#1608 Acts 23 Part 3 Entourage

 

23 And when he called to him two of the centurions, he said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to proceed to Caesarea by the third hour of the night, 24 and provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.

27 “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.

28 And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin;

29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.

30 “And when I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to speak against him before you.”

31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 And when he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium. Acts 23: 23-35 LSB

Acts 23: 23-35

V. 23 Two Centurions - Men over a hundred men each, like century is a hundred years. He is putting together a rather large group of men, including horsemen, so this enables him to send people ahead and also surround Paul with a multitude, making it very difficult for his would be assassins to reach him. They are probably getting weak from hunger at this point as well, but this commander, Lysias, is not taking any chances. The threat is very real so he is exercising precautions first in keeping everyone quiet about their movement, and secondly, being prepared if someone does have loose lips that announce this plan to the wrong people. Centurions were men who could be trusted with great levels of responsibility, who could lead even under fire. I am reminded of Jesus' encounter with another centurion.

5 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” 7 And Jesus *said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not good enough for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this man, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12 but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment. Matthew 8: 5-13

Vs. 24-25 Mounts to put Paul on - This was probably pretty first class compared to the way Paul usually travelled. 

They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor - The idea was not just security (470 soldiers) but speed. The Romans provide a horse for Paul to ride to Caesarea. "Ahead of him, before he even came to Rome, lay two years of confinement in Caesarea. And after he arrived at Rome he was a prisoner there at least another three years....But ahead there are two lonely years of waiting in Caesarea, during which nothing is recorded of his ministry. I am sure he had a ministry during that time, but there is no account of it in the Scriptures. " (Stedman)

Andrews on Felix - History tells us that Marcus Antonius Felix was not a good man. Felix was appointed as governor of the province of Judea in 52 A.D and there he reigned for seven years. He owed his high standing in the Roman government of his brother Pallas who had great influence during the reign if the Roman Emperor Claudius. Felix was a cruel man who reigned with an iron fist. (Ibid) - PA

Vs. 26-27 Having learned that he was a Roman - He left out the part about almost flogging him, but to his credit he is really trying to make up for it and get Paul to the governor safely. 

Vs. 28-29 No accusation deserving death or imprisonment - It was a theological disagreement, and often accompanied by false accusations. It is as often a case of Who is this Christ that Paul keeps going on about? Rome held the power of the death penalty, and it could not be a light thing when dealing with a citizen. 

13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.… 1 Peter 2: 13-15

V. 30 A plot against the man - Rome had to govern and protect it's citizens against terrorism and mob rule. These 40 men had taken a vow not to eat until they had killed Paul, but God tells Paul beforehand that he will go to Rome, that it's not over yet, so this chapter has been a huge study on the working out of all these things, the providence of God. 40 come against him but now he is being escorted by 470. 

Vs. 31-35 From Cilicia - Interesting historical note because this would effect the how and where Paul was to be tried. 

Ray Stedman notes that "There were two kinds of provinces in the Roman Empire: There were those under the control of the Roman senate, and those which reported to the emperor (See map from 117 AD of these two types of provinces - note Cilicia just above the island of Cyprus) -- the imperial provinces. He learns that Paul is from Cilicia which, like Judea, is an imperial province under the direct control of the emperor himself, responsible to him. And so the steps are being laid, as God is operating behind the scenes to pave the way, for bringing Paul and the emperor, Nero, face to face. God is going to accomplish it his way." These are his wheels within wheels (Ezekiel 1:15-21) by which he manipulates human history. It might not look as if God were involved at all, and yet all these incidents are occurring at his command, accomplishing his purposes. The striking thing from this part of the story is that God has no trouble handling history. That is no problem. He can work out his will through human events without any difficulty whatsoever. Even stubborn, obstinate, resistant, rebellious people can be used by God to bring people to where he wants them and to do what he wants done. But what gives him grief and heartache is when his own people resist his will and stubbornly determine to have something which God has said it is not time for yet. They are the ones who halt and limit the program of God. As long as the hearts of his people are right, before him, he has no difficulty. It is only when, because of an overwhelming desire for our own way, we step out of his purposes that we find ourselves in conflict with the movement of history and, like the apostle, suffer hurt and limitation as a result. And, you know, since I have been studying this through, I have to tell you that every day I must say to myself, "Look, Stedman, you can fall, too. You can miss God's will. You can get so intent on something that you think is right, and press and push for it so hard, that you too can miss the will of God." My heart's cry is that God will keep me from that. And I hope that you are praying that way, too. Be alert, be sensitive to the warning of the Holy Spirit, so that you may always walk in his purposes. (Acts 22:30-23:35 Love That Never Lets Go) - PA

#1607 Acts 23 Part 2 Son Of Providence

 

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him to the commander.

The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” Acts 23: 12-22 LSB

Acts 23: 12-22

Vs. 12-14 Neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul - Not just a hunger strike, but a conspiracy to murder. It sounds great at the time, when you're all drunk on rage and boasting with your buddies, yeah, we are going to this thing, make a pact, and possibly starve to death or look really stupid. Humans love ceremony and symbolism, but don't be confused, that stuff doesn't make what you are doing right or wise. The Bible speaks to this and these Jewish men would know that. People swear all the time, and in a day and age when words have lost meaning because truth is no longer esteemed, we forget that the One Who spoke the world into existence puts a premium upon words, saying, "thou shalt not lie" as in Leviticus 19, or "bear false witness" in Exodus 20. 

1Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the lives of those you killed!” 3And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,… 1 Kings 19: 1-3

…28Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD. 29No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death. Leviticus 27: 28-29

24Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food. 25Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.…

…26And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath. 27Jonathan, however, had not heard that his father had charged the people with the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened. 28Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ That is why the people are faint.”… 1 Samuel 14: 24-28

33Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 34But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.… Matthew 5: 33-35

v. 15 On the pretext of wanting more accurate information - So they went to the Sanhedrin which would be like the Jewish Supreme Court, only this was under the time of Roman rule and Paul is a Roman citizen, so they are outside of their jurisdiction. This is how bad they hated Paul, 40 men, and now bringing in the religious rulers. They have lost their minds, and must be getting hungry now, so they seek help to speed up the process. 

Longenecker - They pledged that they would kill him as he was brought from the Fortress of Antonia north of the temple to the hall of the Sanhedrin southwest of the temple area. (Ibid)

Jack Arnold - The fact that God uses evil men does not mean that men are robots. Men are always responsible for their evil actions and attitudes. God’s providence governs man but it governs him in such a way that man is not robbed of the degree of liberty necessary for him to remain responsible for his own actions. God's plan includes the evil actions of men and yet in such a way that He is not responsible for the evil. Men are responsible for their evil and they are held accountable, but all this never occurs outside God's secret will. This is a very hard concept to understand, but the Bible illustrates it best of all for us from the life of Joseph. Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery which was a very evil act. Years later, after God used that evil as a stepping stone to make Joseph Pharaoh's right hand man, Joseph could say, “And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen. 50:20). - PA

Vs. 16-19 But when the son of Paul's sister heard this plot - This is some fascinating information, that Paul had family still alive, that they were this close to the Sanhedrin; very providential. Did his nephew become a believer or was he just sane enough to realize this was over the top? Awe, so many questions this brings up, but I can't find the answers.

Jack Andrews - No matter how hard the men tried, how much the men connived, the plans of men cannot override the providence of God. St. Augustine wrote, “Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence. (Ibid)

But - And what a term of contrast this is! God just happens to have the son of Paul's sister within earshot of the discussion of the plot to kill Paul! Talk about coincidence! God is behind all "coincidences" in our life!

The son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush - Luke does not tell us where this young man overheard the plot, but presumably they are still in the council chambers. God makes sure that he hears the details of the plot. - PA

18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” 20And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”… 1 Corinthians 3: 18-20

Vs. 20-22 Don't tell anyone that you have reported this to me - I have seen men plot before and it not go according to plan. I also leave room here for grace because some have plotted and then changed their minds, and even come to respect the person they initially hated. 

MacArthur - If the conspirators realized their plot had been uncovered, they would undoubtedly have abandoned it and formulated another. And if that one were not discovered, Lysias reasoned, Paul might be killed. Further, if the Jews did not know that he knew of the plot, they could not question his motives for sending Paul to Caesarea. (Ibid) - PA

#1606 Acts 23 Part 1 A Good Conscience

 

Now Paul, looking intently at the Sanhedrin, said, “Brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” 4 But those standing nearby said, “Do you revile the high priest of God?” 5 And Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6 But knowing that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7 As he said this, there was dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 And there occurred a great outcry; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 And as a great dissension was developing, because the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them, he ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.

11 But on that very night, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly borne witness to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness at Rome also.” Acts 23: 1-11 LSB

Acts 23: 1-11

V. 1 Brothers, I have lived my life in all good conscience before God up to this day - He doesn't say he has never done anything wrong, but has confessed that in his testimony, that he killed Christians in the name of God, in ignorance. These men would like to do the same to him. It says that love covers a multitude of sins, but it doesn't say, covers up. Paul is very open in his testimony, and it keeps him humble and grounded. Too often we desire to be held high by people, in their words and thoughts, to appear to have lived a good life, but if we don't see and confess our sin, then it is not in good conscience. He calls them brothers, since they are that after the flesh. We need to get to the point that we realize this about all of humanity, we all come from Adam and Eve, but he has this special bond with the Jews, this heritage of the law and the prophets. It was from this people that Messiah was promised and came, first to die and later to reign. Paul isn't saying this from pride, not at all, his strength actually came from humility.

…8And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth. 9For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.…

11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. 12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.… 1 Corinthians 15: 8-13

…8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.… 2 Corinthians 12: 8-10

V. 2 Strike him on the mouth - I have started a lot of fights with my mouth, but usually saying something much more egregious. People who sit in the seat of judgment, wearing the clothes that give the appearance of holiness, usually can't take much of the truth. They lash out or feign injury. Paul is calling Ananias a hypocrite.

The high priest (archiereus) Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth - So much for the idea of innocent until proven guilty! As Knowling says Ananias' "act was illegal and peculiarly offensive to a Jew at the hands of a Jew." The high priest's action reminds us of a similar response to Jesus "When He had said this (Jn 18:20,21), one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”" (John 18:22)

I like what Joseph Parker said "But goodness always awakens wickedness. The man presiding over the council was the embodiment of every crime that could defile personal character and debase official dignity. Josephus paints his portrait, and the portrait is one mass of darkness, and no later historian has ventured to add one touch of light to the infinite density. Hearing a man claim a good conscience, he was reminded of his own evil career; and we often seek to make ourselves virtuous by punishing what we believe to be, or apparently conceive to be, the claim of any other man to a good standing and spotless reputation. "Ananias commanded them that stood by Paul to smite him on the mouth." That is the only thing the bad man can do. He has no other shot in his locker; he can only strike, abuse, defame, and cause the innocent to suffer. It is the least power—it is not power; it is the weakness of fury and the fury of weakness." (People's Commentary - Acts) (Bold added)

William Barclay explains that "When the high priest ordered Paul to be struck, he himself was transgressing the Law, which said, "He who strikes the cheek of an Israelite, strikes, as it were, the glory of God." - Precept Austin

V. 3 You white washed wall - Paul addresses the fact that this man is about appearance, but his insides are rotten, decaying. 

…27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. 29Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.… Matthew 23: 27-29

…24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. 25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.… Matthew 23: 24-26

More on Matthew 23

Vs. 4-5 You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people - It's not that rulers can't be wicked; this is no covering for their actions, but when the wicked rule it was a sign of judgement on the people. God will hold them accountable, no one can live long enough in this life to make it worth what they will face in eternity. 

28You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. Exodus 22: 28

20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech. Ecclesiastes 10: 20

1First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority— so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 3This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,… 1 Timothy 2: 1-3

Vs. 6 - 8 I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead - He went about preaching Christ, Whom they had killed and buried in a tomb, but now he claims that He is risen. It is an interesting move, because though they are in unity against Paul, they are actually quite divided in their theology. The Sadducees are much like the liberal church today. They were in love with the things of this world, the ideologies, Greek thought, and like so many today, when the culture says this is what it means to be intellectual, well then who doesn't want to sit at that table? "Only an idiot would believe in the resurrection," though there is this whole miracle of existence that they are a part of without their own doing or comprehending. The Pharisees were more reformed in a sense, yet they missed the coming of the Holy and righteous One. Both were legalist in there own rights, saved by relation to Abraham or by the way they kept the law according to their own interpretation. 

23 On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and asked Him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his wife and raise up a seed for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no seed, he left his wife to his brother; 26 so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. 27 And last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.”

29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” 33 And when the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. Matthew 22: 23-33

…13The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him. 14 You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the Author of life, but God raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses of the fact.… Acts 3: 13-15

Vs. 9-10 We find nothing wrong with this man - Well plaid. The Sadducees hate him because he is a disciple of Christ, and they hated Christ because he interfered with their commerce, flipping over the tables in the temple, and accusing them of stealing widow's houses. The Pharisees weren't in love with him because he questioned their idea of salvation. They knew there was going to be a resurrection, but they assumed that by following a system of works, based somewhat on the law, that they would be found worthy by their endeavors. They added so much stupid stuff to the law, to the point that they could only walk so many feet, and God even allowed for acts of mercy on the Sabbath, but they used the Sabbath as an excuse to not do that unless it benefited them. Paul has sewn some uncertainty here, and now they are reminded of their hatred for each other as well. 

Jack Arnold - Just these few simple words about resurrection triggered a tumultuous argument between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. The Pharisees would not admit that Paul saw the resurrected Christ but they attributed his experience to a supernatural event in which a spirit or an angel appeared to him. Note again God's providential care for Paul. Just a few words were used by God to cause a fight which in turn divided the Sanhedrin which just a few minutes before was solidly against the Apostle Paul. God just laughs at the plans and purposes of puny men and uses the most simple things to bring about His purposes. “The wicked plots against the righteous, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him; for He sees his day coming” (Psalm 37:12, 13). God uses the smallest, insignificant things to accomplish His purposes. Esther and the Jews were saved in the Book of Esther because the King had insomnia. Because he couldn't sleep, he called for the records and found that nothing had been done for Mordecai. Out of royal insomnia arose the deliverance of the Jewish people. Moses' tears as a baby awakened sympathy in Pharaoh's daughter and the Jewish nation was preserved and led out of the land of Egypt. - PA

V. 11 So you must bear witness at Rome also - This is God's way of letting Paul know that this is not the end yet, it's getting close, but he must stand and be judged one more time by man before he is called home. Paul fought against his own self to insure that he did not have a seared conscience, as Luther said, "my conscience is held captive by the word of God."

#1605 Acts 22 Part 2 Flogging Citizens

 

22 And they were listening to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!” 23 And as they were crying out and throwing off their garments and tossing dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, stating that he should be examined by flogging so that he might find out the reason why they were shouting against him that way. 25 But when they stretched him out with leather straps, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?” 26 And when the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported to him, saying, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman.” 27 And the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 And the commander answered, “I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.” And Paul said, “But I have been born a citizen.” 29 Therefore those who were about to examine him immediately withdrew from him; and the commander also was afraid when he learned that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Paul Before the Sanhedrin

30 But on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them. Acts 22: 22-30 LSB

Acts 22: 22-30 LSB

V. 22 They were listening to him up to this statement - His previous statement was towards the end of his testimony, or at least where they cut him off. He stated that God had sent him to minister to the gentiles, and apparently that was a bridge too far. The Jews did not think much of the Gentiles, wanted the time of Gentile rule to be over, but here is a Jew, Paul, who has met Christ, being a light to the Gentile nations. He is well versed in the Old Testament as well, and could easily show that this was God's intent all along, that Israel was to be a light to the other nations. Paul isn't preaching or bearing testimony to anything that God, through Holy Scripture, has not attested to already. Everything in Jewish tradition, from the sacrificial ordinances, the layout of the temple, the prophets and their genealogies, all pointed to Christ, the deliverer received by faith. 

Barton - They were supposed to be a light to the Gentiles, telling them about the one true God, but they had renounced that mission by becoming separatist and exclusive. Did the Jews hate the Gentiles? No. Continual efforts were made by the Jews to try to convert the Gentiles. The implications of Paul's testimony and Christian gospel were clear, however. He was suggesting that the Gentiles could be saved and made right with God without first subscribing to the law and submitting to Jewish circumcision. In effect, Paul was claiming divine approval for the idea that Jews and Gentiles could have equal standing before God. This message collided head-on with the blindness, pride, and prejudice of the Jews. The results were explosive. (Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts) - Precept Austin

…5This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it: 6“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, 7to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.… Isaiah 42: 5-7

…5And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him—for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength— 6He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.” 7Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”… Isaiah 49: 5-7

…17I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. 18And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22: 17-18

V. 22b Away with such a fellow from the earth - Seems a bit harsh, but once people are emotionally charged and set upon hate, they lose regard for human life. Paul could relate to this as Saul, and that was part of the testimony that he just gave. There is zero tolerance here.

V. 23 As they were crying out, and throwing off their garments - An emotional tactic to show just how disturbed they were by this man's existence, much like toddlers when you don't buy them that piece of candy at the checkout. I am not saying that they weren't really mad, I am quite certain they felt anger, but it was not righteous as they would suppose. One of the fruits of the Spirit is self control.

John MacArthur has an interesting thought on what their angry actions represented - Some people would say, “Well, that was just fury, and they were throwing dirt and throwing – you know, like they were mad.” No, I don’t think so. I think they had a very specific purpose. You say, “What do you mean?” Well, you know, I was reading about casting off their clothes, and my mind went back to Acts 22:20, and it says that when Stephen was stoned, Paul was "watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him." You know, whenever they stoned somebody, apparently they took off their outer garment so they could really let the rocks fly. And I think what they were going to do was stone Paul; and since he was clear up at the top of the stairs, it was a long shot. And they started throwing off their outer garments, you see, but they threw dirt. You know why they threw dirt? There weren’t any rocks. They grabbed whatever there was: dirt clods instead of stones. I think they were going to stone him. They were so infuriated. They were in a frenzy, and they began to grab dirt and throw dirt, and threw their clothes off so they could throw it far enough to hit him. What a scene. Can you see how totally stupid and totally irrational they are? All of the logic of Paul’s presentation means nothing. All he does is mention the word “Gentiles” and they go nuts. That’s religious prejudice. - PA

V. 24 Examined by flogging - It's a crazy interrogation method, beat me and then ask me questions. This probably led to many false confessions. 

Robertson on anetazo - Milligan and Moulton's Vocabulary quotes an Oxyrhynchus papyrus of A.D. 127 which has a prefect using the word directing government clerks to "examine" (anetazein) documents and glue them together into volumes (tomoi). The word was evidently in use for such purposes. It was a kind of "third degree" applied to Paul by the use of scourges (mastixin), instrumental plural of mastix, old word for whip, as in Hebrews 11:36. But this way of beginning an inquiry by torture (inquisition) was contrary to Roman law (Page): Non esse a tormentis incipiendum, Divus Augustus statuit.

MacArthur - Scourging by the Roman flagellum (a wooden handle to which were attached leather thongs tipped with bits of metal and bone) was a fearful ordeal from which men frequently died (from loss of blood or infection). Jesus endured it before His crucifixion (John 19:1). Such a beating would have surpassed anything Paul had previously experienced. In preparation, the guards stretched him out with thongs to make his body taut and magnify the effects of the flagellation. (Ibid) - PA

V. 25 When they stretched him out with leather straps - This makes your back come tight and the blows tear deeper into the muscle. If you were a skinny fellow it may expose bone, and being stretched out would go against your bodies response to contract at the pain. Jesus experienced this before the cross. 

V. 25b Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman and uncondemned - Paul knew the law, and sometimes we have to appeal to those who are in authority by way of their own creed. At work I have had to appeal to my companies "Core Values", of honesty, trust and integrity, basically demonstrating that they are outside of this, or they are trying to terminate someone by way of the letter, not understanding the spirit of the law. Amongst fellow believers Paul can appeal to God's word, even when speaking to his Jewish brethren according to the flesh. Sadly, Paul looks like the bad guy here because you have a majority, the mob, throwing a temper tantrum and sighting him as the reason. Again, sadly, in Western Christianity, the person who points out that someone is teaching things that are unsound, or even worse, another gospel, often gets reviled by the crowd, in the name of unity. True brotherly love and compassion would not leave the person unconfronted regarding their error, and it would hope for the sort of unity that comes when we all return to the truth. Our disagreements must be sorted out in Scripture. These Jews are not allowing Paul that grace, and they are the majority, they are louder, but they are wrong. These are not noble Bereans; they are blood thirsty, and they are the actual cause of disunity in that they have not received Christ or His messengers. Paul then moves his appeal to Roman law, for it was a crime to do this to a Roman citizen, which he was. 

Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned - By the Roman law, no magistrate was allowed to punish a Roman citizen capitally, or by inflicting stripes, or even binding him; and the single expression, "I am a Roman citizen," arrested their severest decrees, and obtained, if not an escape, at least a delay of his punishment. - PA

V. 26 This man is a Roman - The commander was being lazy here, trying to pacify the mob. It may seem like the easier rout, but it often doesn't obtain justice when we side with the squeaky wheel. 

MacArthur - To subject a Roman citizen to the flagellum could have destroyed Lysias's military career or even cost him his life. (Ibid) - PA

Vs. 27-28 But I have been born a citizen - Paul didn't have to purchase his. He was born a citizen, and we can see here what a great perk that is, and God's providential hand in getting Paul so far along against such great odds. 

F F Bruce comments - “Something of this sort may have been in the tribune’s mind as he said, It cost me a very large sum of money to obtain Roman citizenship – the implication being that the privilege must have become cheap of late if such a sorry-looking figure as Paul could claim it.”

Longenecker - “The verbal claim to Roman citizenship was accepted at face value; penalties for falsifying documents and making false claims of citizenship were exceedingly stiff – Epictetus speaks of death for such acts.”

John Phillips wrote, “There are times for a believer to claim his civil rights. A believer should be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ, but there is no virtue in suffering merely for suffering’s sake.” (Exploring Acts)

Vs. 29-30 Because he had bound him - He had already overstepped his authority, though unbeknownst.