophetic statement by Paul came true for this same
high priest was killed during the Jewish war. [Josephus, Wars of the Jews,
2.17. 9]
By using the phrase “White washed wall” Paul was quoting
in part a statement made by Jesus in Matthew 23:27.
Basically saying they all looked good on the outside but
were evil doers in there heart.
God knows a persons heart and there motives for doing
good works and or their appearance of being pious.
Paul refers to a law sited in Leviticus
19:15 John’s interpretation
of this law is found in John 7:51 which states “Our
Law does not judge a man unless it
first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?”
4 But the bystanders said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”
This he said before striking Paul. The word revile was translated from the Greek
word loidoreo loy-dor-eh'-o from 3060; to reproach, i.e.
vilify:-revile. See Greek for 3060. [Strong’s]
Paul was not aware Ananias was the high priest.
This is plausible because Paul had been absent for a long time during a time of instability of
the position of high Priest.
Ananias often took the side of Rome over his own people,
and was known as being cruel, traits
unbecoming of a high priest. [3]
Paul now knowing Ananias was the high priest apologizes
to Ananias (V5).
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.’”
Hacket states “But if he was thrown off his guard by an insult
which touched him to the quick, "what can surpass the grace with which he
recovered his self-possession, and the frankness with which he acknowledged his
error? If his conduct in yielding to the momentary impulse was not that of
Christ Himself under a similar provocation ( John 18:22 John 18:23 ), certainly
the manner in which he atoned for his fault was Christ-like"
[HACKET].”
6 But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”
Paul noting the two factions of the Sanhedrin (Sadducees
and Pharisees); Paul cries out his legacy as a Pharisee.
Paul had come from a family of Pharisees.
The hope of resurrection Paul speaks of hear is “not the
vague hope of immortality, but the definite expectation of the resurrection”.
[2]
The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, while the Sadducees
did not.
Probably stemming from (Isaiah 26:19) [Rabbi Louis
Jacobs article explanation of resurrection
of the dead.
7 As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducee, and the assembly was divided.
Paul’s statement of believing as a Pharisee in the
resurrection of the dead caused the two factions to argue between each other as
to this difference in their belief.
We will read in verse 8 of these differences in beliefs.
8 For the Sadducee most say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. (Matthew 22:2; Mark 12:18; Luke 20:27 )
The word Spirit is translated from the Greek word: pneuma pnyoo'-mah from; a current of
air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a
spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition,
etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the
Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind. [Strong’s]
How sad for the Sadducee's.
They were left with no hope.
By pointing out this difference between the two factions
Paul totally aligned himself with the Pharisee faction and became at odds with
the Sadducee faction.
9 And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
The Pharisees had no choice but to defend Paul on their
shared belief in the resurrection.
To deny Paul’s statement of his encounter with Jesus in
Spirit form, would have been a denial of their own beliefs.
It was the scribes (teachers of the law) a segment of
the Pharisee faction, and not the Pharisees' in their entirety who began the
argument.
10 And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.
Each of the two factions were trying to seize Paul.
The Pharisees to protect Paul and the Sadducees to seize
him and cause him harm.
The commander seeing the escalation between the two
parties and Paul the apparent cause decided to remove Paul.
Scripture does not tell us why however we can deduce
that by removing the apparent cause of the turmoil the crowd would quiet down.
Thereby defusing the potential riot.
Acts 23:11-35 .
“IN THE FORTRESS PAUL IS CHEERED BY A NIGHT
VISION--AN INFAMOUS CONSPIRACY TO ASSASSINATE HIM IS PROVIDENTIALLY DEFEATED,
AND HE IS DESPATCHED BY NIGHT WITH A LETTER FROM THE COMMANDANT TO FELIX AT
CÆSAREA, BY WHOM ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR A HEARING OF HIS CAUSE.” [2]
11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
Who better than Paul to give witness of
Jesus in Rome.
Paul was a citizen of Rome by birth, a
Jew, highly educated as a Pharisee.
A Conspiracy To Kill Paul
12 When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
The word oath anathematizo an-ath-em-at-id'-zo from 331; to declare
or vow under penalty of execration:--(bind under a) curse, bind with an oath
By not eating or drinking they would not survive long
and hens this vow had deadly consequences.
13 There were more than forty who formed this plot. 14 They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
Paul was being kept in the barrack area of the fortress.
These forty men knew there was no chance of getting to
Paul while he was in the barracks.
They conspired together to convince the church
leadership to ask the fortress commander to bring Paul to them for further
scrutiny.
They were planning to seize Paul when he was outside the
fortress.
15 “Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place.”
These men bound by a solemn oath, solicited the help of
the church leader to lure Paul to his death.
Paul therefore did not fear his death in Jerusalem, even
though he was in a grave situation.
16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.
Paul under protective custody was not free to leave but
was free to receive visitors.
Scripture does not reveal to us any more of Paul’s
sister or nephew except his nephew was young.
In verse 17 we see young man used which by Roman
definition was a young man 13-14 years old.
There is no evidence they were Christians.
17 Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something tell you.”
Paul knew this plan
of deceit would be of interest to the fortress commander (possibly a senior tribune).
Paul also knew that Jesus said he was to go to Rome.
Paul was not doubting what Jesus had told him and in
fact may have seen this as all part of Jesus plan for him.
We all go through our lives never seeing the big picture
as God does. We all should take Paul’s
action to heart by taking due diligence with are own lives and well being,
while having faith in Jesus to guide and protect us.
18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you.” 19 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?”
Why did the commander find it necessary to take the boy
to one side and speak in private?
This young boy must have been terrified, after all the
Jews feared the Romans.
20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. 21 “So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.”
The young lad repeating verbatim the plot to kill Paul.
This would have been a golden opportunity for the
commander to rid himself of Paul the agitator, and restore peace in the temple.
God often times will wait until the last minute to
reveal His omnipotence (all knowing).
22 So the commander let the young man go, instructing, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”
Although the commander may have realized this was a
golden opportunity Paul’s Roman citizenship caused the commander to err on the
side of caution.
Realizing this we can see why the commander spoke to the
boy in private, and also he did not want the boys message to leak out to the
public.
Paul Moved to Caesarea
23 And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “ Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spear-men.”
In total there were 470 soldiers. Wow! with this many soldiers the citizens of
Caesarea might have thought they were being invaded again…
All joking from the young Hebrew boy story; the commander was taking no chances. If there were forty men laying in wait
perhaps there were more.
After all, his honor was at steak .
24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 25 and he wrote a letter having this form:
Paul was not treated as a usual prisoner but rather of
respect due a Roman citizen.
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix greetings. 27 “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
Claudius was the name Lysias took when he bought
his Roman citizenship.
It was common practice when writing a letter to give the
name of the writer first then that of the recipient.
The term most excellent governor was the honorary title
of office.
Felix was the governor of all Judea.
We see in verse 27 where Claudius was doing some side
slipping giving the impression that he rescued Paul knowing he was a Roman.
Of course we no otherwise. He discovered Paul was a citizen after the
arrest.
28 “And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; 29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.
Lysias was satisfied the charges levied against Paul stemmed
from religious law not civil law.
Lysias was justifying his actions concerning Paul.
He wanted to ensure that it was known that he treated
Paul with all the care due a Roman citizen.
Lysias continues in verse 30
30 “When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you.”
“… Paul’s life was now in danger. Lysias did not want to be
responsible for Paul’s death. So, he had sent Paul to the *governor. That was
the right thing to do.” [3]
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
Why did they leave at night, were they trying to sneak
away under the cover of darkness?
I don’t believe so there were 470 soldiers which would
have made enough noise to make their departure a secret.
Although scripture does not give us the time of year it
may have been in the summer and marching in the cool of night made more sense.
Antipatris was approximately 40 miles from Jerusalem.
Felix Governor of Antipatris was Lysias’s superior.
When they reached Judea the Roman foot soldiers left and
returned to Jerusalem, as we will see in the next verse.
32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul to Felix.
Felix the governor of Judea took custody of Paul.
Paul was now under Felix’s rule and was no longer a
worry to the commander and so there was no need for the commander to supply
guards for Paul.
Paul was now the Governor's responsibility.
34 When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 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.
Once hearing Paul was a Roman citizen from Cilicia
As we remember from our studies in John the Praetoruim was a large hall,
where judgments were handed down.
King Herod had built this praetorium and now it was
occupied by the Roman procurators.
When Felix said he would give him a hearing, he was
saying to Paul he would be allowed to give his side of the story.
We will learn how Paul defended himself with Felix in
chapter 24.
