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Acts 23

The Lord assures Paul of testimony in Rome, while a nephew’s warning and Roman protection preserve him through a murder plot.

Paul stands before the council in Jerusalem, where the high priest orders him struck and his appeal to the resurrection divides the assembly. Roman soldiers remove him from the violence. That night, the Lord tells Paul he must testify in Rome. More than forty men then plot his murder, but Paul’s nephew uncovers their plan. The Roman commander sends Paul under heavy guard to Caesarea, where Governor Felix holds him pending a hearing.

fear for the futureinjustice and angersermon or Bible study notes
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1Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”
2The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
3Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?”
5Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
7When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.
8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.
9A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ part stood up, and contended, saying, “We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or angel has spoken to him, let’s not fight against God!”
10When a great argument arose, the commanding officer, fearing that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks.
11The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”
12When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.
14They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
15Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
16But Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul.
17Paul summoned one of the centurions and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”
18So he took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
19The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
20He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him.
21Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”
23He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night.”
24He asked them to provide mounts, that they might set Paul on one, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
26“Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
27“This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
29I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but not to be charged with anything worthy of death or of imprisonment.
30When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against him before you. Farewell.”
31So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the barracks.
33When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
34When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,
35“I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive.” He commanded that he be kept in Herod’s palace.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Acts 23:11The Lord’s presence and promise establish Paul’s destination before the murder plot puts his life at risk.
Acts 23:6Paul names resurrection hope as the issue at stake, exposing a division within the council judging him.
Acts 23:12The conspirators’ vow turns opposition into a planned killing, setting the stakes for the warning that follows.
Where this chapter reaches

Paul’s response to the rebuke about the high priest quotes the command in Exodus against speaking evil of a ruler of the people. The dispute over resurrection shares a doctrinal divide with Matthew and Luke, while resurrection hope also stands at the center of Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians.

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After reading the whole chapter

How does the Lord’s promise about Rome shape your reading of the danger that follows?

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What do you notice about Paul’s use of human help after receiving the Lord’s assurance?

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Questions people ask about Acts 23

Why does Paul call himself a Pharisee in Acts 23?

Paul identifies himself with the Pharisees’ belief in resurrection when he sees that the council contains both Pharisees and Sadducees. Verse 8 explains their disagreement about resurrection, angels, and spirits. His statement divides the council and brings some Pharisaic scribes to his defense, though the dispute becomes violent.

Why didn’t Paul recognize the high priest Ananias?

The text does not explain why Paul says he did not know Ananias was the high priest. It records the order to strike Paul, Paul’s sharp response, and the bystanders’ rebuke. Paul then cites the command against speaking evil of a ruler. Explanations involving eyesight or sarcasm remain uncertain.

How was the plot to kill Paul stopped in Acts 23?

Paul’s nephew hears about the ambush and reports it to Paul, who arranges for him to tell the Roman commander. The commander keeps the report secret and orders a large armed escort to take Paul away by night. Paul reaches Caesarea and remains in custody awaiting his accusers.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).