Acts 23:12-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:11-24

The powers that act on us from without. Manifold are the powers which are acting upon our spirit and deciding our course and destiny. Some of these are suggested by this narrative. I. THE MALEVOLENT HUMAN . ( Acts 23:12-15 .) In this case human malevolence took a very violent and malignant form: it sought to compass Paul's death by a dark and shameless stratagem. More often it seeks to do us injury for which we shall suffer, but from which we may recover. The very worst form... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:12

The Jews for certain of the Jews, A.V. and T.R. Banded together ( ποιήσαντες συστροφὴν ). This word συστροφή is found in the New Testament only here and Acts 19:40 , where it is rendered "concourse." The sense of "a conspiracy," which it has here, is common in the LXX . (see Amos 7:10 ; 2 Kings 15:15 , etc.). The verb συστρέφειν in the LXX . has the sense of "to conspire" ( 2 Samuel 15:31 ; 2 Kings 10:9 ; 2 Kings 15:30 , συνέστρεψε σύστρεμμα ) . Bound... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:12-35

Special providence. It is difficult to define exactly what we mean by a special providence. Not one sparrow falls to the ground without our heavenly Father, who works all things after the counsel of his own will, and makes all things "work together for good to them that love him, to them who are the called according to his purpose" ( Romans 8:28 ). And yet there are times and occasions when the overruling and controlling hand of God is seen more clearly and more markedly than usual,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:12-35

Paul at Caesarea. I. " THE LORD IS MINDFUL OF HIS OWN ." Recall the beautiful song in Mendelssohn's 'St. Paul.' 1. The craft of their foes. They conspire against the righteous with a zeal worthy of a better cause ( Acts 23:12 , Acts 23:13 ); and cloak their designs under pious pretexts ( Acts 23:14 , Acts 23:15 ). 2. The Divine protection. He brings the counsels of wickedness to light ( Acts 23:16 ). The young man, whoever he was, Christian Or otherwise,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:12-35

Conspiracy defeated. The " must " of the Lord's midnight message interpreted by events. Divine providence working. The Christian stands still and sees the salvation. The Word of God is instead of human calculations and predictions. How different from fatalism in such a case as Livingstone in the dangers of his African mission reminds us that there is a feeling of confidence in our weakness which is like a vision in the night. Notice— I. THE GUILT OF FANATICISM . The forty... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:13

Made for had made, A.V. Conspiracy ; συνωμοσία , in Latin conjuratio. It only occurs here in the New Testament, but is used occasionally by Diodorus Siculus and other Greek writers. The kindred word συνωμότης is found in the LXX . of Genesis 14:13 , rendered "confederate," A.V. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:14

The elders for elders, A.V.; to taste for that we will eat, A.V.; killed for slain, A.V. The chief priests , etc. Meaning, no doubt, those who were of the party of the Sadducees, to which the chief priests mainly belonged at this time. A great curse . There is nothing in the phraseology of this verse, as compared with that of Acts 23:12 , to warrant the introduction of the word "great." It is simply, "We have anathematized ourselves with an anathema." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 23:15

Do ye for ye, A.V.; the R.T. omits tomorrow, in the A.V.; judge of his case more exactly for inquire something more perfectly concerning him, A.V.; slay for kill, A.V. With the council . Either the temporary feeling of the Pharisees had subsided, and their old hatred come to the front again, or the high priest and Sadducees, by some plausible excuse, persuaded the Pharisees of the council to join with them in asking that Paul might be brought before them again. Signify . The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 23:12

Certain of the Jews - Some of the Jews. They were more than forty in number, Acts 23:13.Banded together - Made an agreement or compact. They conspired to kill him.And bound themselves under a curse - See the margin. The Greek is, “they anathematized themselves”; that is, they bound themselves by a solemn oath. They invoked a curse on themselves, or devoted themselves to destruction, if they did not do it. Lightfoot remarks, however, that they could be absolved from this vow by the rabbis if... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 23:13

Which had made this conspiracy - This oath συνωμοσίαν sunōmosian, this agreement, or compact. This large number of desperate men, bound by so solemn an oath, would be likely to be successful, and the life of Paul was therefore in special danger. The manner in which they purposed to accomplish their design is stated in Acts 23:15. read more

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