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Acts 23:1-32

Context

23:1 Paul looked directly¹ at the council² and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience³ before God to this day.” 23:2 At that⁴ the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near⁵ Paul⁶ to strike⁷ him on the mouth. 23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!⁸ Do⁹ you sit there judging me according to the law,¹⁰ and in violation of the law¹¹ you order me to be struck?” 23:4 Those standing near him¹² said, “Do you dare insult¹³ 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 noticed¹⁷ that part of them were Sadducees¹⁸ 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 resurrection²¹ of the dead!” 23:7 When he said this,²² an argument²³ began²⁴ 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 law²⁷ from the party of the Pharisees stood up²⁸ and protested strongly,²⁹ “We find nothing wrong³⁰ with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 23:10 When the argument became³¹ so great the commanding officer³² feared that they would tear Paul to pieces,³³ he ordered the detachment³⁴ to go down, take him away from them by force,³⁵ and bring him into the barracks.³⁶

23:11 The following night the Lord³⁷ stood near³⁸ Paul³⁹ and said, “Have courage,⁴⁰ for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem,⁴¹ so you must also testify in Rome.”⁴²

The Plot to Kill Paul

23:12 When morning came,⁴³ the Jews formed⁴⁴ a conspiracy⁴⁵ and bound themselves with an oath⁴⁶ not to eat or drink anything⁴⁷ until they had killed Paul. 23:13 There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy.⁴⁸ 23:14 They⁴⁹ went⁵⁰ to the chief priests⁵¹ and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath⁵² not to partake⁵³ of anything until we have killed Paul. 23:15 So now you and the council⁵⁴ request the commanding officer⁵⁵ to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine⁵⁶ his case⁵⁷ by conducting a more thorough inquiry.⁵⁸ We are ready to kill him⁵⁹ before he comes near this place.”⁶⁰

23:16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush,⁶¹ he came and entered⁶² the barracks⁶³ and told Paul. 23:17 Paul called⁶⁴ one of the centurions⁶⁵ and said, “Take this young man to the commanding officer,⁶⁶ for he has something to report to him.” 23:18 So the centurion⁶⁷ took him and brought him to the commanding officer⁶⁸ and said, “The prisoner Paul called⁶⁹ me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 23:19 The commanding officer⁷⁰ took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, “What is it that you want⁷¹ to report to me?” 23:20 He replied,⁷² “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council⁷³ tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him. 23:21 So do not let them persuade you to do this,⁷⁴ because more than forty of them⁷⁵ are lying in ambush⁷⁶ for him. They⁷⁷ have bound themselves with an oath⁷⁸ not to eat or drink anything⁷⁹ until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.”⁸⁰ 23:22 Then the commanding officer⁸¹ sent the young man away, directing him,⁸² “Tell no one that you have reported⁸³ these things to me.” 23:23 Then⁸⁴ he summoned⁸⁵ two of the centurions⁸⁶ and said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea⁸⁷ along with seventy horsemen⁸⁸ and two hundred spearmen⁸⁹ by⁹⁰ nine o’clock tonight,⁹¹ 23:24 and provide mounts for Paul to ride⁹² so that he may be brought safely to Felix⁹³ the governor.”⁹⁴ 23:25 He wrote⁹⁵ a letter that went like this:⁹⁶

23:26 Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor⁹⁷ Felix,⁹⁸ greetings. 23:27 This man was seized⁹⁹ by the Jews and they were about to kill him,¹⁰⁰ when I came up¹⁰¹ with the detachment¹⁰² and rescued him, because I had learned that he was¹⁰³ a Roman citizen.¹⁰⁴ 23:28 Since I wanted to know¹⁰⁵ what charge they were accusing him of,¹⁰⁶ I brought him down to their council.¹⁰⁷ 23:29 I found he¹⁰⁸ was accused with reference to controversial questions¹⁰⁹ about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.¹¹⁰ 23:30 When I was informed¹¹¹ there would be a plot¹¹² against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges¹¹³ against him before you.

23:31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders,¹¹⁴ took¹¹⁵ Paul and brought him to Antipatris¹¹⁶ during the night. 23:32 The next day they let¹¹⁷ the horsemen¹¹⁸ go on with him, and they returned to the barracks.¹¹⁹

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

[23:1] ³tn 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] ⁴tn Grk “and” (δέ, de); the phrase “at that” has been used in the translation to clarify the cause and effect relationship.

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

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

[23:2] ⁷tn 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] ⁸sn 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] ⁹tn 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] ¹⁰tn The law refers to the law of Moses.

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

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

[23:4] ¹³tn L&N 33.393 has for λοιδορέω (loidorew) “to speak in a highly insulting manner – ‘to slander, to insult strongly, slander, insult.’”

[23:5] ¹⁴tn Grk “said.”

[23:5] ¹⁵tn Or “know.”

[23:5] ¹⁶sn 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] ¹⁷tn 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] ¹⁸sn See the note on Sadducees in 4:1.

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

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

[23:6] ²¹tn 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] ²²tn The participle εἰπόντος (eiponto") has been translated temporally.

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

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

[23:8] ²⁵tn 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] ²⁶tn Or “clamor” (cf. BDAG 565 s.v. κραυγή 1.a, which has “there arose a loud outcry” here, and Exod 12:30).

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

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

[23:9] ²⁹tn 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] ³⁰sn “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] ³¹tn This genitive absolute construction with the participle γινομένης (ginomenhs) has been taken temporally (it could also be translated as causal).

[23:10] ³²tn 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] ³³tn 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] ³⁴tn 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] ³⁵tn Or “to go down, grab him out of their midst.”

[23:10] ³⁶tn 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] ³⁷sn The presence of the Lord indicated the vindicating presence and direction of God.

[23:11] ³⁸tn 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] ³⁹tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[23:11] ⁴⁰tn Or “Do not be afraid.”

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

[23:11] ⁴²sn 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).

[23:12] ⁴³tn Grk “when it was day.”

[23:12] ⁴⁴tn Grk “forming a conspiracy, bound.” The participle ποιήσαντες (poihsantes) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:12] ⁴⁵tn L&N 30.72 has ‘some Jews formed a conspiracy’ Ac 23:12”; BDAG 979 s.v. συστροφή 1 has “Judeans came together in a mob 23:12. But in the last pass. the word may also mean – 2. the product of a clandestine gathering, plot, conspiracy” (see also Amos 7:10; Ps 63:3).

[23:12] ⁴⁶tn Or “bound themselves under a curse.” BDAG 63 s.v. ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “trans. put under a curse τινά someone…pleonastically ἀναθέματι ἀ. ἑαυτόν Ac 23:14…ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.” On such oaths see m. Shevi’it 3:1-5. The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

[23:12] ⁴⁷tn The word “anything” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[23:13] ⁴⁸tn L&N 30.73 defines συνωμοσία (sunwmosia) as “a plan for taking secret action someone or some institution, with the implication of an oath binding the conspirators – ‘conspiracy, plot.’ …‘there were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy’ Ac 23:13.”

[23:14] ⁴⁹tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) was translated by the third person plural pronoun (“them”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.

[23:14] ⁵⁰tn Grk “going.” The participle προσελθόντες (proselqonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:14] ⁵¹sn They went to the chief priests. The fact that the high priest knew of this plot and did nothing shows the Jewish leadership would even become accomplices to murder to stop Paul. They would not allow Roman justice to take its course. Paul’s charge in v. 3 of superficially following the law is thus shown to be true.

[23:14] ⁵²tn Or “bound ourselves under a curse.” BDAG 63 s.v. ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “trans. put under a curse τινά someone…pleonastically ἀναθέματι ἀ. ἑαυτόν Ac 23:14…ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.” The pleonastic use ἀναθέματι ἀνεθεματίσαμεν (literally “we have cursed ourselves with a curse”) probably serves as an intensifier following Semitic usage, and is represented in the translation by the word “solemn.” On such oaths see m. Nedarim 3:1, 3.

[23:14] ⁵³tn This included both food and drink (γεύομαι [geuomai] is used of water turned to wine in John 2:9).

[23:15] ⁵⁴tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[23:15] ⁵⁵tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.

[23:15] ⁵⁶tn Or “decide.” BDAG 227 s.v. διαγινώσκω has “ἀκριβέστερον τὰ περὶ αὐτοῦ to make a more thorough examination of his case Ac 23:15.”

[23:15] ⁵⁷tn Grk “determine the things about him.”

[23:15] ⁵⁸tn The expression “more thorough inquiry” reflects the comparative form of ἀκριβέστερον (akribesteron).

[23:15] ⁵⁹sn “We are ready to kill him.” Now those Jews involved in the conspiracy, along with the leaders as accomplices, are going to break one of the ten commandments.

[23:15] ⁶⁰tn The words “this place” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[23:16] ⁶¹tn Or “plot” (BDAG 334 s.v. ἐνέδρα).

[23:16] ⁶²tn Grk “coming and entering…, he told.” The participles παραγενόμενος (paragenomeno") and εἰσελθών (eiselqwn) have been translated as finite verbs due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:16] ⁶³tn 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.”

[23:17] ⁶⁴tn Grk “calling…Paul said.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:17] ⁶⁵sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[23:17] ⁶⁶tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.

[23:18] ⁶⁷tn Grk “he”; the referent (the centurion) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[23:18] ⁶⁸tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.

[23:18] ⁶⁹tn Grk “calling.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:19] ⁷⁰tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.

[23:19] ⁷¹tn Grk “you have,” but the expression “have to report” in English could be understood to mean “must report” rather than “possess to report.” For this reason the nearly equivalent expression “want to report,” which is not subject to misunderstanding, was used in the translation.

[23:20] ⁷²tn Grk “He said.”

[23:20] ⁷³tn Grk “the Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[23:21] ⁷⁴tn Grk “do not be persuaded by them.” The passive construction μὴ πεισθῇς αὐτοῖς (mh peisqh" autoi") has been converted to an active construction in the translation, and the phrase “to do this” supplied to indicate more clearly the object of their persuasion.

[23:21] ⁷⁵tn Grk “forty men of them.” In the expression ἐξ αὐτῶν ἄνδρες (ex autwn andre") “men” is somewhat redundant and has not been included in the English translation.

[23:21] ⁷⁶tn Grk “are lying in wait for him” (BDAG 334 s.v. ἐνεδρεύω); see also v. 16.

[23:21] ⁷⁷tn Grk “for him, who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“who”) was translated by the third person plural pronoun (“they”) and a new sentence begun in the translation.

[23:21] ⁷⁸tn Or “bound themselves under a curse.” BDAG 63 s.v. ἀναθεματίζω 1 has “trans. put under a curse τινά someone… ἀ. ἑαυτόν vss. 12, 21, 13 v.l.”

[23:21] ⁷⁹tn The word “anything” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were often omitted in Greek when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

[23:21] ⁸⁰tn Grk “waiting for your approval,” “waiting for your agreement.” Since it would be possible to misunderstand the literal translation “waiting for your approval” to mean that the Jews were waiting for the commander’s approval to carry out their plot or to kill Paul (as if he were to be an accomplice to their plot), the object of the commander’s approval (their request to bring Paul to the council) has been specified in the translation as “their request.”

[23:22] ⁸¹tn Grk “the chiliarch” (an officer in command of a thousand soldiers). See note on the term “commanding officer” in v. 10.

[23:22] ⁸²tn BDAG 760 s.v. παραγγέλλω has “to make an announcement about someth. that must be done, give orders, command, instruct, direct of all kinds of persons in authority, worldly rulers, Jesus, the apostles…παραγγέλλειν w. an inf. and μή comes to mean forbid to do someth.: π. τινί w. aor. inf. Lk 5:14; 8:56; without the dat., which is easily supplied fr. the context Ac 23:22.” However, if the direct discourse which follows is to be retained in the translation, a different translation must be used since it is awkward to introduce direct discourse with the verb to forbid. Thus the alternative to direct was used.

[23:22] ⁸³tn On this verb, see BDAG 325-26 s.v. ἐμφανίζω 2. The term was frequently used of an official report to authorities. In modern terms, this was a police tip.

[23:23] ⁸⁴tn Grk “And.” Since this represents a response to the reported ambush, καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the logical sequence.

[23:23] ⁸⁵tn Grk “summoning…he said.” The participle προσκαλεσάμενος (proskalesameno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:23] ⁸⁶sn See the note on the word centurion in 10:1.

[23:23] ⁸⁷sn Caesarea was a city on the coast of Palestine south of Mount Carmel (not Caesarea Philippi). See the note on Caesarea in Acts 10:1. This was a journey of about 65 mi (just over 100 km).

[23:23] ⁸⁸tn Or “cavalrymen.”

[23:23] ⁸⁹tn A military technical term of uncertain meaning. BDAG 217 s.v. δεξιολάβος states, “a word of uncertain mng., military t.t., acc. to Joannes Lydus…and Theophyl. Sim., Hist. 4, 1 a light-armed soldier, perh. bowman, slinger; acc. to a scholion in CMatthaei p. 342 body-guard….Spearman Goodspd., NRSV; ‘security officer’, GDKilpatrick, JTS 14, ’63, 393f.”

[23:23] ⁹⁰tn Grk “from.”

[23:23] ⁹¹tn Grk “from the third hour of the night.”

[23:24] ⁹²tn Grk “provide mounts to put Paul on.”

[23:24] ⁹³sn Felix the governor was Antonius Felix, a freedman of Antonia, mother of the Emperor Claudius. He was the brother of Pallas and became procurator of Palestine in a.d. 52/53. His administration was notorious for its corruption, cynicism, and cruelty. According to the historian Tacitus (History 5.9) Felix “reveled in cruelty and lust, and wielded the power of a king with the mind of a slave.”

[23:24] ⁹⁴tn Grk “Felix the procurator.” The official Roman title has been translated as “governor” (BDAG 433 s.v. ἡγεμών 2).

[23:25] ⁹⁵tn Grk “writing.” Due to the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was begun here in the translation, supplying “he” (referring to the commanding officer, Claudius Lysias) as subject. The participle γράψας (grayas) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:25] ⁹⁶tn Grk “having this form,” “having this content.” L&N 33.48 has “γράψσς ἐπιστολὴν ἔχουσαν τὸν τύπον τοῦτον ‘then he wrote a letter that went like this’ Ac 23:25. It is also possible to understand ἐπιστολή in Ac 23:25 not as a content or message, but as an object (see 6.63).”

[23:26] ⁹⁷tn Grk “Procurator.” The official Roman title has been translated as “governor” (BDAG 433 s.v. ἡγεμών 2).

[23:26] ⁹⁸sn Governor Felix. See the note on Felix in v. 24.

[23:27] ⁹⁹tn The participle συλλημφθέντα (sullhmfqenta) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. The remark reviews events of Acts 21:27-40.

[23:27] ¹⁰⁰tn Grk “and was about to be killed by them.” The passive construction has been converted to an active one in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[23:27] ¹⁰¹tn Or “approached.”

[23:27] ¹⁰²tn 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.

[23:27] ¹⁰³tn In Greek this is a present tense retained in indirect discourse.

[23:27] ¹⁰⁴tn The word “citizen” is supplied here for emphasis and clarity.

[23:28] ¹⁰⁵tn Or “determine.”

[23:28] ¹⁰⁶tn Grk “to know the charge on account of which they were accusing him.” This has been simplified to eliminate the prepositional phrase and relative pronoun δι᾿ ἣν (di’ }hn) similar to L&N 27.8 which has “‘I wanted to find out what they were accusing him of, so I took him down to their Council’ Ac 23:28.”

[23:28] ¹⁰⁷tn Grk “their Sanhedrin” (the Sanhedrin was the highest legal, legislative, and judicial body among the Jews).

[23:29] ¹⁰⁸tn Grk “whom I found.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the relative pronoun (“whom”) has been changed to a personal pronoun (“he”) and a new sentence begun in the translation at this point.

[23:29] ¹⁰⁹tn BDAG 428 s.v. ζήτημα states, “in our lit. only in Ac, w. the mng. it still has in Mod. Gk. (controversial) question, issue, argument…Ac 15:2; 26:3. ζ. περί τινος questions about someth.…18:15; 25:19. – In 23:29, since περί had already been used, the subj. of the discussion is added in the gen. ζ. τοῦ νόμου αὐτῶν.”

[23:29] ¹¹⁰tn Grk “but having no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.” BDAG 273-74 s.v. ἔγκλημα 1 has “legal t.t.…ἔ. ἄξιον θανάτου ἢ δεσμῶν a charge deserving death or imprisonment 23:29.”

[23:30] ¹¹¹tn Grk “It being revealed to me.” The participle μηνυθείσης (mhnuqeish") has been taken temporally.

[23:30] ¹¹²tn The term translated “plot” here is a different one than the one in Acts 23:16 (see BDAG 368 s.v. ἐπιβουλή).

[23:30] ¹¹³tn Grk “the things against him.” This could be rendered as “accusations,” “grievances,” or “charges,” but since “ordered his accusers to state their accusations” sounds redundant in English, “charges” was used instead.

[23:31] ¹¹⁴tn BDAG 237-38 s.v. διατάσσω 2 has “κατὰ τὸ δ. αὐτοῖς in accordance w. their orders…Ac 23:31.”

[23:31] ¹¹⁵tn Grk “taking.” The participle ἀναλαβόντες (analabonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:31] ¹¹⁶sn Antipatris was a city in Judea about 35 mi (55 km) northwest of Jerusalem (about halfway to Caesarea). It was mentioned several times by Josephus (Ant. 13.15.1 [13.390]; J. W. 1.4.7 [1.99]).

[23:32] ¹¹⁷tn Grk “letting.” The participle ἐάσαντες (easante") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[23:32] ¹¹⁸tn Or “cavalrymen.”

[23:32] ¹¹⁹tn 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.”