Bible Commentary

Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. 15. Now therefore ye with the council, &c.] Rev. Ver. “do ye,” to mark … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:15”

And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 14. they came to the chief priests and elders ] Who were most likely of the Sadducees’ part, and who therefore would have no wish to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:14”

And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. 13. more than forty ] Shewing the excited state of popular feeling at this moment among the Jews. They may have been prompted to this method of getting rid of the Apostle, because they had not the power of life and death any longer, … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:13”

And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 12. And when it was day ] While Paul was receiving comfort from the Lord, the Jews were plotting to secure his destruction and they … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:12”

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. 11 25. Paul is cheered by a Vision. The Jews conspire to kill him 11. And the night following ] The Apostle … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:11”

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle. 10. the chief captain ] He must have been in some position … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:10”

And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. 9. And there arose a great cry [ Rev. Ver. clamour] The … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:9”

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 8. the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection ] It is said that their teaching had its rise in the thought that “God’s servants should not do service with the hope of reward.” As the life … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:8”

And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 7. and the multitude [ Rev. Ver. assembly] was divided ] The verb in the original is that from which our English “schism” is derived, and this points to the character of the division. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:7”

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men [and] brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 6. But when Paul perceived, &c.] We are not told … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 23:6”