Acts 23:1-10 — TLB

Read Acts 23:1-10 (The Living Bible) on maBible, the Bible online. Other reference formats: Acts 23.1-10, Acts 23v1-10, Ac. 23:1-10. Gazing intently at the Council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God in all good conscience!” Instantly Ananias the High Priest commanded those close…

1 Gazing intently at the Council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God in all good conscience!”

2 Instantly Ananias the High Priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth.

3 Paul said to him, “God shall slap you, you whitewashed pigpen. What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”

4 Those standing near Paul said to him, “Is that the way to talk to God’s High Priest?”

5 “I didn’t realize he was the High Priest, brothers,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘Never speak evil of any of your rulers.’”

6 Then Paul thought of something! Part of the Council were Sadducees, and part were Pharisees! So he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were all my ancestors! And I am being tried here today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!”

7 This divided the Council right down the middle—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—

8 for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or even eternal spirit within us, but the Pharisees believe in all of these.

9 So a great clamor arose. Some of the Jewish leaders jumped up to argue that Paul was all right. “We see nothing wrong with him,” they shouted. “Perhaps a spirit or angel spoke to him there on the Damascus road.”

10 The shouting grew louder and louder, and the men were tugging at Paul from both sides, pulling him this way and that. Finally the commander, fearing they would tear him apart, ordered his soldiers to take him away from them by force and bring him back to the armory.

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

About this book

Author: Luc · Written: ~ 65 et 80 ap. J.-C. · Reading time: ≈ 2h40 · Characters: Etienne, Barnabas, Philippe, Pierre, Paul, Corneille, Prisca (Priscille) et Aquilas, Lydie, Silas (Sylvain), Timothée, Jean Marc

Acts 23:1-10 — TLB | maBible

Passage themes

Notes and references

About this book

This chapter in other translations