Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:35
I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
35. I will hear thee ] The verb implies a complete and thorough hearing of a case. “I will give thee a full hearing.” The Rev. Ver. renders “I will hear thy cause.”
when thine accusers are also come ] Assuming that they would appear, since they had been bidden to do so by the chief captain, as he had explained in his letter. Of course Lysias had not said a word of this to the Jews when his letter was written, but intended to do so when Paul was safely on the road to Csarea.
to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall ] The word rendered “judgment hall” is “prtorium,” and may signify either the palace of a prince, the tent of a general, or the barracks of the soldiery. Here it is probably the name of the palace which Herod had erected for himself, and which now was used as the governor’s residence. It seems (from Act 24:24-26) that it was close to the quarters of Felix himself, and that Paul could speedily be sent for. Render “Herod’s palace” (with Rev. Ver.). The verb employed in the sentence only implies that Paul was to be taken care of; he was not kept in close imprisonment. “A Roman and uncondemned” would not be subject to needless indignities, when his accusers were Jews who could make no such claim for consideration. Cf. Act 24:23.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In Herods judgment hall – Greek: in the praetorium of Herod. The word used here denoted formerly the tent of the Roman praetor; and since that was the place where justice was administered, it came to be applied to halls (courts) of justice. This had been raised probably by Herod the Great as his palace, or as a place for administering justice. It is probable, also, that prisons, or places of security, would be attached to such places.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 35. I will hear thee] ; I will give thee a fair, full, and attentive hearing when thy accusers are come; in whose presence thou shalt be permitted to defend thyself.
In Herod’s judgment-hall.] , In Herod’s praetorium, so called because it was built by Herod the Great. The praetorium was the place where the Roman praetor had his residence; and it is probable that, in or near this place, there was a sort of guard room, where state prisoners were kept. Paul was lodged here till his accusers should arrive.
ON the preceeding chapter many useful observations may be made.
1. Paul, while acting contrary to the Gospel of Christ, pleaded conscience as his guide. Conscience is generally allowed to be the rule of human actions; but it cannot be a right rule, unless it be well informed. While it is unenlightened it may be a guide to the perdition of its professor, and the cause of the ruin of others. That conscience can alone be trusted in which the light of God’s Spirit and God’s truth dwells. An ill-informed conscience may burn even the saints for God’s sake!
2. No circumstance in which a man can be placed can excuse him from showing respect and reverence to the authorities which God, in the course of his providence, has instituted for the benefit of civil or religious society. All such authorities come originally from God, and can never lose any of their rights on account of the persons who are invested with them. An evil can never be of use, and a good may be abused; but it loses not its character, essential qualities, or usefulness, because of this abuse.
3. Paul availed himself of the discordant sentiments of his judges, who had agreed to show him no justice, that he might rid himself out of their hands. To take advantage of the sentiments and dispositions of an audience, without deceiving it, and to raise dissension between the enemies of the truth, is an impotent artifice, when truth itself is not violated and when error is exposed thereby to public view.
4. The Pharisees and Sadducees strove together. God frequently raises up defenders of the principles of truth, even among those who, in practice, are its decided enemies. “Though,” says one, “I do not like the truth, yet will I defend it.” A man clothed with sovereign authority, vicious in his heart, and immoral in his life, fostered those principles of truth and righteousness by which error was banished from these lands, and pure and undefiled religion established among us for many generations.
5. The providence of God, and his management of the world, are in many respects great mysteries; but, as far as we are individually concerned, all is plain. Paul had the fullest assurance, from the mouth of Christ himself, that he should see Rome; and, consequently, that he should be extricated from all his present difficulties. Why then did he not quietly sit still, when his nephew informed him that forty men had conspired to murder him? Because he knew that God made use of the prudence with which he has endowed man as an agent in that very providence by which he is supported; and that to neglect the natural means of safety with which God provides us is to tempt and dishonour him, and induce him in judgment to use those means against us, which, in his mercy, he had designed for our comfort and salvation. Prudence is well associated even with an apostolical spirit. Every being that God has formed, he designs should accomplish those functions for which he has endowed it with the requisite powers.
6. Claudius Lysias sent Paul to Felix. “In the generality of human events,” says one, “we do not often distinguish the designs of God from those of men. The design of Lysias, in preserving Paul from the rage of the Jews, was to render his own conduct free from exception: the design of God was, that he might bring Paul safely to Rome, that he might attack idolatry in its strongest fort, and there establish the Christian faith.” God governs the world, and works by proper means; and counterworks evil or sinister devices, so as ultimately to accomplish the purposes of his will, and cause all things to work together for good to them that love Him.
7. Felix acted prudently when he would not even hear St. Paul till he had his accusers face to face. How many false judgments, evil surmises, and uncharitable censures would be avoided, did men always adopt this reasonable plan! Hear either side of a complaint separately, and the evil seems very great: hear both together, and the evil is generally lessened by one half. Audi et alteram partem-hear the other side, says a heathen: remember, if you have an ear for the first complainant, you have one also for the second.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I will hear thee thoroughly, the whole matter, as the preposition , here used, does import; and as it is commanded unto all judges, Deu 1:16.
When thine accusers are also come; for this the dictate of nature did teach the very heathen, that both parties ought to be heard before anything were determined: Qui aliquid statuerit parte inaudita altera: That whosoever pronounced any sentence before both sides were fully heard, were the sentence never so just, yet the judge was unjust.
Herods judgment-hall; a palace where the governors were lodged, built by Herod the Great, when, in honour, or flattery, of Augustus, after he had fortified the city, he caused it to be called Cesarea.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
35. I will hear theeThe wordmeans, “give thee a full hearing.”
to be kept in Herod’sjudgment hall“prtorium,” the palace built atCsarea by Herod, and now occupied by the Roman procurators; in oneof the buildings attached to which Paul was ordered to be kept.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I will hear thee, said he,…. The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, “we will hear”, which is a grand courtly way of speaking:
when thine accusers are come; which Lysias, in his letter, informed him that he had ordered them to come; which shows the governor to have some sense of justice and integrity, being desirous to hear both sides before he judged of the affair, though there was so much said in the chief captain’s letter in favour of Paul’s innocence, and against his enemies.
And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall; or palace: this was a place built by Herod the great at Caesarea, of whose magnificent buildings here Josephus gives a large account. For besides the famous haven or port which he made here, he adorned the place with splendid palaces, he built a theatre, and an amphitheatre, and a “forum” h, which was either a market place, or a court of judicature; and if the latter, perhaps the same that is here meant, in a part of which, or in a place adjoining to it, the apostle was put. Here he was kept by a guard of soldiers, but not in close confinement; he had much liberty, and his friends and acquaintance had leave to come to him; see Ac 24:23. We read i of
, which some interpret “the chamber of the judges of Caesarea”; or the place where they sat in judgment, and may be the same that is here meant; though others interpret it a prison; and so it seems was this judgment hall of Herod’s.
h Joseph. de Bello Jud. l. 1. c. 21. sect. 5, 8. i Megillat Esther, fol. 85. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
I will hear thy cause (). “I will hear thee fully” ().
When–are come (). Second aorist middle subjunctive of with temporal conjunction , indefinite temporal clause of future time (Robertson, Grammar, p. 972), “whenever thine accusers come.”
In Herod’s palace ( ). The Latin word . The word meant the camp of the general, then the palace of the governor as here and Mt 27:27 which see, and then the camp of praetorian soldiers or rather the praetorian guard as in Php 1:13.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
I will hear thee [] . Better, as Rev., will hear thy cause; the word meaning “to hear fully [] in a judicial sense.” The present questioning was merely preliminary.
Herod ‘s palace. Built by Herod the Great. Judaea being now a Roman province, the palace of its former kings had become the governor ‘s official residence. It thus appears that Paul was leniently dealt with, and not cast into the common prison.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “I will hear thee, said he,” (diakousomai sou, ephe) “He said (to Paul) I will hear you,” hear your cause, he promised. The term “hear thee” indicates or implies a “Judicial hearing” “a full hearing” regarding his arraignment and detainment.
2) “When thine accusers are also come.” (hotankai hoi kategoroi sou paragenontai) “When your accusers also arrive,” those referred to in the legal epistle or letter, Act 23:30
3) “And he commanded him to be kept “ (keleusas auton phulassesthai) “And he commanded him to be kept (held under guard), detained, or confined.
4) “In Herod’s judgement hall.” (en to praetorio tou Herodon) “In the judgement hall (praetorium) of King Herod,” in some apartment assigned to him for security purposes, in or adjoining the palace of Herod, in Caesarea. It was both a palace and a fortress containing a guard room in which Paul was kept, Act 24:1; Act 24:10; Act 25:16; Mat 27:27.
It must be realized that “the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him,” Psa 34:7; Heb 13:5. And in this assurance, Paul could write, “rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, rejoice,” Php_4:4.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(35) I will hear thee.The Greek verb expresses the idea of a thorough hearing.
He commanded him to be kept in Herods judgment hall.The Greek word is prtorium, a word somewhat elastic in its application, and ranging from a palace to a barrack. Judgment hall hardly gives the meaning here. The building had probably been intended by Herod for use as a royal residence, and was now used by the Roman procurator for himself and his troops. The Apostle had there a second experience of the life of a prtorium. At Rome he does not appear to have been in the prtorium, though the circumstances of his imprisonment brought him into contact with the soldiers who were quartered there. (Comp. Notes on Mat. 27:27; Php. 1:13.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
35. Herod’s judgment hall Rather, the pretorium of Herod. This was a palace built by Herod, and afterward occupied by the Roman procurators. Such edifices were furnished, like the old mediaeval palaces and baronial castles, with towers for keeping prisoners of state. Paul was, therefore, not confined in an ordinary prison, but resided in the very palace of Felix. The procurator was probably influenced by both Lysias’ pronouncing him innocent, and by his knowledge that the Christians were now a growing religious body. Under this honourable and gentle durance the apostle remained for two years in a prison and a palace. He resided in the residence of the slayer of the innocents at the birth of Christ.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Act 23:35 . ] denotes the full and exact hearing (Xen. Oec . 11. 1, Cyrop . iv. 4. 1; Polyb. iii. 15. 4; Dorvill. ad Char . p. 670), in contrast to what was now held as merely preliminary.
.] was the name given to the palace which Herod the Great had formerly built for himself, and which now served as the residence of the procurators. From our passage it follows that the place, in which Paul was temporarily kept in custody, was no common prison (Act 5:18 ), but was within the praetorium. The determination of the manner of the custodia reorum depended on the procurator (L. 1, D. xlviii. 3), and the favourable elogium might have its influence in this respect.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
REFLECTIONS
I would summon my own heart, while I call upon the Reader’s also, in the review of Paul’s appeal before the council, to solemnly enquire whether we have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day? It is an important question, and not hastily and presumptuously to be answered. We are such partial judge s of evil thoughts, when that judgment respects ourselves, that self-love too often gives a bias to the opinion. But, when we come to be weighed in the balance of unerring truth, not according to our view of things, but according to God’s righteous judgment, the question then becomes solemn indeed, how is the Lord sanctified in the soul? Reader! doth it not strike you, (I bless the Lord it doth me,) that it is well for poor fallen sinful creatures, we have a better righteousness than our own to trust in, and to plead before God, under all the misgivings of conscience, and under all the accusations of sin and Satan!
Let not the Reader overlook (I pray the Lord I may not) the Lord’s watchful care over his servant, amidst the host of foes with which he was surrounded. Beautiful is that scripture, and here it was fully proved, The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation. Paul had no knowledge, but the Lord had, how he should escape, when both Jew and Gentile seized upon his person. It would be very blessed for me, if I always had this in remembrance. There are numberless anxieties I crowd into life for want of recollecting, that these things are my Lord’s concern, and not mine. Jesus hath said by his servant, casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. I know this in theory as well as words can make it. And frequently under this authority I do cast all my care upon the Lord, and bring the whole to his throne of grace. But soon after, yea, sometimes in a few moments after, I discover that I must have fetched them all away again, and taken them up, for they are all upon me. Oh! thou dear Lord! is it thus I learn my unworthiness and faithlessness to know more thy grace and all-sufficiency?
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
Ver. 35. I will hear thee ] Pergam te audire, et auditionem absolvam (so Beza rendereth the Greek, ), I will hear thee out, when thine accusers are come. In the mean while I will keep, , mine ear free. a I will not be prepossessed; nor hear one tale till I may hear both. This was well done of Felix, and judge like; qui
” Si statuat aliquid, parte inaudita altera,
Aequum licet statuerit, haud aequus fuerit.
At Rome, the accuser had six hours allotted him to accuse; the guilty or defendant had nine hours to make his answer. This Felix knew full well.
a , said Alexander.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
35. . ] ‘The expression is in conformity with the Roman law; the rule was, “Qui cum elogio mittuntur, ex integro audiendi sunt .” ’ Hackett.
. . .] The procurator resided in the former palace of Herod the Great. Here Paul was ‘militi traditus’ (Digest. cited by De W.), not in a prison, but in the buildings attached to the palace.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 23:35 . : “I will hear thy cause,” R.V., the word implies a judicial hearing ( cf. LXX, Deu 1:16 (Job 9:33 )), and so in classical Greek of hearing thoroughly. The word is used of a judicial hearing, Dio Cassius, xxxvi., 53 (36), and Deissmann, Neue Bibelstudien , p. 57, gives examples of similar usages on Egyptian papyri, 2nd to 3rd century A.D. : “palace,” R.V., Herod’s palace at Csarea, where the procurator resided; it was not only a palace but also a fortress, and would contain a guard-room in which Paul would be confined. The word “palace” might well express its meaning in all the passages in which it occurs in the Gospels and Acts (but on Phi 1:13 see Lightfoot, in loco ). The Romans thus appropriated palaces already existing, and formerly dwelt in by kings or princes, cf. Cicero, Verr. , ii., 5, 12, 30, Grimm-Thayer, sub v. , and Lightfoot, On a Fresh Revision of N.T. , p. 49. It seems from the context that the place could not have been far from the quarters occupied by Felix, since Paul could be easily sent for. : the kind of custodia depended on the procurator, and no doubt the elogium had its effect; custodia satis levis (Blass).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
hear = hear fully. Greek. diakouo. Only here.
are also come = also shall have come.
kept = guarded.
judgment hall. Greek. praitorion. See note on Mat 27:27. Joh 18:28. It here means the guard-room attached to Herod’s palace.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
35. .] The expression is in conformity with the Roman law; the rule was, Qui cum elogio mittuntur, ex integro audiendi sunt. Hackett.
. . .] The procurator resided in the former palace of Herod the Great. Here Paul was militi traditus (Digest. cited by De W.), not in a prison, but in the buildings attached to the palace.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 23:35. , I will hear) It would have been better to have heard the case as soon as possible.-, to be kept) So a time was afforded to Paul in which he could pray and meditate in quiet.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
when: Act 23:30, Act 24:1, Act 24:10, Act 24:22, Act 24:24-27, Act 25:16
in: Mat 2:1, Mat 2:3, Mat 2:16
judgment: Mat 27:27, Joh 18:28
Reciprocal: Jer 38:13 – Jeremiah Act 24:8 – Commanding 2Co 6:5 – imprisonments
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Act 23:35. While waiting for the accusers to appear, Paul was to be kept in a place built by Herod, but now being occupied by Felix. Some one of. the buildings attached thereto was Paul’s prison, pending the arrival of his accusers.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 23:35. I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. The Greek word rendered I will hear, suggests the idea of a complete and searching investigation into all the matters in question.
And he commanded him to be kept in Herods judgment hall. Better rendered in Herods praetorium. This was the palace built by Herod the Great for his own residence; it now was used as the official dwelling of the Roman governor. Most likely some portion of it was set apart as the lodgings of state prisoners. We know later that during the imprisonment at Csarea, Paul had many privileges rarely accorded to one in his condition. His friends were allowed to visit him as they pleased (chap. Act 24:23). He was, we must remember, a Roman prisoner and uncondemned; nor is it improbable that secretly the hostility of the chief priests and Sanhedrim pleaded for him with Felix.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 31
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 35
In Herod’s judgment-hall; in a place of confinement connected with it. This hall was a celebrated public edifice erected by Herod.