Acts 23:1 - Forerunner Commentary

Acts 23:1

1 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, ^aI have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him ^ato strike him on the mouth.

3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and ^ado you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

4 And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

5 Then Paul said, ^a“I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ^b‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, ^aI am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; ^bconcerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”

7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.

8 ^aFor Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, ^a“We find no evil in this man; but ^bif a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, ^clet us not fight against God.”

10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

The Plot Against Paul

11 But ^athe following night the Lord stood by him and said,¹ “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in ^bJerusalem, so you must also bear witness at ^cRome.”

12 And when it was day, ^asome of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had ^bkilled Paul.

13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy.

Verse Comparison: Acts 23:1

<< Acts 22:30

Acts 23:2 >>

American Standard Version
And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.

Amplified® Bible
THEN PAUL, gazing earnestly at the council (Sanhedrin), said, Brethren, I have lived before God, doing my duty with a perfectly good conscience until this very day [as a citizen, a true and loyal Jew].

Contemporary English Version
Paul looked straight at the council members and said, "My friends, to this day I have served God with a clear conscience!"

Darby English Version
And Paul, fixing his eyes on the council, said, Brethren, I have walked in all good conscience with God unto this day.

Good News Bible
Paul looked straight at the Council and said, "My fellow Israelites! My conscience is perfectly clear about the way in which I have lived before God to this very day."

International Standard Version
Paul looked straight at the Council and said, "Brothers, with a clear conscience I have done my duty before God up to this very day."

King James Version
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

New American Standard Bible
Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, "Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day."

New International Version
Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day."

New King James Version
Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, " Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day."

Young's Literal Translation
And Paul having earnestly beheld the sanhedrim, said, `Men, brethren, I in all good conscience have lived to God unto this day;'

New English Translation
Paul looked directly¹ at the council² and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience³ before God to this day.”

<< Acts 22:30

Acts 23:2 >>

Join 137,028+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

The Plot Against Paul

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning