Acts 23:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

NIV: When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.

NASB: When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you.'

CSB: When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in your presence.

NLT: But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.'

KJV: And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

NKJV: And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.

Claudius Lysias is a young Roman army officer in command of the barracks in Jerusalem. His job is to keep the peace on behalf of the governor who lives on the coast in Caesarea Maritima. A few days prior, he was notified of a near-riot on the temple mount. A mob was beating a man but didn't seem to know why (Acts 21:27–34). The tribune arrested the man and took him to the Sanhedrin to try to discover what he had done that was so egregious. While discussing it, factions within the Sanhedrin started fighting (Acts 23:1–10). The next day, the Sanhedrin conspired with forty other Jews to have the man assassinated (Acts 23:12–15).

The tribune is sending the man to the governor with a letter, requesting the governor take over the investigation (Acts 23:23–25). To that end, the tribune has ordered representatives of the Sanhedrin to present their case.

The "man" is Paul. The mob attacked him because Jews from Asia—a district in modern-day Turkey—thought he took a Gentile into the temple. When Paul is before the Sanhedrin, however, he disrupts their unity by declaring he is a Pharisee who is on trial because he believes in the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees flock to his aid while the Sadducees violently disagree.

We don't know who the "Jews" are that initiate the assassination attempt (Acts 23:12). The term "Jews" usually mean religions leaders, but they may be the men from Asia—they may even be religious leaders from Asia. It's unlikely their problem with Paul is that he believes in the resurrection of the dead—so do the Pharisees, and although Pharisees are the minority in the Sanhedrin, they're very popular with the people.

When Paul's accusers, and their lawyer, present their case before Governor Felix, they claim, "For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him" (Acts 24:5–6). This charge is more in line with the Asians at the temple.

Paul, however, dismisses the charge of rioting, says his "sect" is fully in line with the prophets, and points out that the Asians who made the false accusation should be there themselves to accuse him. He then challenges the Sanhedrin representatives to reveal why they really want him arrested, as their charges so far have been spurious (Acts 24:10–21).

With this letter, the tribune is rid of Paul. He sends him to Caesarea with a significant escort (Acts 23:23) and conveniently neglects to go to the governor to present his own evidence (Acts 24:22). Paul stays under house arrest for two years until Felix is replaced by Festus (Acts 24:27). In a moment of frustration, Paul appeals his stalled case to Caesar, and Festus grants his request (Acts 25:11–12).

Acts 23 continues the tribune's attempt to discover why a mob of Jews suddenly turned violent and attacked Paul (Acts 21:27–33). He takes Paul to the Sanhedrin to see if they understand what his crime is. Paul barely begins his story when he is slapped for impudence. He disrespects the high priest and starts a fight between the Pharisees and Sadducees. The next day, a group of forty Jews invite the Sanhedrin to help them murder Paul. Paul's nephew reports the plot to the tribune who gives up and sends Paul to the governor. The governor awaits Paul's accusers for trial.

Jews from near Ephesus accused Paul of bringing a Gentile into the temple and incited a crowd to attack him. The tribune saved Paul but couldn't uncover the reason for the violence; most of the mob didn't know, and Paul was a Roman citizen, so the tribune couldn't beat the truth out of him (Acts 21—22). When the Sanhedrin would rather murder Paul than talk to him, the tribune sends Paul to the governor. The governor holds Paul without charges for so long he invokes his right to a trial before Caesar. The governor agrees, and Paul finally gets to Rome (Acts 24—28).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.