Study Desk

¹Paul looked intently at the Sanhedrin and said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience^(a) until this day."

But the high priest Ananias ordered those who were standing next to him to strike him on the mouth.^(b)

Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?"^(c)

And those standing nearby said, "Do you dare revile God's high priest?"

"I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest," replied Paul. "For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people. "^(d)[a]

When Paul realized that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part were Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees!^(e) I am being judged because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead!"^(f)

When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection,^(g) and no angel or spirit, but the Pharisees affirm them all.

The shouting grew loud, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees'^(h) party got up and argued vehemently: "We find nothing evil in this man.⁽ⁱ⁾ What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"^[b](j)

When the dispute became violent, the commander feared that Paul might be torn apart by them and ordered the troops to go down, rescue him from them, and bring him into the barracks.^(k)

The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." ^(l)

When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse: neither to eat nor to drink until they had killed Paul.^(m)

There were more than 40 who had formed this plot.

These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won't eat anything until we have killed Paul.

So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you^[c] as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. However, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him."⁽ⁿ⁾

But the son of Paul's sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul.

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him."

So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, "The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you."

Then the commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, "What is it you have to report to me?"

"The Jews," he said, "have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him.

Don't let them persuade you, because there are more than 40 of them arranging to ambush him, men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they kill him. Now they are ready, waiting for a commitment from you."^(o)

So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, "Don't tell anyone that you have informed me about this."

He summoned two of his centurions and said, "Get 200 soldiers ready with 70 cavalry and 200 spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.^[d](p)

Also provide mounts so they can put Paul on them and bring him safely to Felix the governor."

He wrote a letter of this kind:

Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.^(q)

When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen.^(r)

Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin.

I found out that the accusations were about disputed matters in their law,^(s) and that there was no charge that merited death or chains.^(t)

When I was informed that there was a plot against the man,^[e](u) I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers^(v) to state their case against him in your presence.^[f]

Therefore, the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered.

The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him.

When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.^(w)

After he^[g] read it, he asked what province he was from. So when he learned he was from Cilicia,^(x)

he said, "I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers get here too." And he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's palace.^(y)

After five days Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer^[a] named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor.^(a)

When he was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said: "Since we enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation by your foresight,

we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent^(b) Felix, with utmost gratitude.

However, so that I will not burden you any further, I beg you in your graciousness to give us a brief hearing.

For we have found this man to be a plague,^(c) an agitator^(d) among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes!

He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we apprehended him [and wanted to judge him according to our law.

But Lysias the commander came and took him from our hands with great force,

commanding his accusers to come to you.]^[b] By examining him yourself you will be able to discern all these things we are accusing him of."

The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were so.

When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: "Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me.^(e)

You are able to determine that it is no more than 12 days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.^(f)

They didn't find me disputing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple complex or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city.^(g)

Neither can they provide evidence to you of what they now bring against me.

But I confess this to you: I worship my fathers' God according to the Way,^(h) which they call a sect, believing all the things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets.⁽ⁱ⁾

And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection,^[c](j) both of the righteous and the unrighteous.^(k)

I always do my best to have a clear conscience^(l) toward God and men.

After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my nation,^(m)

and while I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar.⁽ⁿ⁾

It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me.

Either let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin,

or about this one statement I cried out while standing among them, ‘Today I am being judged before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.'"

Since Felix was accurately informed about the Way,^(o) he adjourned the hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case."

He ordered that the centurion keep Paul^[d] under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from serving^[e] him.^(p)

After some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus.

Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,^(q) Felix became afraid and replied, "Leave for now, but when I find time I'll call for you."

At the same time he was also hoping that money would be given to him by Paul.^[f] For this reason he sent for him quite often and conversed with him.

After two years had passed, Felix received a successor, Porcius Festus,^(r) and because he wished to do a favor for the Jews,^(s) Felix left Paul in prison.^(t)