Atos 23

Theophylact of Ohrid

Atos 23:1

Paul speaks now not to the people and not to the crowd, "looking intently at the Sanhedrin," that "he had lived with a perfectly good conscience," that is, he is not conscious of being guilty before them in any of his actions, nor deserving of these chains. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:3

"You sit to judge according to the law, and, contrary to the law, you order me to be struck." That is, transgressing the law, becoming guilty of lawlessness; as if to say: "Being worthy of very many punishments." "You whitewashed wall!" He calls him this because although Ananias assumed the bright appearance of a man who supposedly defends the law and judges according to the law, his mind was full of lawlessness. Therefore Paul also exposes in him the hypocritical appearance of outward devotion to the law. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:5

"You revile the high priest of God? Paul said: I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest." How then did he say: "You sit to judge according to the law?" Yes, Paul pretends not to know, but this was not harmful but beneficial for the listeners. But I (Blessed Theophylact) am very convinced that Paul truly did not know that Ananias was the high priest, since Paul had arrived recently in Jerusalem, had not associated with the Jews, and saw Ananias among many other persons. Indeed, among many and various persons the high priest was also inconspicuous. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:6

Again he speaks in a human manner: "I am a Pharisee," but everywhere he is rich in grace. He does not deceive here either, because by his ancestors he is "a son of a Pharisee." And since the Jews did not want to say what they were accusing him of, he considers himself compelled to state it himself: "for the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am being judged," and he justifies himself both by their accusation and slander. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:8

The Sadducees, being senseless, perhaps did not even know God, and therefore do not believe that there will be a resurrection. "The Pharisees acknowledge both." However, the Sadducees do not acknowledge three things (the resurrection, the existence of an Angel, and the existence of a Spirit). How then does the writer say "both"? But Spirit and Angel are one and the same; moreover, "both" is also said of three things. The writings of unlettered men and fishermen should not be measured by the standard of elegant outward refinement that distinguishes the compositions of professional writers — from this heresies are born. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:9

Something is lacking here for the completeness of the thought. The Spirit, it is said, or an Angel suggested to him the content of his speech — it is unknown. Or this is said from the perspective of the Pharisees, and in that case the words "if a spirit or an Angel spoke to him" should be understood thus: "Behold, he speaks of the resurrection; evidently, either the Spirit or an Angel imparted to him the teaching about the resurrection." — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:10

"The commander, fearing." He was afraid lest they tear Paul apart, since he had said that he was a Roman, and the matter was not far from danger. Finally the soldiers snatch him away, I think, as their own property. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:11

The Lord appeared to Paul, since He is a comforter in afflictions. But He did not appear to Paul before he had fallen into danger (the Lord strengthens us also through afflictions), and after His appearance He deigns to save his life by human means. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:14

They say that they "bound themselves with an oath," meaning that they would renounce their faith in God if they did not carry out what they had planned. Thus, if they made a false promise, they were under an oath as deceivers; if they had succeeded in killing Paul, they would again have subjected themselves to a curse as murderers, or God would have anathematized them. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:16

By God's arrangement, the Jews did not notice how "the son of Paul's sister" could hear them. Again Paul is saved through human foresight, since he leaves everyone, even the centurion, in ignorance, so that the matter would not be discovered. One should not condemn Paul for fearing danger — this testifies only to the weakness of his nature (since he was a man) and should serve to the praise of his will, since even while fearing blows and death, he did nothing unworthy of himself because of that fear. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:25

Here is a letter written in defense of him and in accusation of the Jews. Look: Paul is acknowledged as innocent not by the Jews, but by foreigners, just as Christ was by Pilate. — Commentary on Acts

Atos 23:35

"In Herod's praetorium." It is noteworthy that in Caesarea there was a praetorium of Herod. — Commentary on Acts