Acts 23:3-5

23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! ¹  Do ²  you sit there judging me according to the law, ³  and in violation of the law ⁴  you order me to be struck?” 23:4 Those standing near him ⁵  said, “Do you dare insult ⁶  God’s high priest?” 23:5 Paul replied, ⁷  “I did not realize, ⁸  brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’” ⁹ 

[23:3]  ¹ sn You whitewashed wall. This was an idiom for hypocrisy – just as the wall was painted on the outside but something different on the inside, so this person was not what he appeared or pretended to be (L&N 88.234; see also BDAG 1010 s.v. τοῖχος). Paul was claiming that the man’s response was two-faced (Ezek 13:10-16; Matt 23:27-28). See also Deut 28:22.

[23:3]  ² tn Grk “And do.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

[23:3]  ³ tn The law refers to the law of Moses.

[23:3]  ⁴ tn BDAG 769 s.v. παρανομέω has “παρανομῶν κελεύεις in violation of the law you order Ac 23:3.”

[23:4]  ⁵ tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

[23:4]  ⁶ tn L&N 33.393 has for λοιδορέω (loidorew) “to speak in a highly insulting manner – ‘to slander, to insult strongly, slander, insult.’”

[23:5]  ⁷ tn Grk “said.”

[23:5]  ⁸ tn Or “know.”

[23:5]  ⁹ sn A quotation from Exod 22:28. This text defines a form of blasphemy. Paul, aware of the fact that he came close to crossing the line, backed off out of respect for the law.