Read Acts 23:1-10 (English Standard Version) on maBible, the Bible online. Other reference formats: Acts 23.1-10, Acts 23v1-10, Ac. 23:1-10. And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias…
Other reference formats: Acts 23.1-10, Acts 23v1-10, Ac. 23:1-10.
1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”
2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?”
4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?”
5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?”
10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.
Passage themes
Standing before the council — earnestly beholding the council
Speaking to his brothers — Men and brethren
A clear conscience — I have lived in all good conscience before God
Ananias the accuser — the high priest Ananias
The witness struck — to smite him on the mouth
Hypocrisy unmasked — thou whited wall
The corrupt court — sittest thou to judge me after the law
Struck without judgment — commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law
Paul's ignorance — I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest
Respecting authority — Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people
A skillful defense — he cried out in the council
Paul's background — I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee
The real issue at trial — the hope and resurrection of the dead
Resurrection denied — the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection
The existence of angels — neither angel, nor spirit
The faith of the Pharisees — but the Pharisees confess both
An innocent man recognized — We find no evil in this man
A voice from heaven — if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him
No fighting against God — let us not fight against God
Deadly rage — fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them
Rescued by the soldiers — to take him by force from among them