Acts 23 - A Study Guide by Kevin Scott

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                         "ACTS OF THE APOSTLES"

                          Chapter Twenty-Three

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To consider the events of Paul before the Sanhedrin

2) To review the plot by the Jews for Paul's life

3) To examine Paul's transport to Caesarea to appear before Governor
   Felix

SUMMARY

When Paul was before the Sanhedrin council, he stated that he had lived
in "all good conscience before God."  Ananias, the high priest,
commanded that he be struck on the mouth.  Paul responded, not knowing
that he was the high priest, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!
For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to
be struck contrary to the law?"  Those standing nearby asked Paul if he
would "revile" the high priest.  Paul then quoted the scriptures, "You
shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people."  Paul recognized that
there were Sadducees and Pharisees present in the Sanhedrin.  He made it
known that he was a Pharisee, and that he was being judged concerning
"the hope and resurrection of the dead."  This caused a dissension among
the Sanhedrin, as the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection and
the Pharisees did believe in the resurrection.  The
scribes of the Pharisees spoke out that they found nothing evil in Paul.
The Roman commander became afraid that harm would come to Paul, so he
ordered the soldiers to take Paul back to the barracks.  (1-10)

The following night, the Lord appeared and spoke to Paul.  He was to be
the Lord's witness at Rome, as he had testified for Him in Jerusalem.
Some Jews then planned to kill Paul.  More than forty Jews banded
together and took an oath to kill him before they ate or drank anything.
The plotting Jews went to the chief priests and elders to present their
plan.  They requested that the chief priests and elders would contact
the commander, and have Paul appear before the council again for further
inquiry.  The forty or more Jews would lie in wait to kill him along the
way.  Paul's nephew heard of the ambush plot.  He went to Paul in the
barracks and told him what he heard.  Paul had his nephew taken to the
commander.  The commander took him aside and heard the plot.  The
commander told the young man to tell no one that they had spoken about
the plot.  Paul's nephew then departed from the commander.  (11-22)

Next, Paul was to be sent to Felix at Caesarea by night.  The commander
had two centurions prepare the men to take Paul.  200 Soldiers, 70
horsemen, and 200 spearmen were readied.  They were to take Paul to
Caesarea at the third hour of the night.  Paul was to go before governor
Felix.  The commander wrote a letter to Felix to accompany Paul.  The
commander, Claudius Lysias, addressed the letter to "the most excellent
governor Felix."  The letter summarized the situation with Paul.  The
Jews had seized Paul and were about to kill him.  Troops were sent to
rescue Paul.  In an attempt to learn of the Jews' accusation of Paul, he
took him before the Sanhedrin council.  He only learned that Paul was
accused "concerning questions of the law," but nothing deserving death
or imprisonment.  The commander learned of a plot to ambush and kill
Paul.  Due to this discovery, he sent Paul to Felix and ordered his
accusers to appear before Felix to state their charges against him.  The
letter gave Felix the background.  The soldiers, horsemen, and spearmen
took Paul by night to Antipatris.  The next day, the horsemen continued,
and took Paul to Caesarea, while the soldiers and spearmen returned.
They presented Paul and the letter to Felix.  The governor inquired
where Paul was from and understood that he was from Cilicia.  He agreed
to hear Paul when his accusers arrived.  Felix had Paul held in Herod's
Praetorium.  (23-35)

OUTLINE

I. PAUL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN COUNCIL (1-10)

   A. THE HIGH PRIEST ANANIAS COMMANDED FOR PAUL TO BE STRUCK ON THE
      MOUTH (1-3)
      1. Paul stated he had lived in "all good conscience before God"
      2. Ananias commanded that Paul be struck on the mouth
      3. Paul responded, not knowing that Ananias was high priest
         a. Paul said, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!"
         b. Paul noted that he had commanded him to be struck contrary
            to the law

   B. PAUL DID NOT RECOGNIZE ANANIAS AS HIGH PRIEST (4-5)
      1. When Paul spoke to Ananias, those standing near asked, "Do you
         revile God's high priest?"
      2. Paul did not know Ananias was the high priest
         a. Paul quoted scripture in response
         b. "You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people"

   C. THE SANHEDRIN WAS DIVIDED (6-10)
      1. Paul recognized that there were Sadducees and Pharisees present
         in the Sanhedrin
      2. Paul made it known that he was a Pharisee and was being judged
         concerning "the hope and resurrection of the dead"
         a. This caused a dissension among the Sanhedrin
         b. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection; the
            Pharisees did believe in the resurrection
         c. The scribes of the Pharisees spoke out that they found
            nothing evil in Paul
      3. The Roman commander became afraid that harm would come to Paul
      4. The commander ordered the soldiers to take Paul back to the
         barracks

II. THE JEWISH PLOT AGAINST PAUL'S LIFE (11-22)

   A. THE LORD SPOKE TO PAUL (11)
      1. The Lord appeared and spoke to Paul the following night
      2. Paul was to be the Lord's witness at Rome

   B. THE JEWS PLANNED TO KILL PAUL (12-15)
      1. More than forty Jews banded together and took an oath to kill
         Paul before they ate or drank anything
      2. The plotting Jews went to the chief priests and elders to
         present their plan
         a. The chief priests and elders were to contact the commander
         b. They wanted Paul to be called before the council again for
            further inquiry
         c. The forty Jews would lie in wait to kill him along the way

   C. THE PLOT WAS DISCOVERED (16-22)
      1. Paul's nephew heard of the ambush plot
      2. He went to Paul in the barracks and told him what he had heard
      3. Paul had his nephew taken to the commander
         a. The commander took him aside and heard the plot
         b. The commander told the young man to tell no one that they
            had spoken about the plot
         c. Paul's nephew departed from the commander

III. PAUL WAS SENT TO FELIX AT CAESAREA BY NIGHT (23-35)

   A. THE COMMANDER HAD TWO CENTURIONS PREPARE TO TAKE PAUL (23-24)
      1. 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen were prepared
      2. They were to take Paul to Caesarea at the third hour of the
         night
      3. Paul was to go before governor Felix

   B. THE COMMANDER WROTE A LETTER TO FELIX (25-30)
      1. Claudius Lysias was the Roman commander's name
      2. The letter was address to "the most excellent governor Felix"
      3. The letter summarized the situation with Paul
         a. The Jews had seized Paul and were about to kill him
         b. Troops were sent to rescue Paul
         c. To learn of the Jews' accusation, the commander took Paul
            before the Sanhedrin
         d. He only learned that Paul was accused "concerning questions
            of the law," but nothing deserving death or imprisonment
         e. The commander learned of a plot to ambush and kill Paul
         f. Due to this, he sent Paul to Felix and ordered his accusers
            to appear before Felix to state their charges against him

   C. PAUL WAS TAKEN TO CAESAREA AND PRESENTED TO FELIX (31-35)
      1. The soldiers, horsemen, and spearmen took Paul by night to
         Antipatris
      2. The next day, the horsemen continued, and took Paul to
         Caesarea, while the soldiers and spearmen returned
      3. They presented Paul and the letter to Felix
         a. Felix inquired where Paul was from and understood that he
            was from Cilicia
         b. He agreed to hear Paul when his accusers arrived
         c. He had Paul held in Herod's Praetorium

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main events in this chapter?
   - Paul before the Sanhedrin (1-10)
   - The Jewish plot against Paul's life (11-22)
   - Paul was sent to Felix at Caesarea by night (23-35)

2) How did Paul begin his address to the Sanhedrin? (1)
   - "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God
     until this day." (1)

3) How did the high priest Ananias respond? (2)
   - He commanded him to be struck on the mouth (2)

4) Why did Paul take issue with that action? (3)
   - They were supposedly judging him according to the law, but they
     were acting contrary to the law by striking him (3)

5) Did Paul know that Ananias was the high priest?  (4-5)
   - No (5)

6) What did Paul recognize (or "perceive") about the council? (6)
   - He recognized that one part was Sadducees and the other Pharisees
     (6)

7) What was the noted difference between the Sadducees and Pharisees?
   (7-8)
   - Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, nor angels or
     spirits (8)
   - Pharisees believed in the resurrection, and angels and spirits (8)

8) For what did Paul say he was being judged? (6)
   - "concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead" (6)

9) Who said, "We find no evil in this man?" What was their
   recommendation? (9)
   - The scribes of the Pharisees' party (9)
   - "let us not fight against God" (9)

10) Why did the commander order that Paul be taken to the barracks? (10)
   - He was afraid he would be "pulled to pieces" (10)

11) Who appeared to Paul the following night?  What did He say? (11)
   - The Lord (11)
   - "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in
     Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." (11)

12) What did some of the Jews band together to do?  What was their oath?
    About how many banded together?  (12-13)
   - They banded together to kill Paul (12)
   - Not to eat or drink until they killed Paul (12)
   - More than forty Jews (13)

13) Describe the plot to kill Paul. (14-15)
   - The plotting Jews wanted the Sanhedrin council to call back before
     them for "further inquiries" (15)
   - They planned to ambush (kill) Paul before he arrived (15)

14) Who heard about the ambush?  Who did he go tell?  What did he do
    next? (16-22)
   - Paul's sister's son (Paul's nephew) heard about the ambush (16)
   - He went to the barracks and told Paul (16)
   - Paul had him taken to the commander (17)
   - The commander took him aside privately, and Paul's nephew described
     what he had heard about the ambush (19-21)
   - The commander let him go, and told the young man to tell no one
     that he had discussed this with him (22)

15) What did the commander do after learning of the plot? (23-30)
   - He told two centurions to prepare men to go to Caesarea (23)
   - 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen (23)
   - They were to take Paul to Felix by night (23-24)
   - He wrote a letter to Felix, summarizing Paul's situation (25-30)

16) What question did Felix ask upon receiving Paul and the letter?
    (33-34)
   - He asked what province Paul was from (34)
   - He learned that he was from Cilicia (34)

17) When did Felix agree to hear Paul's case? (35)
   - When his accusers arrived (35)

18) Where was Paul kept, while waiting for the accusers? (35)
   - Herod's Praetorium (35)
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