XXIII: 1, 2. No sooner had the prisoner and the Sanhedrim come face to face, than the chiliarch must have perceived that he was again to be disappointed in his efforts to understand the case; for, instead of preferring formal charges against Paul, the proceedings were opened by calling upon him to d... [ Continue Reading ]
XXIII: 1, 2. No sooner had the prisoner and the Sanhedrim come face to face, than the chiliarch must have perceived that he was again to be disappointed in his efforts to understand the case; for, instead of preferring formal charges against Paul, the proceedings were opened by calling upon him to d... [ Continue Reading ]
3-5. For once in the history of his persecution, the provocation was too great for Paul, and found vent in a burst of anger. (3) "_ Then said Paul to him, God shall smite thee, thou whitewashed wall. And do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law?_... [ Continue Reading ]
6-10. The presence in which Paul stood was not unfamiliar to him. He doubtless remembered the faces of many in the Sanhedrim, and was intimately acquainted with the party feelings which often distracted their councils, and which had been known to stain the streets of Jerusalem with blood. Seeing tha... [ Continue Reading ]
11. If we had some epistle from Paul's pen, written at this time, it would tell of great distress and despondency; for such a state of mind is clearly indicated by an event which now transpired. (11) " And the night following, the Lord stood by him and said, Take courage, Paul, for as you have testi... [ Continue Reading ]
12-16. The light did not immediately dawn upon his prospects, but the darkness continued for a while to grow deeper. (12) "_ And when it was day some of the Jews made a conspiracy, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul._ (13) _And... [ Continue Reading ]
17-22. A moment's reflection was sufficient to show Paul that his only hope of safety was in the chiliarch, and, therefore, he at once had the facts communicated to him. (17) "_ Then Paul called to him one of the centurions, and said, Lead this young man to the chiliarch; for he has something to tel... [ Continue Reading ]
23-30. There were at least three lines of policy between which the chiliarch could have chosen. If he had been disposed to gratify the Jews, he might have given Paul up to their malice, without probability of being known to his superiors as accessory to the murder. If he had preferred to defy their... [ Continue Reading ]
31-35. (31) "_ Then the soldiers, according to what was commanded them, took Paul and conducted him by night to Antipatris,_ (32) _and, on the next day, they returned to the castle, leaving the horsemen to go forward with him._ (33) _They went to Cæsarea, delivered the epistle to the governor, and p... [ Continue Reading ]