Introduction: This chapter has three specific episodes in Paul's time at Jerusalem. First, he's going to address the "council" or Sanhedrin. Then, some enemies of Paul made a plan to eat or drink nothing until they had killed Paul. When Paul's nephew found out about this, he informed Paul who then asked his nephew to tell all this to the officer in charge (OIC). The chapter closes with Paul being delivered, by over 400 Roman troops, to Felix, the governor.
1 The defense by Paul before the Sanhedrin
Text, Acts 23:1-5, KJV: 1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 5 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.
--The OIC had taken Paul to where the Sanhedrin had gathered (22:30). Luke wrote that Paul was "earnestly beholding the council". Some think he was looking to see if there was anyone he knew from the days when he himself had been a member of this group.
--Paul's statement that he had lived "in all good conscience before God until this day" seems to have really upset the members of the Sanhedrin. The high priest, Ananias, ordered "them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth". Compare this with the treatment our Lord had endured when He was on trial before the Sanhedrin per the various Gospel accounts (John 18:19-24, e.g.)
--Paul replied with a classic insult/rebuke, "God will smite YOU, whited wall!" Dr. A. T. Robertson said this was the wrong thing for a prisoner to say to his judge, especially if the judge was the Jewish high priest (https://godrules.net/library/robert/robertact23.htm).
--Why Paul didn't know this Ananias (a different man than the Ananias who was high priest during the days when Jesus walked this earth, per Robertson) is not known. Dake's Annotated Bible has some interesting comments as well.
--Paul promptly apologized after he was told he had insulted the high priest. He had already been in trouble with this group the day before, now he was in deeper trouble. What would he do next?
2 The distraction Paul created among the Sanhedrin
Text, Acts 23:6-11, KJV: 6 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. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 9 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. 10 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. 11 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.
--Again, there is debate among some of the commentators why Paul used this tactic or played this card, to use a current idiom. He knew that some of the Sanhedrin were Pharisees, the rest Sadducees, about half and half per Robertson.
--The best explanation I've seen is that since Paul knew he'd never get a fair trial in a "kangroo court (loosely explained as a trial where everyone has already declared you guilty, no matter what)" he appealed to the common views he and the other Pharisees held in common. Luke explained the three significant differences in verse 8.
--Even the scribes rose up and said, "We don't find any evil in this man" but that didn't stop the infighting. Fearing the Council would literally tear Paul limb from limb, the Roman OIC ordered the soldiers to rescue Paul and take him back to the barracks ("castle", KJV).
--And just when Paul needed Him, Jesus came to Paul the following night, giving words of cheer and promising Paul would bear witness about the Lord at Rome..
3 The deliverance of Paul by the Roman soldiers
Text, Acts 23: 12-24, KJV: 12 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. 13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. 14 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. 15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. 16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. 17 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. 18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. 19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me? 20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. 21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. 22 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. 23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; 24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
--Luke says, "when it was day", or possibly early in the morning (see John Gill's commentary at https://bibleportal.com/commentary/section/john-gill/28896 ) when some of the Jews who were Paul's enemies made a solemn contract to eat or drink nothing until they had killed Paul. This happened after the Romans had once again rescued Paul, most likely.
--The plot was to have the OIC bring Paul to the Sanhedrin ("council") once again, pretending to want to know more, apparently, about what Paul had to say. Then, on the way, these would-be assassins would kill Paul. In their mind/s, problem solved.
--Paul's nephew somehow got wind of this (thank God he did!) and made his way to the barracks. Dr. A. T. Robertson mentioned this young man did so at the risk of his own life (see his notes on this verse at https://godrules.net/library/robert/robertact23.htm)
--Now, Paul calls one of the centurions to himself and asked him to take his nephew to the OIC. Both Paul and his nephew kept quiet ("mum") about the matter. Consider the risk to both or more if word spread they knew about this plot. One wonders if this centurion was one of those who had been ready to scourge or flog Paul a day or so before!
4 The discussion as to why Paul was sent to Felix
Text, Acts 23:25-35, KJV: 25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. 28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: 29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell. 31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: 33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him. 34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; 35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
--The officer in charge in Jerusalem was Claudius Lysias. He wrote this letter (some think this is a copy of the original document as seen and/or recorded by Luke) containing Lysias' version of what had taken place in Jerusalem. Like many others, Lysias shades the truth to present himself in the best light possible.
--The detachment of Roman soldiers delivered Paul to Antipatris. Looking at one of the online maps, such as the one at BibleHub.com (https://bibleatlas.org/full/antipatris.htm), Antipatris was a good ways from Jerusalem (exact distance unknown) and the soldiers would not have had an easy time while traveling, especially at night.. They would have had to go over a series of hills and valleys from Jerusalem before reaching the relatively level land near Antiaptris.
--The cavalry delivered Paul to Felix, the governor, along with the letter from Lysias. Felix then asked what province Paul was from, and Paul replied "Cilicia". This is true as he was born in Tarsus, in Cilicia, even though Paul was raised in Jerusalem (Acts 22:3).
--Felix commanded Paul to be kept in Herod's judgment hall. Opinions vary among the commentators what that actually meant but one thing was for sure: Paul was safe and secure, but hardly now at liberty.
--The chapter closes here but other things were about to happen in a very short time.
