Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:30
And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what [they had] against him. Farewell.
30. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man ] In the oldest MSS. there is no mention made of “the Jews.” The Rev. Ver. therefore renders “and when it was shewn to me that there would be a plot against the man.”
I sent straightway to thee ] i.e. I sent him. The pronoun is supplied in the Rev. Ver. as needful to the sense. Of course Lysias implies by his language that he felt that Felix was a more fit person than himself to deal with such a case.
and gave commandment, &c.] By reason of the text in the oldest MSS. the Rev. Ver. has, in the latter part of this clause, “to speak against him before thee.” The word “Farewell” is also unsupported by the earliest authorities.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 30. I sent straightway to thee] As the proper person before whom this business should ultimately come, and by whom it should be decided.
Farewell.] , Be in good health.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Jews laid wait for the man; this reflects upon the Jews, as being seditious, and ready to attempt against the government; as also gives the governor an account why he troubled him with this prisoner, and why he sent so great a guard with him.
Farewell; the usual prayer wherewith they ended their letters, as in Act 15:29.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
30. gave commandment to his accusers. . . to say before theeThis was not done when he wrote, butwould be before the letter reached its destination.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when it was told me,…. As it was by Paul’s sister’s son,
how that the Jews laid wait for the man; had formed a conspiracy to take away his life, and laid a scheme in order to it, and at least intended, if they were not actually in ambush, to seize him as he should be brought from the castle to the sanhedrim:
I sent straightway to thee; the prisoner Paul, under a guard of soldiers; this he did directly, as soon as ever he heard of the design of the Jews; and he sent him to Felix, as being governor, to whom the judgment of this affair properly belonged, and who was best qualified for it, at least in the chief captain’s account; and who doubtless consulted his own honour and safety, lest he should incur blame and disgrace, should a Roman have been slain through any neglect or want of care in him:
and gave commandment to his accusers also, to say before thee what they had against him; it is reasonable to conclude, that he said nothing of this to them, though he might have determined he would, till after Paul was sent away; otherwise the affair would have been discovered, which he desired might be concealed:
farewell; which is the conclusion of the epistle, and is a wish of health and happiness.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When it was shown to me that there would be a plot ( ). Two constructions combined; genitive absolute ( , first aorist passive participle of ) and future infinitive ( as if accusative of general reference used) in indirect assertion after (Robertson, Grammar, p. 877).
Charging his accusers also ( ). First aorist active participle of with which compare above (verse 27), not subsequent action. Dative case in .
Before thee ( ). Common idiom for “in the presence of” when before a judge (like Latin apud) as in Acts 24:20; Acts 24:21; Acts 25:26; Acts 26:2. What happened to the forty conspirators we have no way of knowing. Neither they nor the Jews from Asia are heard of more during the long five years of Paul’s imprisonment in Caesarea and Rome.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
When it was told [] . Lit., pointed out, or shown, as Rev. See on Luk 20:37.
Farewell. The best texts omit. See on ch. Act 14:29.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And when it was told me,” (munutheises de moi) “Then it was revealed to me,” disclosed in a private manner to me, by the nephew of Paul, Act 23:17-19.
2) “How that the Jews laid wait for the man,” (epiboules eis ton andra esesthai) “That there existed (was already set up) a plot, or death conspiracy, against the man,” lam sending to you, against Paul, as recounted, Act 23:20-21.
3) “I sent straightway to thee,” (eksautes epempsa pros se) “I sent at once to you,” prepared to have Paul brought to your custody, Act 23:23-30.
4) “And gave commandment to his accusers also,” (parageilas kai tois kategorois) “Commanding also the accusers,” after he was safely escorted away by an army of 470 soldiers by night, Act 23:20.
5) “To say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.” (legein pros auton epi aou) “To say before you what they have to charge to him,” Act 24:8; Act 25:6-7. Instead of hearing from the plotters of Paul’s death, his accusers hear of Paul’s escape, and they are themselves ordered by the chief captain to go all the way to Caesarea, to bring their complaints before Felix.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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30. When it was showed to me. The second part of the epistle where the chief captain doth bring the adversaries into contempt, − (560) because they went about to kill Paul treacherously. Whence it is also gathered, that they trouble Paul unjustly, and that they sought so sore against his life without any cause. For if they had persecuted him lawfully, they would have trusted to the goodness of their cause, and not have suffered him to be judged according to law. Now, when as they seek to kill him, it appeareth that they have no reason. −
(560) −
“
Odium in adversarios retorquet,” retorts upon his adversaries their hatred.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(30) Farewell.The closing formula, like the opening one, agrees with that used in the letter of the Council of Jerusalem. The commandment given to the accusers to go down to Csarea was probably given in answer to the high priests application for another inquiry before the Sanhedrin. We are not told what became of the vow of the forty conspirators. They doubtless considered themselves absolved from it as soon as they heard of the prisoners removal, and their fast probably did not last longer than eighteen or twenty hours.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before you.”
Then someone had shown him that there was to be a plot against Paul, which is why he has sent him to Felix, also informing his accusers that they too must go to Felix to lay their charges.
The chief captain had no rights of judgment. Thus as he was uncertain as to whether any blame could lie at Paul’s door, he had sent him to the one who was responsible for judgment, with an explanation of the facts as he knew them.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
Ver. 30. And gave commandment to his accusers ] For no man is bound to accuse himself; and, De secretis non iudicat lex. In the courts of men it is safest to plead Non feci, not guilty, saith Quintilian (though in God’s court it is otherwise).
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
30. ] Two constructions are combined here: (1) , and (2) , .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 23:30 . A mingling of two constructions, Blass, Gram. , p. 247, Winer-Moulton, lxiii., 1, 1. : on the future infinitive denoting time relatively to the time of the principal verb see Burton, pp. 48, 52. : epistolary aorist, cf. 1Co 5:11 , Phi 2:28 , Eph 6:22 , Col 4:8 , Phm 1:11 ; Burton, p. 21. , see critical note. , cf. Act 19:38 , omitting , see critical note. : coram , cf. Act 24:20-21 , Act 25:9 ; Act 25:26 , Act 26:2 , 1Co 6:1 (1Ti 6:13 ), Winer-Moulton, xlvii.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
it was told me, &c. Literally a plot was revealed to me as about to be laid against the man.
told = revealed. Greek. menuo. See Luk 20:37 (shewed).
the Jews. The texts omit.
for = against. Greek. eis. App-104.
sent. Greek. pempo. App-174.
straightway. Greek. exautes. See note on Act 10:33.
and gave commandment = having commanded, or charged. Greek. parangello. See Act 23:22.
accusers. Greek. kategoros. Here; Act 23:35; Act 24:8; Act 25:16, Act 25:18. Joh 8:10. Rev 12:10.
what they had. Omit.
Farewell. Omit.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
30.] Two constructions are combined here: (1) , and (2) , .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 23:30. ) Upon this, as being a verb of declaring, the infinitive depends.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
it was: Act 23:16-24
and gave: Act 24:7, Act 24:8, Act 25:5, Act 25:6
Farewell: Act 15:29, 2Co 13:11
Reciprocal: Act 23:12 – certain Act 23:35 – when Act 24:1 – Ananias Act 24:19 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Act 23:30. The court of Felix also was a secular one, but the captain felt that Paul’s personal safety required that he appear there. Besides, the Jews had intimated that Paul was a general disturber of the peace (chapter 21:28), and hence it seemed proper for the court at Caesarea to hear what the accusers had against him, they having been commanded also to appear at Caesarea for that purpose.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 23:30. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee. Though I thought him innocent, writes Claudius Lysias, yet, hearing of this further plot against the life of a Roman citizen, I judged it wise to refer the whole matter to you, the chief authority in Juda, as the affair may be more serious than I have deemed it to be. The soldier evidently suspected the affair of Paul was mixed up with some movement against the Roman power.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 23