Acts 23:35 - Printer Friendly

ESV: he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.

NIV: he said, 'I will hear your case when your accusers get here.' Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

NASB: he said, 'I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive as well,' giving orders for Paul to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.

CSB: he said, "I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers also get here." He ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

NLT: I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,' the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.

KJV: I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.

NKJV: he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.

Paul is in the praetorium—the residence of the governor—in Caesarea Maritima, awaiting trial. He hasn't committed any crime, but the Roman army tribune from Jerusalem is overwhelmed by and afraid of the Jewish Sanhedrin and has sent Paul to the governor. Governor Felix is awaiting Paul's accusers from Jerusalem—the same men who conspired to kill him (Acts 23:12–15).

In the few days Paul was in Jerusalem, three sets of people accused him of crimes. Unnamed persons claimed he taught that Jews didn't have to follow the Mosaic law (Acts 21:20–21). Jews from the province of Asia in southwest modern-day Turkey falsely accused Paul of bringing a Gentile into the temple (Acts 21:27–28). And the Sadducees of the Sanhedrin don't know what Paul did but they're sure he deserves death (Acts 23:1–10). The Roman tribune, Lysias, can neither find a valid charge against Paul nor keep him safe; he hopes the governor has the knowledge and experience to resolve the issue (Acts 23:26–30).

In five days, the high priest, a lawyer, and some representative elders arrive and present their case; Paul's accusers from the temple are nowhere to be found (Acts 24:1, 18–19). The Jewish leaders claim Paul has been inciting riots and profaning the temple (Acts 24:2–8). Unfortunately for them, Felix knows quite a bit about Christianity and doesn't believe them. He tells them he'll wait for Lysias to arrive and give his own testimony (Acts 24:22). The Jewish leaders leave but Lysias never shows, possibly afraid Paul will reveal Lysias almost flogged a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25–29). As a favor to the Jews, and seeking a bribe from Paul, Felix leaves Paul under house arrest. He alternates between calling Paul to discuss religion and sending him away when Paul's words prove too convicting. Two years later, Festus replaces Felix and Paul is still waiting. (Acts 23:24–27).

But Jesus has told Paul he will go to Rome (Acts 23:11). In frustration, Paul appeals his case to Caesar (Acts 25:11). Paul can give his testimony to King Agrippa II (Acts 26) before taking a harrowing trip across the Mediterranean to Rome where he stays for two years (Acts 28:30).

Acts 23:23–35 records Paul escaping a death plot in Jerusalem. He then travels to the governor in Caesarea Maritima. Jews and their leaders attacked Paul and conspired for his death, and the Roman tribune can't determine why (Acts 21:27–34). The governor agrees to hold a trial not yet knowing Paul's accusers don't have a case and the tribune will never arrive to give his side of the story. He holds Paul without charges for two years until the new governor sends Paul to Caesar in Rome.

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.