Acts 23:12-22

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 23:12-35

We have here the story of a plot against the life of Paul; how it was laid, how it was discovered, and how it was defeated. I. How this plot was laid. They found they could gain nothing by popular tumult, or legal process, and therefore have a recourse to the barbarous method of assassination; they will come upon him suddenly, and stab him, if they can but get him within their reach. So restless is their malice against this good man that, when one design fails, they will turn another stone.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 23:11-24

23:11-24 On the next night the Lord stood by Paul and said, "Courage! As you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness in Rome also." When it was day the Jews formed a plot and laid themselves selves under a vow neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who formed this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have laid ourselves under a vow to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Now, therefore, do you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 23:12

And when it was day ,.... As soon as it was light, very early in the morning: certain of the Jews banded together ; these very likely were of the sect of the Sadducees, who had been exceedingly irritated and provoked by what Paul had said the day before in the council; these therefore gathered together, entered into a conspiracy to take away Paul's life, and trailed in it, as one man: and bound themselves under a curse ; or "anathematized themselves"; the Hebrew word חרם , which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 23:13

And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. Who met together, formed this resolution, entered into this scheme, and bound themselves with this oath; the word rendered "conspiracy", signifies an agreement by oath; such a number of them banded together, that they might have strength sufficient to take Paul out of the hands of the soldiers, as he was conducted by them from the castle to the temple. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 23:14

And they came to the chief priests, and elders ,.... Who were members of the sanhedrim, to acquaint them with their designs: and said, we have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul : these chief priests and elders, had they acted according to the character they bore, on such an information, would have taken up those men, and punished them, at least would have dissuaded them from so vile an action; but they knew the men to whom they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 23:15

Now therefore ye with the council ,.... The whole sanhedrim; their sense is, that they would have the sanhedrim convened by the chief priests and elders, and being met together, then to signify to the chief captain ; or let him know that they were assembled together, upon the affair of Paul, and that they here desirous he might be brought before them: that he bring him down unto you tomorrow ; from the castle of Antonia to the place where the sanhedrim met; the word "tomorrow" is not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 23:16

And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait ,.... Paul might have a sister living in Jerusalem; or this her son might be there on account of his studies; he might be a pupil to one of the doctors, by which means he might come at this secret, that such a number of men were in ambush, in order to take away his uncle's life: wherefore having got intelligence of it, he went and entered into the castle ; the Alexandrian copy reads, "the synagogue"; but Paul was not there, but in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 23:17

Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him ,.... For under this chief captain there must have been ten of them, if the company of which he was captain consisted of a thousand men, as his title chief captain or chiliarch imports; for a centurion was over an hundred men, as his title signifies; perhaps this might be the same, as in Acts 22:25 and said, bring this young man to the chief captain : which was a very prudential step, not to let the centurion into the secret, but to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 23:18

So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain ,.... Immediately, without any more to do, without curiously inquiring into the thing, or examining the young man about it; which showed him to be a man of a good disposition, and ready to do a kind office, even to a prisoner: and said, Paul the prisoner called me to him ; either vocally or by some gesture, beckoned him to him: and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee ; in which may be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 23:19

Then the chief captain took him by the hand ,.... Some have thought that the reason of this was, that he expected that the young man had brought him a present in his hand, from Paul; but this is to represent him as a sordid mercenary man, which ought not to be said, without sufficient proof; rather this should be considered as an instance of civility and humanity, and what showed him to be a man of breeding and good manners; and might be done partly out of respect to Paul, and partly to... read more

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