Acts 23:1-11

23:1 Paul looked directly ¹  at the council ²  and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience ³  before God to this day.” 23:2 At that ⁴  the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near ⁵  Paul ⁶  to strike ⁷  him on the mouth. 23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! ⁸  Do ⁹  you sit there judging me according to the law, ¹⁰  and in violation of the law ¹¹  you order me to be struck?” 23:4 Those standing near him ¹²  said, “Do you dare insult ¹³  God’s high priest?” 23:5 Paul replied, ¹⁴  “I did not realize, ¹⁵  brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’” ¹⁶ 

23:6 Then when Paul noticed ¹⁷  that part of them were Sadducees ¹⁸  and the others Pharisees, ¹⁹  he shouted out in the council, ²⁰  “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection ²¹  of the dead!” 23:7 When he said this, ²²  an argument ²³  began ²⁴  between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 23:8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) ²⁵  23:9 There was a great commotion, ²⁶  and some experts in the law ²⁷  from the party of the Pharisees stood up ²⁸  and protested strongly, ²⁹  “We find nothing wrong ³⁰  with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 23:10 When the argument became ³¹  so great the commanding officer ³²  feared that they would tear Paul to pieces, ³³  he ordered the detachment ³⁴  to go down, take him away from them by force, ³⁵  and bring him into the barracks. ³⁶ 

23:11 The following night the Lord ³⁷  stood near ³⁸  Paul ³⁹  and said, “Have courage, ⁴⁰  for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, ⁴¹  so you must also testify in Rome.” ⁴² 

Acts 24:10-16

Paul’s Defense Before Felix

24:10 When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know ⁴³  that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. ⁴⁴  24:11 As you can verify ⁴⁵  for yourself, not more than twelve days ago ⁴⁶  I went up to Jerusalem ⁴⁷  to worship. 24:12 They did not find me arguing ⁴⁸  with anyone or stirring up a crowd ⁴⁹  in the temple courts ⁵⁰  or in the synagogues ⁵¹  or throughout the city, ⁵²  24:13 nor can they prove ⁵³  to you the things ⁵⁴  they are accusing me of doing. ⁵⁵  24:14 But I confess this to you, that I worship ⁵⁶  the God of our ancestors ⁵⁷  according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law ⁵⁸  and that is written in the prophets. 24:15 I have ⁵⁹  a hope in God (a hope ⁶⁰  that ⁶¹  these men ⁶²  themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁶³  24:16 This is the reason ⁶⁴  I do my best to always ⁶⁵  have a clear ⁶⁶  conscience toward God and toward people. ⁶⁷ 

Acts 25:8

25:8 Paul said in his defense, ⁶⁸  “I have committed no offense ⁶⁹  against the Jewish law ⁷⁰  or against the temple or against Caesar.” ⁷¹ 

Acts 25:10

25:10 Paul replied, ⁷²  “I am standing before Caesar’s ⁷³  judgment seat, ⁷⁴  where I should be tried. ⁷⁵  I have done nothing wrong ⁷⁶  to the Jews, as you also know very well. ⁷⁷ 

Genesis 40:15

40:15 for I really was kidnapped ⁷⁸  from the land of the Hebrews and I have done nothing wrong here for which they should put me in a dungeon.”

[23:1]  ¹ tn Grk “Paul, looking directly at the council, said.” The participle ἀτενίσας (atenisa") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:1]  ² tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[23:1]  ³ tn BDAG 846 s.v. πολιτεύομαι 3 has “W. a double dat. συνειδήσει ἀγαθῇ πεπολίτευμαι τῷ θεῷ I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God Ac 23:1.”

[23:2]  ⁴ tn Grk “and” (δέ, de); the phrase “at that” has been used in the translation to clarify the cause and effect relationship.

[23:2]  ⁵ tn BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 2.b.α has “οἱ παρεστῶτες αὐτῷ those standing near him Ac 23:2.”

[23:2]  ⁶ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[23:2]  ⁷ tn Or “hit” (‘strike’ maintains the wordplay with the following verse). The action was probably designed to indicate a rejection of Paul’s claim to a clear conscience in the previous verse.

[23:3]  ⁸ 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]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ tn The law refers to the law of Moses.

[23:3]  ¹¹ tn BDAG 769 s.v. παρανομέω has “παρανομῶν κελεύεις in violation of the law you order Ac 23:3.”

[23:4]  ¹² tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

[23:4]  ¹³ 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]  ¹⁴ tn Grk “said.”

[23:5]  ¹⁵ tn Or “know.”

[23:5]  ¹⁶ 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.

[23:6]  ¹⁷ tn BDAG 200 s.v. γινώσκω 4 has “to be aware of someth., perceive, notice, realize”; this is further clarified by section 4.c: “w. ὅτι foll….Ac 23:6.”

[23:6]  ¹⁸ sn See the note on Sadducees in 4:1.

[23:6]  ¹⁹ sn See the note on Pharisee in 5:34.

[23:6]  ²⁰ tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[23:6]  ²¹ tn That is, concerning the hope that the dead will be resurrected. Grk “concerning the hope and resurrection.” BDAG 320 s.v. ἐλπίς 1.b.α states, “Of Israel’s messianic hope Ac 23:6 (ἐ. καὶ ἀνάστασις for ἐ. τῆς ἀν. [obj. gen] as 2 Macc 3:29 ἐ. καὶ σωτηρία).” With an objective genitive construction, the resurrection of the dead would be the “object” of the hope.

[23:7]  ²² tn The participle εἰπόντος (eiponto") has been translated temporally.

[23:7]  ²³ tn Or “a dispute” (BDAG 940 s.v. στάσις 3).

[23:7]  ²⁴ tn Grk “there came about an argument.” This has been simplified to “an argument began”

[23:8]  ²⁵ tn BDAG 55 s.v. ἀμφότεροι 2 has “all, even when more than two are involved…Φαρισαῖοι ὁμολογοῦσιν τὰ ἀ. believe in them all 23:8.” On this belief see Josephus, J. W. 2.8.14 (2.163); Ant. 18.1.3 (18.14).

[23:9]  ²⁶ tn Or “clamor” (cf. BDAG 565 s.v. κραυγή 1.a, which has “there arose a loud outcry” here, and Exod 12:30).

[23:9]  ²⁷ tn Or “and some scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 4:5.

[23:9]  ²⁸ tn Grk “standing up.” The participle ἀναστάντες (anastante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:9]  ²⁹ tn Grk “protested strongly, saying.” L&N 39.27 has “διαμάχομαι: to fight or contend with, involving severity and thoroughness – ‘to protest strongly, to contend with.’…‘some scribes from the party of the Pharisees protested strongly’ Ac 23:9.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant and has not been translated.

[23:9]  ³⁰ sn “We find nothing wrong with this man.” Here is another declaration of innocence. These leaders recognized the possibility that Paul might have the right to make his claim.

[23:10]  ³¹ tn This genitive absolute construction with the participle γινομένης (ginomenhs) has been taken temporally (it could also be translated as causal).

[23:10]  ³² tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). In Greek the term χιλίαρχος (ciliarco") literally described the “commander of a thousand,” but it was used as the standard translation for the Latin tribunus militum or tribunus militare, the military tribune who commanded a cohort of 600 men.

[23:10]  ³³ tn Grk “that Paul would be torn to pieces by them.” BDAG 236 s.v. διασπάω has “of an angry mob μὴ διασπασθῇ ὁ Παῦλος ὑπ᾿ αὐτῶν that Paul would be torn in pieces by them Ac 23:10.” The passive construction is somewhat awkward in English and has been converted to an equivalent active construction in the translation.

[23:10]  ³⁴ tn Normally this term means “army,” but according to BDAG 947 s.v. στράτευμα, “Of a smaller detachment of soldiers, sing. Ac 23:10, 27.” In the plural it can be translated “troops,” but it is singular here.

[23:10]  ³⁵ tn Or “to go down, grab him out of their midst.”

[23:10]  ³⁶ tn Or “the headquarters.” BDAG 775 s.v. παρεμβολή 2 has “barracks/headquarters of the Roman troops in Jerusalem Ac 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32.”

[23:11]  ³⁷ sn The presence of the Lord indicated the vindicating presence and direction of God.

[23:11]  ³⁸ tn Grk “standing near Paul, said.” The participle ἐπιστάς (epistas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:11]  ³⁹ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[23:11]  ⁴⁰ tn Or “Do not be afraid.”

[23:11]  ⁴¹ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[23:11]  ⁴² sn Like Jesus went to Jerusalem, Paul would now go to Rome. This trip forms the concluding backdrop to Acts. This is the second notice about going to Rome (see Acts 19:21 for the first).

[24:10]  ⁴³ tn Grk “knowing.” The participle ἐπιστάμενος (epistamenos) has been translated as a causal adverbial participle.

[24:10]  ⁴⁴ sn “Because…defense.” Paul also paid an indirect compliment to the governor, implying that he would be fair in his judgment.

[24:11]  ⁴⁵ tn BDAG 369 s.v. ἐπιγινώσκω 2.c has “notice, perceive, learn of, ascertain…Also as legal t.t. ascertain (2 Macc 14:9) τὶ Ac 23:28; cp. 24:8. W. ὅτι foll. Ac 24:11.” “Verify” is an English synonym for “ascertain.”

[24:11]  ⁴⁶ tn Grk “it is not more than twelve days from when.” This has been simplified to “not more than twelve days ago.”

[24:11]  ⁴⁷ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[24:12]  ⁴⁸ tn Or “disputing,” “conducting a heated discussion.”

[24:12]  ⁴⁹ tn BDAG 381 s.v. ἐπίστασις 2 has “ἐ. ποιεῖν ὄχλου to cause a crowd to gather Ac 24:12.” Roman authorities would not allow a mob to gather and threaten the peace, and anyone suspected of instigating a mob would certainly be arrested.

[24:12]  ⁵⁰ tn Grk “in the temple.” This is actually a reference to the courts surrounding the temple proper, and has been translated accordingly.

[24:12]  ⁵¹ sn See the note on synagogue in 6:9.

[24:12]  ⁵² sn A second part of Paul’s defense is that he did nothing while he was in Jerusalem to cause unrest, neither arguing nor stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city.

[24:13]  ⁵³ tn BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 1.f has “οὐδὲ παραστῆσαι δύνανταί σοι περὶ ὧν νυνὶ κατηγοροῦσίν μου nor can they prove to you the accusations they are now making against me Ac 24:13.”

[24:13]  ⁵⁴ tn The words “the things” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[24:13]  ⁵⁵ tn Grk “nor can they prove to you [the things] about which they are now accusing me.” This has been simplified to eliminate the relative pronoun (“which”) in the translation.

[24:14]  ⁵⁶ tn Or “serve.”

[24:14]  ⁵⁷ tn Or “forefathers”; Grk “fathers.”

[24:14]  ⁵⁸ sn That is, the law of Moses. Paul was claiming that he legitimately worshiped the God of Israel. He was arguing that this amounted to a religious dispute rather than a political one, so that the Roman authorities need not concern themselves with it.

[24:15]  ⁵⁹ tn Grk “having.” The participle ἔχων (ecwn) has been translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun at this point in the translation because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence.

[24:15]  ⁶⁰ sn This mention of Paul’s hope sets up his appeal to the resurrection of the dead. At this point Paul was ignoring the internal Jewish dispute between the Pharisees (to which he had belonged) and the Sadducees (who denied there would be a resurrection of the dead).

[24:15]  ⁶¹ tn Grk “a hope in God (which these [men] themselves accept too).” Because the antecedent of the relative pronoun “which” is somewhat unclear in English, the words “a hope” have been repeated at the beginning of the parenthesis for clarity.

[24:15]  ⁶² tn Grk “that they”; the referent (these men, Paul’s accusers) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[24:15]  ⁶³ tn Or “the unjust.”

[24:16]  ⁶⁴ tn BDAG 329 s.v. ἐν 9.a, “ἐν τούτῳ πιστεύομεν this is the reason why we believe Jn 16:30; cp. Ac 24:16.”

[24:16]  ⁶⁵ tn BDAG 224 s.v. διά 2.a, “διὰ παντός…always, continually, constantly…Ac 2:25 (Ps 15:8); 10:2; 24:16.” However, the positioning of the adverb “always” in the English translation is difficult; the position used is one of the least awkward.

[24:16]  ⁶⁶ tn BDAG 125 s.v. ἀπρόσκοπος 1 has “ἀ. συνείδησις a clear conscience Ac 24:16.”

[24:16]  ⁶⁷ tn Grk “men,” but this is a generic use (Paul does not have only males in view).

[25:8]  ⁶⁸ tn Grk “Paul saying in his defense”; the participle ἀπολογουμένου (apologoumenou) could be taken temporally (“when Paul said…”), but due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle was translated as a finite verb and a new sentence begun here in the translation. BDAG 116-17 s.v. ἀπολογέομαι has “W. ὅτι foll. τοῦ Παύλου ἀπολογουμένου, ὅτι when Paul said in his defense (direct quot. foll.) Ac 25:8.”

[25:8]  ⁶⁹ tn Grk “I have sinned…in nothing.”

[25:8]  ⁷⁰ tn Grk “against the law of the Jews.” Here τῶν ᾿Ιουδαίων has been translated as an attributive genitive.

[25:8]  ⁷¹ tn Or “against the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).

[25:10]  ⁷² tn Grk “said.”

[25:10]  ⁷³ tn Or “before the emperor’s” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).

[25:10]  ⁷⁴ tn Although BDAG 175 s.v. βῆμα 3 gives the meaning “tribunal” for this verse, and a number of modern translations use similar terms (“court,” NIV; “tribunal,” NRSV), since the bema was a standard feature in Greco-Roman cities of the time, there is no need for an alternative translation here. Here of course Paul’s reference to “Caesar’s judgment seat” is a form of metonymy; since Festus is Caesar’s representative, Festus’ judgment seat represents Caesar’s own.

[25:10]  ⁷⁵ tn That is, tried by an imperial representative and subject to Roman law.

[25:10]  ⁷⁶ sn “I have done nothing wrong.” Here is yet another declaration of total innocence on Paul’s part.

[25:10]  ⁷⁷ tn BDAG 506 s.v. καλῶς 7 states, “comp. κάλλιον (for the superl., as Galen, Protr. 8 p. 24, 19J.=p. 10, 31 Kaibel; s. B-D-F §244, 2) ὡς καί σὺ κ. ἐπιγινώσκεις as also you know very well Ac 25:10.”

[40:15]  ⁷⁸ tn The verb גָּנַב (ganav) means “to steal,” but in the Piel/Pual stem “to steal away.” The idea of “kidnap” would be closer to the sense, meaning he was stolen and carried off. The preceding infinitive absolute underscores the point Joseph is making.