Acts 23:1 - Exposition

Looking steadfastly on for earnestly beholding, A.V.; brethren for men and brethren, A.V. ; I have lived before God, etc., for I have lived, etc., before God, A.V. Looking steadfastly ; ἀτενίσας , as in Acts 1:10 ; Acts 3:4 , Acts 3:12 ; Acts 6:15 ; Acts 7:55 ; Acts 10:4 ; Acts 11:6 ; Acts 13:9 ; Acts 14:9 . It governs a dative here, as in Acts 3:12 ; Acts 10:1 ; Acts 14:9 ; Luke 4:20 ; Luke 22:56 ; elsewhere it is followed by εἰς . Brethren . He emits here the "fathers" which he added in Acts 22:1 . If there is any special significance in the omission, it may be that he meant now to assume a less apologetic tone, and to speak as an equal to equals. Howson and Lewin think that he spoke as being, or having been, himself a member of the Sanhedrim. But he may have meant merely a friendly address to his countrymen. I have lived , etc. πεπολέτευμαι τῷ θεῷ ); comp. Philippians 3:20 ; I have had my conversation ( vitam degi ) unto God, or, for God, i.e. according to the will of God, with a view to God as the end of all my actions. So Josephus ('De Maccabeis,' sect. 4) says that Antiochus Epiphanes made a law that all Jews should be put to death οἵτινες φάνριεν τῷ πατοίω νόμω πολιτευόμενοι "who were seen to live according to the Law of their fathers." And so in 2 Macc. 6:1 it is said that he sent to compel the Jews to forsake the Law of their fathers— καὶ τοῖ τοῦ θεοῦ νόμοις μὴ πολιτεύεσθαι —and not live agreeably to the laws of God. And once more, in 3 Macc. 3:3, 4 the Jews are said to fear God and to be τῷ τούτου νόμῳ πολιτευόμενοι , living according to his Law. Here, then, πολιτεύεσθι τῷ θεῷ means to live in obedience to God. St. Paul boldly asserts his undeviating compliance with the Law of God, as a good and consistent Jew ( Philippians 3:6 ).