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. 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....

12-24 False religious principles, adopted by carnal men, urge on to such wickedness, as human nature would hardly be supposed capable of. Yet the Lord readily disappoints the best concerted schemes of iniquity. Paul knew that the Divine providence acts by reasonable and prudent means; and that, if he neglected to use the means in his power, he could not expect God's providence to work on his behalf. He who will not help himself according to his means and power, has neither reason nor revelation to assure him that he shall receive help from God. Believing in the Lord, we and ours shall be kept from every evil work, and kept to his kingdom. Heavenly Father, give us by thy Holy Spirit, for Christ's sake, this precious faith....

AND PRAYED ME - And asked me....

EXPOSITION ACTS 23:1 _Looking steadfastly on _for _earnestly beholding, _A.V.; _brethren _for _men and brethren, _A.V._; I have lived before God, _etc., for _I have lived, _etc., _before God, _A.V. LOOKING STEADFASTLY; ἀτενίσας, as in Acts 1:10; Acts 3:4, Acts 3:12; Acts 6:15; Acts 7:55; Acts 10:4;...

SO HE TOOK HIM, AND BROUGHT HIM TO THE CHIEF CAPTAIN,.... Immediately, without any more to do, without curiously inquiring into the thing, or examining the young man about it; which showed him to be a man of a good disposition, and ready to do a kind office, even to a prisoner: AND SAID, PAUL THE PRISONER CALLED ME TO HIM; either vocally or by some gesture, beckoned him to him: AND PRAYED ME TO BRING THIS YOUNG MAN UNTO THEE, WHO HATH SOMETHING TO SAY UNTO THEE; in which may be observed the apostle's manner of address to the centurion, on this occasion; it was by way of entreaty; he asked it as a favour of him, to introduce his nephew to the chief captain; and the honour and modesty of the centurion, he did not seek by any methods to get the secret out, either of Paul or the young man; but readily undertakes the affair, honourably performs it, acquaints the captain with the circumstanc...

JEWISH PLOT: REMOVAL OF PAUL. The Jews propose what the tribune, in Acts 22:30 to Acts 23:10, has already done on his own initiative; here we are on historical ground. The hated person being removed from their power, they plan an assassination. Forty of them make themselves a curse (so literally), _i.e._ they are to be accursed if they do not carry out their purpose; and they are to fast till it is done. For this end they apply to the high priests and elders to get the tribune to bring Paul down to a meeting for a further inquiry. No doubt is entertained apparently that the leaders will countenance such a plot. The tribune, who is well disposed to Paul since he discovered his citizenship, at once removes him from danger; but 470 men seem a large force for the purpose. Lysias-' motive in all this apparatus was

THE STRATEGY OF PAUL (Acts 23:1-10)...

SO, &C.. He therefore indeed having taken him, brought him. PAUL THE PRISONER. This was. title the apostle cherished as one of honour. See Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:8; Philemon 1:9. PRISONER. Greek. _deamios._ PRAYED. asked. Greek. _erotao._ App-134. SOMETHING. Greek. _tis_. Same as "a certain thing", Acts 23:17. SAY. speak. Greek. _laleo_ App-121. UNTO. to....

_he took him, and brought him_, &c. With soldier-like obedience and raising no questions. _Paul the prisoner_ A name which St Paul was often afterwards to apply to himself. Cp. Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 4:1; Philemon 1:1; Philemon 1:9, &c. _and prayed me_ In the older English the verb "pray" as here used is no more than "ask," which latter verb is here given by the _Rev. Ver._, but it is a needless interference with the older diction....

PAUL IS CHEERED BY A VISION. THE JEWS CONSPIRE TO KILL HIM...