Having a Bible Study Guide for Acts 23 can be a great asset in your Christian life. Whether you want to better understand the story of Paul and his mission to the Gentile world, or you want to study how the Jewish culture reacted to him, this guide can help.
ACTS 23:1-10 PAUL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN COUNCIL
Whether you are a student of the Bible or just a regular reader of the New Testament, you should have a good understanding of the events surrounding the trial of Paul. This is an embarrassing incident in Paul’s life, but the Lord helped him get out of it.
The Sanhedrin is the Jewish high court. It was a court of law, that was made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees and Sadducees had been rivals for centuries. However, Paul brought up the resurrection of the dead, which ignited a conflict. The Pharisees rallied to Paul, and the Sadducees became hostile.
The Bible says Paul was persecuted for bringing Gentiles into a Jewish area. In his day, this was a capital offense. However, there was no proof that he did anything wrong. The high priest believed that Paul was disrespectful.
The Sanhedrin voted against Paul, but he was able to gain release from the mob. The mob wanted to kill Paul. However, a Roman escort rescued Paul from the mob. This escort was led by an officer known as a captain. The captain told Paul that his citizenship was a matter of concern. He agreed to hear him.
The captain also asked for permission to speak to Paul from the steps of Fort Antonia. The captain readily assented. Paul’s nephew informed the captain that there was a plot to assassinate Paul.
ACTS 23:11-22 THE JEWISH PLOT AGAINST PAUL’S LIFE
During the early days of his conversion, Paul had a burning desire to bring Christ to the Jewish people in Jerusalem. He knew that there were significant theological differences between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. But he also knew that the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court, was divided between the two factions.
Paul, an ex-Pharisee, had a good conscience. When asked about the miracles of Christ, he answered, “I have not seen him, but he has spoken to me.” The apostle Paul was a good citizen of the commonwealth of God. He was aware that the Sadducees held authority over the Sanhedrin.
Paul had an opportunity to speak to the Sanhedrin. He argued with them about the resurrection of Christ. He was accused of bringing Gentiles into the restricted Jewish territory. He also was accused of breaking a law of Israel. His speech was received with skepticism.
The Jews, however, formed a conspiracy to kill Paul. A whole mob came together to condemn him. They were waiting for a suitable time to attack. In the end, the Roman commander acted quickly to stop the conspiracy.
In the end, the Roman commander was not the author of the evil act, but God was. He was using the evil men to further His plans.
PAUL WAS SENT TO FELIX AT CAESAREA BY NIGHT
During the time when apostle Paul was arrested for preaching the gospel in Jerusalem, he was sent to Felix at Caesarea by night. Felix was governor of Judea and Samaria, and he was accountable to Rome. Felix was known for his ability to keep peace in the region. He was an experienced politician who understood the importance of Judaism. He knew that Jews had an aversion to the gospel. He feared that they would react with violence against him.
Felix listened to the case and decided to delay the decision until he received more evidence. He also decided to allow Paul’s friends to care for him. He feared that a mob would kill Paul before he could come to trial. He waited for a bribe from Paul to delay the verdict.
While in prison, Felix tried to pacify Paul and give him more time to prepare for his trial. He knew that Felix was an expert in Judaism and Christianity, and he knew that the Jews had an aversion to the gospel. As Felix was the first person to hear Paul’s case, he would also be the first person to speak at this level. He would also be the first person to hear that Paul came from Cilicia.
