Acts 23:27

This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. THIS MAN WAS TAKEN OF THE JEWS, AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OF THEM: THEN CAME I WITH AN ARMY _ , [sun_ ( G4862) TOO (G3588) strateumati (G4753 )] - 'WITH THE MILITARY' OR 'SOLDIERY,' "AND RESCUED HIM, HAVING UNDERSTOOD THAT HE WAS ROMAN....

− 27._This man being taken. _This was spoken odiously concerning the Jews, that he might purchase more favor for Paul, that a man, being a Roman, was by them sore beaten, and almost slain; also, he commendeth him for the right and privilege of his freedom, that he may be the more courteously handled. Furthermore, this commendation was not purchased by prayer or flattery, neither was it bought with money. How came it to pass, then, that the chief captain did show himself so courteous freely to an obscure man, and whom all men did hate, save only because the Lord had appointed him to be his servant’s patron? Therefore, we see how he governeth the tongues and hands of the infidels to the profit of those that be his. −...

25-35 God has instruments for every work. The natural abilities and moral virtues of the heathens often have been employed to protect his persecuted servants. Even the men of the world can discern between the conscientious conduct of upright believers, and the zeal of false professors, though they disregard or understand not their doctrinal principles. All hearts are in God's hand, and those are blessed who put their trust in him, and commit their ways unto him....

SHOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OF THEM - Was about to be killed by them. The life of Paul had been twice endangered in this manner, Acts 21:30; Acts 23:10. WITH AN ARMY - With a band of soldiers, Acts 23:10....

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;...

THIS MAN WAS TAKEN BY THE JEWS,.... Meaning Paul, who was presented by the centurions to the governor, and was in his presence when the letter was opened and read, and who was taken by the Jews in the temple, and from thence dragged out and beaten by them: AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OF THEM; and would have been killed, had it not been for the chief captain; he was very near being killed by them, he was nigh unto death: THEN CAME I WITH AN ARMY AND RESCUED HIM; he came with the Roman band, which he had the command of, perhaps a thousand soldiers; for such a number he should have under him by his title; with these he came upon the Jews on a sudden, as they were beating Paul, and took him out of their hands, and saved him: HAVING UNDERSTOOD THAT HE WAS A ROMAN; but this he did not know till afterwards, after he had bound him with two chains, and after he had ordered him to be bound with...

LETTER OF CLAUDIUS LYSIAS TO FELIX. Felix is addressed as most excellent (so Luke 1:3; Acts 26:25), a title of courtesy applied to proconsuls, officers of rank, and private persons. Lysias allows himself to say that he had assisted Paul because he had heard he was a Roman, and that he had done nothing worthy of bonds (_cf._ the two chains, Acts 21:33; Acts 22:30). An official sending a prisoner to a higher court might specify the charge (_cf. Acts 25:27_); and Lysias takes credit for having investigated the point, and for having found that the charge involved no legal o

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

WAS TAKEN. having been seized. See note on Acts 1:16 SHOULD HAVE BEEN. being about to be, or on the point of being. THEN CAME I. having come. AN ARMY. the detachment, as in Acts 23:10. AND RESCUED HIM. I delivered. Greek. _exaireo._ See note on Acts 7:10. UNDERSTOOD. learnt. He did not learn it till he was about to have him scourged. It has been called "a dexterous falsehood"....

_This man was taken of the Jews_ The verb implies a seizure or arrest. It is used (Matthew 26:55; Mark 14:48) of the party of men who came to seize our Lord, and (Acts 12:3) of Herod Agrippa's arrest of St Peter. It is to be noted that the chief captain employs the word for _man_, which in the original implies respect, no doubt because he was presently about to mention that he was a Roman citizen. The same distinction exists in Latin as in Greek, so that the original may have been in either language. There can be little doubt that Roman officers at this time were familiar enough with Greek to write in it, if need were. _and should have been killed of them_ The _Rev. Ver._modifies the obsolescent English, a