Acts 23:1-35
Q.1. Did the Jewish Council accept that Paul had a clear conscience? How did he confound the Council? Why did the commander confine Paul to the barracks? – (Acts 23:1-10)
When Paul claimed to have fulfilled his duty to God with a clear conscience, the High Priest, the brutal Ananias, ordered an officer to strike him on the mouth. Paul reacted to this illegal treatment that he had received before he had been tried. However, he retracted his rebuke when he learned that it came at the command of the High Priest (Acts 23:1-5). Paul than played off the Pharisee and Sadducee factions in the Council against each other – 6 … “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” The resurrection is central to the Gospel – 8 … For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all (Acts 23:6 & 8). In his testimony, Paul had shared his heavenly vision, a reality the Pharisees defended (Acts 23:9 c.f. Acts 22:6-11). Once again, the commander had to save Paul from this vehement dispute between these factions. He was placed in the protection of the barracks (Acts 23:10).
Q.2. How serious was the plot to kill Paul? How was he kept from being ambushed? What gracious assurance did God give him? – (Acts 23:11-22)
Nothing but murder would satisfy these devout custodians of the Law … what irony. More than forty – … Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul (Acts 23:12). They approached the Jewish Council, in order to entice the commander to take Paul for further questioning, so that they could ambush and slay him (Acts 23:14-15). However, the plot became known to the son of Paul’s sister. He warned the commander privately. This enabled the commander to take evasive action on behalf of Paul (Acts 23:16-22). However, Paul was being protected by Almighty God. He was reassured that he would fulfill God’s purposes, for – … the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” (Acts 23:11). Many believers had tried to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem, so this word from the Lord would have done much to encourage him.
Q.3. Where was Paul taken for his safety, and how? What explanation did the commander give to the governor? What follow-up did Felix plan for Paul? – (Acts 23:23-35)
Elisha reminded his fearful servant when they seemed to be surrounded by the enemy – Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them (2 Kgs.6:16). The enemies who pledged to kill Paul numbered more than forty, but under God, the commander – 23 … called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.” 24 They were also to provide mounts for Paul to ride on, and to bring him safely to Felix the governor (Acts 23:23-24). People can only do what God allows. The commander also provided a letter of explanation to Felix, the governor of Caesarea. He informed Felix that Paul was a Roman, and – and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment (Acts 23:29). Felix, after meeting Paul, told him – … “I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium (Acts 23:35). Though Paul was a prisoner, he was being treated well.