Acts 23 Study Notes

23:1-3 The high priest ordered Paul struck on the mouth because he thought Paul was lying about having a good conscience before God. Paul’s accusation that the priest was a whitewashed wall meant the priest practiced outward piety but was inwardly corrupt.

23:4-5 Paul claimed not to have recognized the high priest, but most likely he was only being ironical. In this way he highlighted the high priest’s inappropriate behavior.

23:6-9 Paul deflected the attention of the Sanhedrin by dividing his accusers over the doctrine of resurrection. The Pharisees, like Paul, believed in resurrection, while the Sadducees, of which the high priest Ananias was a member, did not. The ensuing debate led some of the scribes, who were associated with the Pharisees, to find no basis for charging Paul (v. 9).

23:10 Once again Roman intervention saved Paul’s life; see 21:34-36 and note.

23:11 Again we see God’s sovereign guidance of Paul’s mission; see 22:17-21 and note.

23:12-15 “Paradoxically, the very people who accuse Paul of violating the law of Moses contemplate murdering him” (David G. Peterson).

23:16 Paul’s nephew reported the murder plot (vv. 12-15). It is unclear how many of Paul’s family members were in Jerusalem (see vv. 17,22). Most likely Paul’s sister lived in Jerusalem, perhaps indicating that his entire family had moved there after Paul’s childhood in Tarsus. The Greek of this verse suggests Paul’s nephew was in his late teens. It is not stated how he came to know of the plot, but certainly the air was ripe for such a plot.

23:23 The commander acted decisively to get Paul out of harm’s way. Caesarea Maritima was the headquarters for the province. Here Paul would be under the protection of the procurator, Felix.

23:24 Originally a slave, Felix became procurator of Judea in AD 52. He was removed from office around AD 59 for mishandling conflicts between Jews and Gentiles in Caesarea.

23:25-30 The letter from Claudius Lysias, the commander, followed the standard letter form of the time, with a greeting, the body of the letter, and a closing. Possibly Luke reconstructed it from Paul’s recollection, but it is also possible that Luke himself heard it read in front of Felix and Paul in Caesarea.

23:29-30 Lysias interpreted the conflict as a dispute over Jewish law, which meant the charge against Paul did not merit death or imprisonment under Roman law. His sending Paul to Felix might seem to imply otherwise, but this move was aimed at protecting Paul and allowing the Jewish authorities a chance to formally present their case before the Roman governor.

23:31-33 The distance from Jerusalem to Antipatris was approximately thirty-five miles along the Roman road. The trip from Antipatris to Caesarea was along the coast and did not require such a large guard to ensure Paul’s safety.

23:34-35 Felix could have sent Paul to the governor of Syria but decided to try the case himself, perhaps because he realized how flimsy the evidence against Paul was and wished to settle the case as quickly as possible. Paul was kept in custody in the procurator’s palace, originally built by Herod the Great.