Ac 23:1
23:1 And {1} Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men
     [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before
     God until this day.

     (1) Paul, against the false accusations of his enemies,
         displays a clear conscience, for proof of which he
         repeats the whole course of his life.

Ac 23:2
23:2 {2} And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood
     by him to smite him on the mouth.

 (2) Hypocrites are forced at length to betray themselves by
     their violence.

Ac 23:3
23:3 {3} Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, [thou]
     {b} whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the
     law, and commandest me to be smitten {c} contrary to the
     law?

 (3) It is lawful for us to complain of injuries, and to summon
     the wicked to the judgment seat of God, but yet we must do
     it without hatred, and with a quiet and peaceable mind.

     (b) This is a vehement and severe speech, but yet not
         reproachful: for the godly may speak severely, and yet
         be void of the bitter affection of a severe and angry
         mind.
     (c) For the Law commands the judge to hear the person that
         is accused patiently, and to pronounce the sentence
         judiciously.

Ac 23:5
23:5 {4} Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the
     high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil
     of the ruler of thy people.

 (4) We must willingly and from the heart give honour to
     magistrates, although they are tyrants.

Ac 23:6
23:6 {5} 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.

 (5) We may sometimes lawfully set the wicked against
     themselves, so that they stop assaulting us, in order that
     the truth is not hindered.

Ac 23:7
23:7 {6} And when he had so said, there arose a dissension
     between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude
     was divided.

 (6) The agreement between the wicked is weak, even though they
     conspire together to oppress the truth.

Ac 23:8
23:8 {7} For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection,
     neither {d} angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess
     both.

 (7) It is an old heresy of the Sadducees to deny the existence
     of angels and souls, and in addition the resurrection of
     the dead.
     (d) Things that exist without a body.

Ac 23:9
23:9 {8} And there arose a great cry: and the {e} 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.

 (8) The Lord, when it pleases him, finds defenders of his
     cause, even amongst his enemies.
     (e) The scribe's office was a public office, and the name of
         the Pharisees was the name of a sect.

Ac 23:10
23:10 {9} 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.

 (9) God will not forsake his own, even to the very end.

Ac 23:12
23:12 {10} And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded
      together, and bound themselves {f} under a curse, saying
      that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed
      Paul.

 (10) Those who are carried away with a foolish zeal think that
      they may lie and murder, and do whatever mischief they
      wish.
      (f) Cursing and prohibiting themselves, they promised.

Ac 23:15
23:15 Now therefore ye with the {g} council signify to the chief
      captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as
      though ye would enquire something more perfectly
      concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to
      kill him.

      (g) You and the senate ask that the same thing should be
          done, so that the tribune will not think that it was
          demanded of him because of an individual's private
          interests.

Ac 23:17
23:17 {11} Then Paul called one of the centurions unto [him],
      and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for
      he hath a certain thing to tell him.

 (11) The wisdom of the Spirit must be joined with simplicity.

Ac 23:22
23:22 {12} So the chief captain [then] let the young man depart,
      and charged [him, See thou] tell no man that thou hast
      shewed these things to me.

 (12) There is no counsel against the Lord and his servants.

Ac 23:26
23:26 {13} Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor
      Felix [sendeth] greeting.

 (13) Lysias is suddenly made by the Lord to be Paul's
      protector.



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