JESUS IS LORD FELLOWSHIP ONLINE BIBLE STUDIES WITH
DR. DIANA BREVAN
We are a praying Ministry, A going Ministry, a Growing Ministry; we are a praying, Going, growing ,we are a Ministry that will bring you the results.
“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV).
Senior Pastor, Dr. Diana Brevan,
Jesus Is Lord Fellowship WWI
USA Headquarters
PO Box 2752
Inverness Florida 34451
352-637-3046
would you like to study this amazing Bible Studies and receive a certificate at the end of each year. contact Dr.DIana Brevan to get you started.
headquartersjilfwwi@yahoo.com
Acts Chapter 22 Continued
Verses 21-22
The Jews listen with some restraint to Paul’s account of God’s dealing in his life.
But when Paul speaks one word, “Gentiles” These Jews break into a frenzy.
They cannot believe that God would “send” him to the Gentiles.
Compare the similar reaction of the Jews in Rome (28:25-29).
They viewed the teaching that Gentiles could be saved without first becoming Jewish proselytes (thus granting them equal status with the Jewish people before God), as intolerable blasphemy.
Acts 22:21 “And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
Now Paul has said an unforgivable thing to these Jews.
He has classed the Gentiles with the Jews in importance to God, and they will not ever believe that is from God.
Acts 22:22 “And they gave him audience unto this word, and [then] lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a [fellow] from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.”
The fact that the Gentiles would be allowed to be part of the family of God, was something they would never accept.
Their pride in being God’s chosen family would not allow them to believe God would have anyone else.
They wanted to do away with Paul for even suggesting such a thing.
Acts 22:23 “And as they cried out, and cast off [their] clothes, and threw dust into the air,”
“Cast off their clothes”:
They did this in preparation to stone Paul, in horror at his “blasphemy” (see note on 14:14), or in uncontrollable rage, or most likely, for all 3 reasons.
With their passions inflamed by racial pride, the members of the crowd lost any semblance of self-control.
“Threw dust”:
A sign of intense emotion (2 Sam. 16:13; Job 2:12; Rev. 18:19).
This casting off their clothes showed their wild fury against Paul.
The throwing dust in the air was their way of saying that their great anger was of God.
Acts 22:24 “The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.”
“The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle”: Lysias realized he would have to interrogate Paul privately.
He ordered his soldiers to bring the prisoner into Fort Antonia, away from the angry mob. “That he should be examined by scourging”:
A brutal Roman interrogation method.
Prisoners frequently died after being flogged with the Roman flagellum (metal tipped leather trong attached to a wooden handle).
The captain saw that there was no chance of a fair trial with this mob, so he brings Paul on into the castle.
Acts 22:25 “And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?”
“Bound him with thongs”:
This was done in preparation for his examination by scourging.
Stretching Paul taut would magnify the effects of the flagellum on his body. “Centurion”:
See notes on 10:1; Matt. 8:5.
There would have been 10 centurions in the 1000-man Roman garrison in Jerusalem. “That is a Roman”:
Roman citizens were exempted (by both the Valerian and Porcian laws), from such brutal methods of interrogation.
Paul now exerted his rights as a Roman citizen.
His claim would not have been questioned, because the penalty for falsely claiming Roman citizenship was death.
They possibly had already bound him to beat him, when Paul told them he was a Roman citizen. Many times, this type of scourging caused people to die.
Paul of course, would try anything to keep from being beaten so severely. He did not lie; he was a Roman citizen.
It was against the law to scourge a Roman citizen without a trial and conviction. Paul was wise to inform them that he was a Roman.
Acts 22:26 “When the centurion heard [that], he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.”
“Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman”:
The centurion informed his commander of Paul’s citizenship, cautioning him against an act that could have ended Lysias’ military career, or even cost him his life.
This was the proper thing for this centurion to do.
The captain certainly would not want to cause a problem with his superiors for scourging a Roman citizen without a trial.
He probably enjoys being captain and does not want to endanger his job.
Acts 22:27 “Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.”
Yes, he is a Roman.
Yes, he is a Jew.
Yes, he is a Pharisee.
Yes, he is a Christian.
Paul, in his own words, says that he was all things to all people that by all means he might therefore save some.
To this captain who had great respect for Roman citizens, he was a Roman citizen.
Acts 22:28 “And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was [free] born.”
“With a great sum”:
Roman citizenship was officially not for sale, but could sometimes be obtained by bribing corrupt officials.
You see, this captain wanted Roman citizenship so much that he raised a large sum of money to purchase his citizenship with.
You can imagine his amazement when Paul tells him that he was a Roman by birth.
The marvelous thing is that until God is through with Paul on this earth, no one can destroy him. If he needed to be a Roman, God had made him to be one from birth.
It was through Paul’s father; he was a Roman.
Acts 22:29 “Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.”
A Roman citizen was greatly feared, as well as being respected in Jerusalem in these days, because Rome was very powerful at the time.
To anger Rome, could cost this captain his station in life of chief captain and perhaps, even his head as well.
This so called prisoner, Paul, really had the chief captain afraid that he had already over-stepped the limits.
The eloquence of Paul as a speaker when he brought his own defense verified to this captain that he was no ordinary man.
A man of that day that could speak two languages and had been taught in the school by Gamaliel certainly was no ordinary citizen.
Paul also had been an officer when he led his men in capturing the Christians.
We see that, not the prisoner here is afraid, but his captor.
It seems this chief captain had no idea what to do with him, so they (the examiners), left and there was nothing more to do, but to take these chains off his hands and legs.
Verses 22:30 – 23:10
Paul’s second of 6 defenses. (see Verses 1-21; 24:10-21; 25:1-12; 26:1-29; 28:17-29).
Acts 22:30 “On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from [his] bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.”
“Chief priests and all their council”:
He convened an unofficial meeting of the Sanhedrin (see notes on 4:15, 23).
The mob has been disbanded, and the beating of Paul was stopped, and even the chains have been removed.
This chief captain sends for the rulers of the temple to come and tell him exactly what charges they have against Paul.
This chief captain wants to quickly get this out of his hands.
The scene is set. Paul is before them to be questioned.
Let us go back now and review what these charges are, before we get into chapter 23.
The only charges they have brought against him is that they say he has taught both Jew and Gentile that they are not to keep the law of Moses anymore, and that circumcision of the men is no longer to be done.
Paul has been teaching that Christianity does not require these outward shows of faith.
Perhaps, one confusing thing to them, and to us, is if Paul teaches this, why is he observing feasts, circumcising Peter, taking a Nazarite vow, and sacrificing in the temple?
The only explanation is that he is doing these outward things to satisfy the Jews, so they will allow him to teach in the temple and in the synagogues.
Acts Chapter 22 Continued Questions
1.Who spoke in defense of Paul?
2.What did he expound on?
3.When had Paul stopped persecuting the Christians?
4.Why did these Jews not like Paul’s message?
5.What did they cry out after his speech?
6.What one word describes these Jews’ problem?
7.In verse 23, what things did they do to show their displeasure?
8.Where did the chief captain command Paul to be brought?
9.What did he tell the men to do with Paul?
10.How did they bind Paul?
11.What did Paul say to the centurion?
12.When the centurion heard this, what did he do?
13.What did the captain ask Paul?
14.What was the difference in Paul’s citizenship?
15.How was Paul a Roman?
16.What did the examiners do, when they found out that Paul was a Roman?
17.Why was the chief captain afraid?
18.What were some of the things that should have told the captain that Paul was no ordinary citizen?
19.Why did the captain call the high priest and counsel to come and talk to Paul?
20.What had the captain done to show more respect for Paul than at the beginning?
21.Really, what were the charges against Paul?
22.What was probably confusing to them, as well as to us, about Paul?
23.Why do you suppose Paul still sacrificed?
JESUS IS LORD FELLOWSHIP ONLINE BIBLE STUDIES WITH
DR. DIANA BREVAN
We are a praying Ministry, A going Ministry, a Growing Ministry; we are a praying, Going, growing ,we are a Ministry that will bring you the results.
“Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV).
Senior Pastor, Dr. Diana Brevan,
Jesus Is Lord Fellowship WWI
USA Headquarters
PO Box 2752
Inverness Florida 34451
352-637-3046
would you like to study this amazing Bible Studies and receive a certificate at the end of each year. contact Dr.DIana Brevan to get you started.
headquartersjilfwwi@yahoo.com
Acts Chapter 23
Acts 23:1 “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men [and] brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
“The council”:
The Sanhedrin (see notes on 4:15; Matt. 26:59).
The word “earnestly” here indicates, to me, that Paul wants them to believe. He really does love them, and he wants them to know the truth.
This men and brethren here indicates to me, that Paul is saying, I am one of you.
Paul says I have nothing to apologize for, I have lived the life that God has called me to, even until this day.
Acts 23:2 “And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.”
“High priest Ananias”:
Not the Annas of the gospels (see note on Luke 3:2), this man was one of Israel’s cruelest and most corrupt High-Priest (see note on 4:6).
His pro-Roman policies alienated him from the Jewish people, who murdered him at the outset of the revolt against Rome (A.D. 66).
“Commanded … to smite him”:
An illegal act in keeping with Ananias’ brutal character.
The verb translated “strike” is used of the mob’s beating of Paul (21:32), and the Roman soldiers’ beating of Jesus (Matt. 27:30).
It was no mere slap on the face, but a vicious blow.
This was not the Ananias that Paul had spoken of earlier who had become a Christian.
History (not the Bible), tells us this was a cruel man, a glutton.
Even though he was an evil man, he was high priest in the temple about ten years.
We see his cruelty and lack of respect for Paul when he has one of the men with him slap Paul in the mouth.
Acts 23:3 “Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, [thou] whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?”
“Whited wall”:
Ezek. 13:10-16; Matt. 23:27.
“Contrary to the law”:
Outrages by the High-Priest’s flagrant violation of Jewish law, He reacted by calmly asking the reason for the blow (John 18:23).
Paul’s reaction was wrong, as he would shortly admit (verse 5).
Although an evil man, Ananias still held a God-ordained office, and was to be granted the respect that position demanded.
Paul called him whited wall, because on the outside he had on the garment of the high priest, but underneath he was everything rotten.
I believe Paul recognized the high priest garment, but Paul knew that it was not God who had chosen him to be high priest.
The priest had no right to slap someone on the face.
Paul’s righteous indignation flared up here.
This wicked high priest was killed brutally a few years later.
Thrust through by a dagger.
Acts 23:4 “And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?”
“Revilest”:
Those standing near Paul were appalled by his harsh rebuke of the High-Priest.
“Revile” is the same word used (in John 9:28), to describe the Jewish leaders’ insulting remarks to the blind man whom Jesus had healed.
Peter used it to speak of the abuse Jesus endured (1 Pet. 2:23).
Acts 23:5 “Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.”
“I wist not”:
Some believe this to be another manifestation of Paul’s eye problems (Gal. 4:15); or that Paul was so angry that he forgot to whom he was speaking; or that he was being sarcastic, since Ananias was not acting like a High-Priest should.
The simplest explanation is to take Paul’s words at face value.
He had been gone from Jerusalem for many years and would not likely have recognized Ananias by sight.
That this was an informal gathering of the Sanhedrin (see note on 22:30), would have meant the High-Priest would not have been wearing his official garments.
“It is written”:
Quote from Exodus 22:28.
This again, shows that Paul knows in his heart that this is not a high priest of God’s choice, but one self-appointed.
Acts 23:6 “But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men [and] brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.”
Ananias’ haughty attitude and illegal act convinced Paul he would not receive a fair hearing before the Sanhedrin.
Accordingly, he decided on a bold step.
As a Pharisee, and possibly a former member of the Sanhedrin (see note on 26:10), Paul was well aware of the tensions between the Sanhedrin’s two factions.
He appealed to the Pharisees for support, reminding them that he himself was a Pharisee, and appealing to the major theological difference between them and the Sadducees (see the note on verse 7).
Paul thus created a split between the Sanhedrin’s factions.
“Sadducees … Pharisees”:
The Sadducees accepted only the Pentateuch as divinely inspired Scripture.
Since they claimed (wrongly, Matt. 22:23-33), that the Pentateuch did not teach that there would be a resurrection, they rejected it.
The Pharisees however, believed in the resurrection and afterlife.
Their beliefs were thus closer to Christianity than those of the Sadducees.
Significantly, the Scripture records the conversion of Pharisees (15:5; John 3:1), but not of Sadducees.
After the captain learns that he will not be allowed to beat the truth out of “Paul” since he is a Roman citizen, he determines to discover the truth by bringing Paul before the Jewish High “council,” the Sanhedrin.
As Paul communicates with the council, he discerns a very strong and hostile religious division.
On faction, the “Sadducees,” were a small, elite group composed of the priestly family.
The Sadducees were known for what they denied.
They rejected all aspects of the supernatural: miracles, angels, and the “resurrection.”
They rejected all of the Old Testament Scriptures except the Pentateuch, which were the five books of Moses.
Politically, they were liberal in order to win the favor of Rome.
They were therefore, able to control the office of the high priest, which was appointed by Rome.
By contrast, the “Pharisees were associated more with the common people and so exerted a stronger influence over them.
They accepted all the Old Testament Scriptures but also much tradition, which they regarded as the Oral Law handed down from the time of Moses.
They did accept the supernatural: miracles and the resurrection.
Paul’s family had for several generations been Pharisees; so Paul now identifies himself with them and appeals for support for his belief in the Resurrection.
Paul was able to direct the hostility of the Jewish council from himself toward its own members.
Here we see again, that the Holy Spirit of God has told Paul exactly what to say to get these two groups off of him, and fighting each other, over whether there is life after death or not.
Again, he has not lied.
He is a Pharisee.
Acts 23:7 “And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.”
Divide and conquer.
This is what Paul has done with just a few words here.
These Pharisees and Sadducees had been arguing for hundreds of years about life after death.
Acts 23:8 “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.”
These people, who were supposed to be the learned people in the law, really knew very little about God.
The Sadducees did not even believe in the Spirit.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees had missed the whole meaning of the Bible.
The entire Bible, Old and New Testament, is focused on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. And yet they did not believe Jesus of Nazareth to be the Christ (Messiah).
You see, they had not even understood the portion of the Bible that they had studied.
The point of (verse 8) is, that Paul got them stirred up and arguing among themselves to get their attention off him.
Acts 23:9 “And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees’ part
arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”
“Scribes that were of the Pharisees”:
So intense was their theological disagreement with the Sadducees that they were willing to defend Paul, even though he was a leader of the hated sect of the Christians (24:5).
These scribes have realized that Paul is not doing all of this himself, but in fact, has the power of God on his side.
They bring up a very interesting question.
What if Paul is telling the truth?
If he is and they come against Paul, they would be fighting against God himself. It is nice to know that there was someone who believed Paul.
Acts 23:10 “And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring [him] into the castle.”
It seemed there was such a battle going on between the Sadducees, Pharisees, and scribes about Paul, that they were pulling him first one way and then the other.
The captain was remembering the fact that Paul was a Roman citizen and he wanted no harm to come to Paul.
He sends soldiers into this group and takes Paul by force out of their midst.
They carried Paul back into the castle to protect him.
Acts 23:11 “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”
“The Lord stood by him”:
The fifth of 6 visions Paul received in Acts 9:3-6; 16:9-10; 18:9-10; 22:17-18; 27:23-24), all coming at crucial points in his ministry.
“So must thou bear witness also at Rome”:
Jesus encouraged Paul by telling him that his desire (Rom. 1:9-11; 15:23) to visit Rome would be granted.
We see here, that the Lord does not send an angel, but appears Himself to Paul. The Lord will never leave us or forsake us.
He is our very present help in trouble.
Paul really needed encouragement here.
It really looked like they were going to kill Paul.
We see from the statement the Lord makes about Rome, that no harm will come to Paul here. He will live to testify another day.
The Lord will not allow anything to happen to Paul.
The Lord has a mission for him in Rome.
Verses 12-15
Over 40 men vow to kill “Paul” and then explain their scheme to the “priests.”
These would-be murderers, in presenting this illegal plot to the priests, must have regarded them as corrupt and blinded by hatred.
This band of men may have included those called the Sicarii (dagger-men) who roamed Judea assassinating their enemies with short daggers.
The Roman “captain” had earlier suspected Paul of being one of these murderers (Greek sikarion, Acts 21:38).
Acts 23:12 “And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.”
“Bound themselves under a curse”:
Literally they “anathematized” themselves (Gal. 1:8-9), thus invoking divine judgment if they failed (1 Sam. 14:44; 2 Sam. 3:35; 19:13; 1 Kings 2:23; 2 Kings 6:31).
What a terrible thing to do.
Paul would not die, until the Lord was ready to take him home.
This curse would surely come to pass, because they will not be able to kill Paul. This just means they will surely starve to death.
If this vow was made to God, this was a serious vow.
Acts 23:13-14 “And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.” “And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.”
“Chief priests and elders”:
See notes (on 4:23; Matt. 16:21).
Being Sadducees, they would be more inclined to help the conspirators.
Significantly excluded are the scribes who, being mostly Pharisees had already shown their willingness to defend Paul (verse 9).
Taking vows of any kind was taught against by Jesus in Matthew in His Sermon on the Mount. To take a vow to kill someone would be doubly wrong.
Thirdly, to tell the chief priests and elders was to include them in the sin.
Acts 23:15 “Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.”
We see here, now they are trying to include the priests in lying to the chief captain.
These forty and the priests would all be guilty of murder.
The whole idea is to lie to the captain, and trick him into bringing Paul close enough, so one of these forty men under the oath can kill him.
Acts 23:16 “And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.”
“Paul’s sister’s son”:
The only clear reference in Scripture to Paul’s family (for other possible references, see Romans 16:7, 11, 21).
Why he was in Jerusalem, away from the family home in Tarsus is not known.
Nor is it evident why he would want to warn his uncle, since Paul’s family possibly disinherited him when he became a Christian (Phil. 3:8).
This nephew of Paul’s overheard their plot, and somehow got into the castle, and warns Paul of their plan.
Acts 23:17 “Then Paul called one of the centurions unto [him], and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.”
“Centurions”:
See note on 22:25.
Acts 23:18 “So he took him, and brought [him] to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto [him], and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.”
Paul had the centurion and the chief captain afraid for anything to happen to him. They were eager to figure a way out of this problem with Paul.
The centurion was afraid not to carry the message.
Acts 23:19 “Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went [with him] aside privately, and asked [him], What is that thou hast to tell me?”
This is very unusual for a captain to be talking to a prisoner at all.
It is even more unusual, for him to receive this young man sent by the prisoner to him. This just shows that he is really afraid of Paul, because he is a Roman citizen.
The captain does not want to show weakness around his men, so he calls this young man aside to speak to him.
Acts 23:20-21 “And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.” “But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.”
You can see that even though these forty evil men have made this death oath, they really are in the wrong.
God has intervened and caused this young man to be just at the right place at the right time to save Paul.
This captain is eager to help Paul, but he has to live here with these other people, so he will have to be very clever in how he handles this.
He cannot let them know that he knows about their scheme.
Acts Chapter 23 Questions
1.Paul has lived how, up until this day in verse 1?
2.What was the name of the high priest present?
3.What did he tell those near Paul to do to him?
4.History tells us two things about this high priest, what were they?
5.What did Paul call this priest?
6.Paul said he judged him after the law, and hit him contrary to ___ ___.
7.What did it mean, when he called the priest a whited wall?
8.How does history tell us this priest died?
9.In verse 4, those standing around spoke out against Paul for what?
10.In verse 5, what does Paul say is written pertaining to this?
11.What kind of a high priest does this show that Paul believes he is?
12.When Paul saw they were divided into Sadducees and Pharisees, what did he tell them he was?
13.What did Paul tell them he was called in question about?
14.What did this cause among the multitude?
15.Which says there is no resurrection, Pharisees or Sadducees?
16.What other two things do they not believe in?
17.Who said they found no evil in this man?
18.They also said, if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against ___.
19.Why did the chief captain have soldiers to go down and get Paul away from the mob?
20.Where was Paul taken?
21.Who stood by Paul, and said be of good cheer?
22.Where would Paul live to testify?
23.Who banded together in a curse not to eat until they had killed Paul?
24.How many of them had taken the vow?
25.Who did they come and tell of their vow?
26.What kind of conspiracy had they schemed up to get Paul close enough to them that they might kill him?
27.Who overheard their evil plot?
28.Who does he warn of the plan?
29.What did Paul tell him to do?
30.What did the chief captain do, when the young man came to him?
31.Who has intervened and helped Paul?