Acts Chapter 23 Expository Thoughts and Considerations

Verse 1-5 (insert later)

Verse 6 -- Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.“ Paul realizes very quickly that they are not going to give him a fair hearing. So, he uses a powerful tool of political division to make his point. It does not seem to be Paul’s intention of winning over the Pharisees, but of causing conflict.

Additionally, it is necessary for Paul to assert his ties to the Pharisees because he must make a defense from his beginnings there and what brought him to faithful observance of the will of Christ. Paul’s defense can only be characterized as “brilliant”. He chooses the one aspect of Christianity most likely to help them see diversity in religion, and springs it on them. Paul turns to the fact of the resurrection of Jesus to convict his listeners concerning Jesus as the Christ.

Verse 7 -- Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." Paul knows that the Sadducees and Pharisees are deeply divided on many matters of faith. Specifically, they are divided on the matter of the after-life and subsequent matters of resurrection from the dead.

Verse 8 – The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. The Sadducees believed that the soul died with the body – therefore eliminating any necessity for a resurrection. Josephus records that they denied an afterlife, and therefore the “punishments and rewards of Hades.”

Verse 9 – There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” Since nothing is said in Paul’s defense about angels, it is assumed that they are making reference to the speech of the day before. However, we only have an abbreviated version of Paul’s defense before the Sanhedrin. “Great uproar” indicates that scuffling broke out

Verse 10 – The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. Acting promptly, the commander again grabs Paul away from the crowd, fearing for Paul’s life. The fighting has grown so bad between the two groups that he is afraid he will be torn to pieces. It takes force from the guards to remove Paul.

Verse 11 – The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage!” As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” This reference is to Jesus. It seems that this is a bodily appearance of Jesus, though it could be a vision and Luke simply does not record that fact. Jesus appears to Paul on four different occasions to strengthen him in times of distress: (Acts 18:9, 22:18-21, here and in Acts 27:23). Each time was when Paul was particularly low.

Verse The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. It is not clear exactly which group of the Jews made this pact. It could have been the Asian Jews who started the trouble, or it could have been the Sadducees angry from the day before. If they kept their pact, they were easily identified by their emaciated appearance, since they never accomplished their ambition.

Verse – More than 40 men were involved in this plot. They went tot eh chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.” Paul’s life is in grave danger. Here are two score men spending every waking moment with the consuming hatred toward Paul and a great desire to put him to death. Knowing the activities of the “dagger-men” mentioned earlier, this is a very serious threat.

Verse 15 – Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.” They intend to use subterfuge to gain access to Paul. As long as he is guarded in the barracks, they cannot easily get to him. On the streets or in the temple outer courts, however, they hope to overpower him and put him to death.

Verse 16 – But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. This is a bit of tantalizing information about Paul’s personal life, but raises many more questions than it answers. It seems at very least that this nephew feels kindly toward Paul, enough to gain entrance to the barracks to warn him of his danger.

Verse – account of Paul’s nephew Paul sends his nephew to the commander to deliver the message. The centurion takes him to the commander. The nephew delivers the message. The commander sends him away and warns him to tell no one that he has reported the plot against Paul’s life. We gather from these events that this nephew is a young boy.

Verse 23– Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Paul sends his nephew to the commander to deliver the message. The centurion takes him to the commander. The nephew delivers the message. The commander sends him away and warns him to tell no one that he has reported the plot against Paul’s life. We gather from these events that this nephew is a young boy.