Chapter 23:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Acts 23
Concise Complete
Paul's defence before the council of the Jews. (1-5)
Paul's defence. He receives a Divine assurance that he shall go to Rome. (6-11)
The Jews conspire to kill Paul, Lysias sends him to Cesarea. (12-24) Lysias's
letter to Felix. (25-35)
Verses 1-5 See here
the character of an honest man. He sets God before him, and lives as in his
sight. He makes conscience of what he says and does, and, according to the best
of his knowledge, he keeps from whatever is evil, and cleaves to what is good.
He is conscientious in all his words and conduct. Those who thus live before
God, may, like Paul, have confidence both toward God and man. Though the answer
of Paul contained a just rebuke and prediction, he seems to have been too angry
at the treatment he received in uttering them. Great men may be told of their
faults, and public complaints may be made in a proper manner; but the law of God
requires respect for those in authority.
Verses 6-11 The
Pharisees were correct in the faith of the Jewish church. The Sadducees were no
friends to the Scripture or Divine revelation; they denied a future state; they
had neither hope of eternal happiness, nor dread of eternal misery. When called
in question for his being a Christian, Paul might truly say he was called in
question for the hope of the resurrection of the dead. It was justifiable in
him, by this profession of his opinion on that disputed point, to draw off the
Pharisees from persecuting him, and to lead them to protect him from this
unlawful violence. How easily can God defend his own cause! Though the Jews
seemed to be perfectly agreed in their conspiracy against religion, yet they
were influenced by very different motives. There is no true friendship among the
wicked, and in a moment, and with the utmost ease, God can turn their union into
open enmity. Divine consolations stood Paul in the most stead; the chief captain
rescued him out of the hands of cruel men, but the event he could not tell.
Whoever is against us, we need not fear, if the Lord stand by us. It is the will
of Christ, that his servants who are faithful, should be always cheerful. He
might think he should never see Rome; but God tells him, even in that he should
be gratified, since he desired to go there only for the honour of Christ, and to
do good.
Verses 12-24 False
religious principles, adopted by carnal men, urge on to such wickedness, as
human nature would hardly be supposed capable of. Yet the Lord readily
disappoints the best concerted schemes of iniquity. Paul knew that the Divine
providence acts by reasonable and prudent means; and that, if he neglected to
use the means in his power, he could not expect God's providence to work on his
behalf. He who will not help himself according to his means and power, has
neither reason nor revelation to assure him that he shall receive help from God.
Believing in the Lord, we and ours shall be kept from every evil work, and kept
to his kingdom. Heavenly Father, give us by thy Holy Spirit, for Christ's sake,
this precious faith.
Verses 25-35 God
has instruments for every work. The natural abilities and moral virtues of the
heathens often have been employed to protect his persecuted servants. Even the
men of the world can discern between the conscientious conduct of upright
believers, and the zeal of false professors, though they disregard or understand
not their doctrinal principles. All hearts are in God's hand, and those are
blessed who put their trust in him, and commit their ways unto him.
Chapter 23:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 John Romans
Genesis
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