PAUL'S DEFENSE BEFORE THE SAMHEDRIM DIVIDES THE RIVAL FACTIONS, FROM WHOSE VIOLENCE THE COMMANDANT HAS THE APOSTLE REMOVED INTO THE FORTRESS. (Act 23:1-10) Paul, earnestly beholding the council--with a look of conscio…
1Entonces Pablo, mirando fijamente al concilio, dijo: Varones hermanos, yo con toda buena conciencia he vivido delante de Dios hasta el día de hoy.
2El sumo sacerdote Ananías ordenó entonces a los que estaban junto a él, que le golpeasen en la boca.
3Entonces Pablo le dijo: ¡Dios te golpeará a ti, pared blanqueada! ¿Estás tú sentado para juzgarme conforme a la ley, y quebrantando la ley me mandas golpear?
4Los que estaban presentes dijeron: ¿Al sumo sacerdote de Dios injurias?
5Pablo dijo: No sabía, hermanos, que era el sumo sacerdote; pues escrito está: No maldecirás a un príncipe de tu pueblo.
6Entonces Pablo, notando que una parte era de saduceos y otra de fariseos, alzó la voz en el concilio: Varones hermanos, yo soy fariseo, hijo de fariseo; acerca de la esperanza y de la resurrección de los muertos se me juzga.
7Cuando dijo esto, se produjo disensión entre los fariseos y los saduceos, y la asamblea se dividió.
8Porque los saduceos dicen que no hay resurrección, ni ángel, ni espíritu; pero los fariseos afirman estas cosas.
9Y hubo un gran vocerío; y levantándose los escribas de la parte de los fariseos, contendían, diciendo: Ningún mal hallamos en este hombre; que si un espíritu le ha hablado, o un ángel, no resistamos a Dios.
10Y habiendo grande disensión, el tribuno, teniendo temor de que Pablo fuese despedazado por ellos, mandó que bajasen soldados y le arrebatasen de en medio de ellos, y le llevasen a la fortaleza.
11A la noche siguiente se le presentó el Señor y le dijo: Ten ánimo, Pablo, pues como has testificado de mí en Jerusalén, así es necesario que testifiques también en Roma.
12Venido el día, algunos de los judíos tramaron un complot y se juramentaron bajo maldición, diciendo que no comerían ni beberían hasta que hubiesen dado muerte a Pablo.
13Eran más de cuarenta los que habían hecho esta conjuración,
14los cuales fueron a los principales sacerdotes y a los ancianos y dijeron: Nosotros nos hemos juramentado bajo maldición, a no gustar nada hasta que hayamos dado muerte a Pablo.
15Ahora pues, vosotros, con el concilio, requerid al tribuno que le traiga mañana ante vosotros, como que queréis indagar alguna cosa más cierta acerca de él; y nosotros estaremos listos para matarle antes que llegue.
16Mas el hijo de la hermana de Pablo, oyendo hablar de la celada, fue y entró en la fortaleza, y dio aviso a Pablo.
17Pablo, llamando a uno de los centuriones, dijo: Lleva a este joven ante el tribuno, porque tiene cierto aviso que darle.
18Él entonces tomándole, le llevó al tribuno, y dijo: El preso Pablo me llamó y me rogó que trajese ante ti a este joven, que tiene algo que hablarte.
19El tribuno, tomándole de la mano y retirándose aparte, le preguntó: ¿Qué es lo que tienes que decirme?
20Él le dijo: Los judíos han convenido en rogarte que mañana lleves a Pablo ante el concilio, como que van a inquirir alguna cosa más cierta acerca de él.
21Pero tú no les creas; porque más de cuarenta hombres de ellos le acechan, los cuales se han juramentado bajo maldición, a no comer ni beber hasta que le hayan dado muerte; y ahora están listos esperando tu promesa.
22Entonces el tribuno despidió al joven, mandándole que a nadie dijese que le había dado aviso de esto.
23Y llamando a dos centuriones, mandó que preparasen para la hora tercera de la noche doscientos soldados, setenta jinetes y doscientos lanceros, para que fuesen hasta Cesarea;
24y que preparasen cabalgaduras en que poniendo a Pablo, le llevasen en salvo a Félix el gobernador.
25Y escribió una carta en estos términos:
26Claudio Lisias al excelentísimo gobernador Félix: Salud.
27A este hombre, aprehendido por los judíos, y que iban ellos a matar, lo libré yo acudiendo con la tropa, habiendo sabido que era ciudadano romano.
28Y queriendo saber la causa por qué le acusaban, le llevé al concilio de ellos;
29y hallé que le acusaban por cuestiones de la ley de ellos, pero que ningún delito tenía digno de muerte o de prisión.
30Pero al ser avisado de asechanzas que los judíos habían tendido contra este hombre, al punto le he enviado a ti, intimando también a los acusadores que traten delante de ti lo que tengan contra él. Pásalo bien.
31Y los soldados, tomando a Pablo como se les ordenó, le llevaron de noche a Antípatris.
32Y al día siguiente, dejando a los jinetes que fuesen con él, volvieron a la fortaleza.
33Cuando aquellos llegaron a Cesarea, y dieron la carta al gobernador, presentaron también a Pablo delante de él.
34Y el gobernador, leída la carta, preguntó de qué provincia era; y habiendo entendido que era de Cilicia,
35le dijo: Te oiré cuando vengan tus acusadores. Y mandó que le custodiasen en el pretorio de Herodes.
JAMIESON-FAUSSET-BROWN BIBLE COMMENTARY
I
Versículo 2
I. the high priest . . . commanded . . . to smite him on the mouth--a method of silencing a speaker …
the high priest . . . commanded . . . to smite him on the mouth--a method of silencing a speaker common in the East to this day [HACKET]. But for a judge thus to treat a prisoner on his "trial," for merely prefacing his defense by a protestation of his integrity, was infamous.
II
Versículo 3
II. God shall smite thee--as indeed He did; for he was killed by an assassin during the Jewish war [J…
God shall smite thee--as indeed He did; for he was killed by an assassin during the Jewish war [JOSEPHUS, Wars of the Jews, 2.17.9].
thou whited wall--that is, hypocrite (Mat 23:27). This epithet, however correctly describing the man, must not be defended as addressed to a judge, though the remonstrance which follows--"for sittest thou," &c.--ought to have put him to shame.
III
Versículo 5
III. I wist not . . . that he was the high priest--All sorts of explanations of this have been given. …
I wist not . . . that he was the high priest--All sorts of explanations of this have been given. The high priesthood was in a state of great confusion and constant change at this time (as appears from JOSEPHUS), and the apostle's long absence from Jerusalem, and perhaps the manner in which he was habited or the seat he occupied, with other circumstances to us unknown, may account for such a speech. But if he was thrown off his guard by an insult which touched him to the quick, "what can surpass the grace with which he recovered his self-possession, and the frankness with which he acknowledged his error? If his conduct in yielding to the momentary impulse was not that of Christ Himself under a similar provocation (Joh 18:22-23), certainly the manner in which he atoned for his fault was Christ-like" [HACKET].
IV
Versículo 6
IV. when Paul perceived--from the discussion which plainly had by this time arisen between the parties.
when Paul perceived--from the discussion which plainly had by this time arisen between the parties.
that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out--raising his voice above both parties.
I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee--The true reading seems to be, "the son of Pharisees," that is, belonging to a family who from father to son had long been such.
of the hope and resurrection of the dead--that is, not the vague hope of immortality, but the definite expectation of the resurrection.
I am called in question--By this adroit stroke, Paul engages the whole Pharisaic section of the council in his favor; the doctrine of a resurrection being common to both, though they would totally differ in their application of it. This was, of course, quite warrantable, and the more so as it was already evident that no impartiality in trying his cause was to be looked for from such an assembly.
V
Versículo 8
V. the Sadducees say . . . there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit--(See on Luk 20:37).
the Sadducees say . . . there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit--(See on Luk 20:37).
the scribes . . . of the Pharisees' part . . . strove, saying, We find no evil in this man, but--as to those startling things which he brings to our ears.
if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him--referring, perhaps, to his trance in the temple, of which he had told them (Act 22:17). They put this favorable construction upon his proceedings for no other reason than that they had found him one of their own party. They care not to inquire into the truth of what he alleged, over and above their opinions, but only to explain it away as something not worth raising a noise about. (The following words, "Let us not fight against God," seem not to belong to the original text, and perhaps are from Act 5:39. In this case, either the meaning is, "If he has had some divine communication, what of that?" or, the conclusion of the sentence may have been drowned in the hubbub, which Act 23:10 shows to have been intense).
VI
Versículo 10
VI. the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled to pieces . . . commanded the soldie…
the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled to pieces . . . commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force, &c.--This shows that the commandant was not himself present, and further, that instead of the Sanhedrim trying the cause, the proceedings quickly consisted in the one party attempting to seize the prisoner, and the other to protect him.
VII
Versículo 11
VII. IN THE FORTRESS PAUL IS CHEERED BY A NIGHT VISION--AN INFAMOUS CONSPIRACY TO ASSASSINATE HIM IS P…
IN THE FORTRESS PAUL IS CHEERED BY A NIGHT VISION--AN INFAMOUS CONSPIRACY TO ASSASSINATE HIM IS PROVIDENTIALLY DEFEATED, AND HE IS DESPATCHED BY NIGHT WITH A LETTER FROM THE COMMANDANT TO FELIX AT CÆSAREA, BY WHOM ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR A HEARING OF HIS CAUSE. (Acts 23:11-35)
the night following--his heart perhaps sinking, in the solitude of his barrack ward, and thinking perhaps that all the predictions of danger at Jerusalem were now to be fulfilled in his death there.
the Lord--that is, Jesus.
stood by him . . . Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou . . . also at Rome--that is, "Thy work in Jerusalem is done, faithfully and well done; but thou art not to die here; thy purpose next to 'see Rome' (Act 19:21) shall not be disappointed, and there also must thou bear witness of Me." As this vision was not unneeded now, so we shall find it cheering and upholding him throughout all that befell him up to his arrival there.
VIII
Versículo 12
VIII. bound themselves under a curse . . . that they would neither eat . . . fill they had killed Paul-…
bound themselves under a curse . . . that they would neither eat . . . fill they had killed Paul--Compare Sa2 3:35; Sa1 14:24.
IX
Versículo 15
IX. Now . . . ye with the council signify to the chief captain . . . as though, &c.--That these high …
Now . . . ye with the council signify to the chief captain . . . as though, &c.--That these high ecclesiastics fell in readily with this infamous plot is clear. What will not unscrupulous and hypocritical religionists do under the mask of religion? The narrative bears unmistakable internal marks of truth.
or ever he come near--Their plan was to assassinate him on his way down from the barracks to the council. The case was critical, but He who had pledged His word to him that he should testify for Him at Rome provided unexpected means of defeating this well-laid scheme.
X
Versículo 16
X. Paul's sister's son--(See on Act 9:30). If he was at this time residing at Jerusalem for his educ…
Paul's sister's son--(See on Act 9:30). If he was at this time residing at Jerusalem for his education, like Paul himself, he may have got at the schools those hints of the conspiracy on which he so promptly acted.
XI
Versículo 17
XI. Then Paul called one of the centurions--Though divinely assured of safety, he never allows this t…
Then Paul called one of the centurions--Though divinely assured of safety, he never allows this to interfere with the duty he owed to his own life and the work he had yet to do. (See on Act 27:22-25; Act 27:31).
XII
Versículo 19
XII. took him by the hand--This shows that he must have been quite in his boyhood, and throws a pleasi…
took him by the hand--This shows that he must have been quite in his boyhood, and throws a pleasing light on the kind-hearted impartiality of this officer.
XIII
Versículo 21
XIII. and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee--Thus, as is so often the case with God's…
and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee--Thus, as is so often the case with God's people, not till the last moment, when the plot was all prepared, did deliverance come.
XIV
Versículo 23
XIV. two hundred soldiers--a formidable guard for such an occasion; but Roman officials felt their hon…
two hundred soldiers--a formidable guard for such an occasion; but Roman officials felt their honor concerned in the preservation of the public peace, and the danger of an attempted rescue would seem to require it. The force at Jerusalem was large enough to spare this convoy.
the third hour of the night--nine o'clock.
XV
Versículo 24
XV. beasts . . . set Paul on--as relays, and to carry baggage.
beasts . . . set Paul on--as relays, and to carry baggage.
unto Felix, the governor--the procurator. See on Act 24:24-25.
16
Versículo 26
16. Claudius--the Roman name he would take on purchasing his citizenship.
Claudius--the Roman name he would take on purchasing his citizenship.
Lysias--his Greek family name.
the most excellent governor--an honorary title of office.
17
Versículo 27
17. came I with an army--rather, "with the military."
came I with an army--rather, "with the military."
18
Versículo 29
18. perceived to be accused of questions of their law, &c.--Amidst all his difficulty in getting at t…
perceived to be accused of questions of their law, &c.--Amidst all his difficulty in getting at the charges laid against Paul, enough, no doubt, come out to satisfy him that the whole was a question of religion, and that there was no case for a civil tribunal.
19
Versículo 30
19. gave commandment to his accusers . . . to say before thee--This was not done when he wrote, but w…
gave commandment to his accusers . . . to say before thee--This was not done when he wrote, but would be before the letter reached its destination.
20
Versículo 31
20. brought him . . . to Antipatris--nearly forty miles from Jerusalem, on the way to CÃ&brvbrsarea; …
brought him . . . to Antipatris--nearly forty miles from Jerusalem, on the way to CÃ&brvbrsarea; so named by Herod in honor of his father, Antipater.
21
Versículo 32
21. On the morrow they--the infantry.
On the morrow they--the infantry.
left the horsemen--themselves no longer needed as a guard. The remaining distance was about twenty-five or twenty-six miles.
22
Versículo 34
22. asked of what province he was--the letter describing him as a Roman citizen.
asked of what province he was--the letter describing him as a Roman citizen.
23
Versículo 35
23. I will hear thee--The word means, "give thee a full hearing."
I will hear thee--The word means, "give thee a full hearing."
to be kept in Herod's judgment hall--"prÃ&brvbrtorium," the palace built at CÃ&brvbrsarea by Herod, and now occupied by the Roman procurators; in one of the buildings attached to which Paul was ordered to be kept.
Next: Acts Chapter 24
Nuevo Testamento
Acts — Capítulo 23
PAUL'S DEFENSE BEFORE THE SAMHEDRIM DIVIDES THE RIVAL FACTIONS, FROM WHOSE VIOLENCE THE COMMANDANT HAS THE APOSTLE REMOVED INTO THE FORTRESS. (Act 23:1-10) Paul, earnestly beholding the council--with a look of conscio…
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1Entonces Pablo, mirando fijamente al concilio, dijo: Varones hermanos, yo con toda buena conciencia he vivido delante de Dios hasta el día de hoy.
2El sumo sacerdote Ananías ordenó entonces a los que estaban junto a él, que le golpeasen en la boca.
3Entonces Pablo le dijo: ¡Dios te golpeará a ti, pared blanqueada! ¿Estás tú sentado para juzgarme conforme a la ley, y quebrantando la ley me mandas golpear?
4Los que estaban presentes dijeron: ¿Al sumo sacerdote de Dios injurias?
5Pablo dijo: No sabía, hermanos, que era el sumo sacerdote; pues escrito está: No maldecirás a un príncipe de tu pueblo.
6Entonces Pablo, notando que una parte era de saduceos y otra de fariseos, alzó la voz en el concilio: Varones hermanos, yo soy fariseo, hijo de fariseo; acerca de la esperanza y de la resurrección de los muertos se me juzga.
7Cuando dijo esto, se produjo disensión entre los fariseos y los saduceos, y la asamblea se dividió.
8Porque los saduceos dicen que no hay resurrección, ni ángel, ni espíritu; pero los fariseos afirman estas cosas.
9Y hubo un gran vocerío; y levantándose los escribas de la parte de los fariseos, contendían, diciendo: Ningún mal hallamos en este hombre; que si un espíritu le ha hablado, o un ángel, no resistamos a Dios.
10Y habiendo grande disensión, el tribuno, teniendo temor de que Pablo fuese despedazado por ellos, mandó que bajasen soldados y le arrebatasen de en medio de ellos, y le llevasen a la fortaleza.
11A la noche siguiente se le presentó el Señor y le dijo: Ten ánimo, Pablo, pues como has testificado de mí en Jerusalén, así es necesario que testifiques también en Roma.
12Venido el día, algunos de los judíos tramaron un complot y se juramentaron bajo maldición, diciendo que no comerían ni beberían hasta que hubiesen dado muerte a Pablo.
13Eran más de cuarenta los que habían hecho esta conjuración,
14los cuales fueron a los principales sacerdotes y a los ancianos y dijeron: Nosotros nos hemos juramentado bajo maldición, a no gustar nada hasta que hayamos dado muerte a Pablo.
15Ahora pues, vosotros, con el concilio, requerid al tribuno que le traiga mañana ante vosotros, como que queréis indagar alguna cosa más cierta acerca de él; y nosotros estaremos listos para matarle antes que llegue.
16Mas el hijo de la hermana de Pablo, oyendo hablar de la celada, fue y entró en la fortaleza, y dio aviso a Pablo.
17Pablo, llamando a uno de los centuriones, dijo: Lleva a este joven ante el tribuno, porque tiene cierto aviso que darle.
18Él entonces tomándole, le llevó al tribuno, y dijo: El preso Pablo me llamó y me rogó que trajese ante ti a este joven, que tiene algo que hablarte.
19El tribuno, tomándole de la mano y retirándose aparte, le preguntó: ¿Qué es lo que tienes que decirme?
20Él le dijo: Los judíos han convenido en rogarte que mañana lleves a Pablo ante el concilio, como que van a inquirir alguna cosa más cierta acerca de él.
21Pero tú no les creas; porque más de cuarenta hombres de ellos le acechan, los cuales se han juramentado bajo maldición, a no comer ni beber hasta que le hayan dado muerte; y ahora están listos esperando tu promesa.
22Entonces el tribuno despidió al joven, mandándole que a nadie dijese que le había dado aviso de esto.
23Y llamando a dos centuriones, mandó que preparasen para la hora tercera de la noche doscientos soldados, setenta jinetes y doscientos lanceros, para que fuesen hasta Cesarea;
24y que preparasen cabalgaduras en que poniendo a Pablo, le llevasen en salvo a Félix el gobernador.
25Y escribió una carta en estos términos:
26Claudio Lisias al excelentísimo gobernador Félix: Salud.
27A este hombre, aprehendido por los judíos, y que iban ellos a matar, lo libré yo acudiendo con la tropa, habiendo sabido que era ciudadano romano.
28Y queriendo saber la causa por qué le acusaban, le llevé al concilio de ellos;
29y hallé que le acusaban por cuestiones de la ley de ellos, pero que ningún delito tenía digno de muerte o de prisión.
30Pero al ser avisado de asechanzas que los judíos habían tendido contra este hombre, al punto le he enviado a ti, intimando también a los acusadores que traten delante de ti lo que tengan contra él. Pásalo bien.
31Y los soldados, tomando a Pablo como se les ordenó, le llevaron de noche a Antípatris.
32Y al día siguiente, dejando a los jinetes que fuesen con él, volvieron a la fortaleza.
33Cuando aquellos llegaron a Cesarea, y dieron la carta al gobernador, presentaron también a Pablo delante de él.
34Y el gobernador, leída la carta, preguntó de qué provincia era; y habiendo entendido que era de Cilicia,
35le dijo: Te oiré cuando vengan tus acusadores. Y mandó que le custodiasen en el pretorio de Herodes.
JAMIESON-FAUSSET-BROWN BIBLE COMMENTARY
Versículo 2
I. the high priest . . . commanded . . . to smite him on the mouth--a method of silencing a speaker …
Versículo 3
II. God shall smite thee--as indeed He did; for he was killed by an assassin during the Jewish war [J…
Versículo 5
III. I wist not . . . that he was the high priest--All sorts of explanations of this have been given. …
Versículo 6
IV. when Paul perceived--from the discussion which plainly had by this time arisen between the parties.
Versículo 8
V. the Sadducees say . . . there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit--(See on Luk 20:37).
Versículo 10
VI. the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled to pieces . . . commanded the soldie…
Versículo 11
VII. IN THE FORTRESS PAUL IS CHEERED BY A NIGHT VISION--AN INFAMOUS CONSPIRACY TO ASSASSINATE HIM IS P…
Versículo 12
VIII. bound themselves under a curse . . . that they would neither eat . . . fill they had killed Paul-…
Versículo 15
IX. Now . . . ye with the council signify to the chief captain . . . as though, &c.--That these high …
Versículo 16
X. Paul's sister's son--(See on Act 9:30). If he was at this time residing at Jerusalem for his educ…
Versículo 17
XI. Then Paul called one of the centurions--Though divinely assured of safety, he never allows this t…
Versículo 19
XII. took him by the hand--This shows that he must have been quite in his boyhood, and throws a pleasi…
Versículo 21
XIII. and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee--Thus, as is so often the case with God's…
Versículo 23
XIV. two hundred soldiers--a formidable guard for such an occasion; but Roman officials felt their hon…
Versículo 24
XV. beasts . . . set Paul on--as relays, and to carry baggage.
Versículo 26
16. Claudius--the Roman name he would take on purchasing his citizenship.
Versículo 27
17. came I with an army--rather, "with the military."
Versículo 29
18. perceived to be accused of questions of their law, &c.--Amidst all his difficulty in getting at t…
Versículo 30
19. gave commandment to his accusers . . . to say before thee--This was not done when he wrote, but w…
Versículo 31
20. brought him . . . to Antipatris--nearly forty miles from Jerusalem, on the way to CÃ&brvbrsarea; …
Versículo 32
21. On the morrow they--the infantry.
Versículo 34
22. asked of what province he was--the letter describing him as a Roman citizen.
Versículo 35
23. I will hear thee--The word means, "give thee a full hearing."