Acts 23:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

NIV: Paul replied, 'Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.''

NASB: And Paul said, 'I was not aware, brothers, that he is high priest; for it is written: ‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’?'

CSB: "I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest," replied Paul. "For it is written, You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people."

NLT: I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,' Paul replied, 'for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’ '

KJV: Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

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

Paul has just learned that he disrespected the high priest. Paul had told the Sanhedrin his conscience is clear. The high priest, knowing Paul had been a devout Jew but now follows Jesus, ordered him struck. Paul responded by comparing him to a whitewashed wall: clean on the inside and rotten on the inside. Those standing closest to Paul tell him he's talking to the high priest (Acts 23:1–4). Paul quotes Exodus 22:28: "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people."

Scholars debate as to what Paul knew and when. Some think he had been away from Jerusalem for so long he didn't know who was serving as high priest. Others think he suffered a permanent vision disruption at his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3–18). Still others think he knew exactly what he was doing and is responding sarcastically.

If Paul doesn't know Ananias is high priest, his comment here may be sincere, but even then, it's highly likely Paul is being sarcastic. The strike was illegal; Paul isn't on trial and hasn't been convicted of anything, so they have no legal right to beat him (Deuteronomy 25:1–3). His sarcasm would imply that, surely, a high priest wouldn't break the Mosaic law! This one would and does regularly. Ananias steals the support meant for the younger priests and uses violence and murder when it serves his purposes. If Paul knows this, he's saying Ananias has no right to be a ruler of the people.

At this point, Paul realizes any chance to introduce the Sanhedrin to Jesus is gone. He also needs to divert their attention so they forget what he's said to the high priest. He realizes the council is made of Pharisees, who believe in the resurrection of the dead, and Sadducees, who don't. He loudly declares he is a Pharisee and the charge of heresy simmering just under the surface is the message of resurrection. The Pharisees immediately defend him while the Sadducees declare their horror at such a thought. Before long, the two sides are literally fighting and the tribune takes Paul away before they tear him apart (Acts 23:6–10).

Acts 23:1–11 records a Roman military tribune's last effort to uncover why a mob attacked Paul. The crowd dragged him out of the temple and beat him mercilessly (Acts 21:27–33). The tribune asks the Sanhedrin for help, but there are too many divisions. The Sanhedrin can't abide Christians. Paul can't fathom their rejection of Jesus. The Sadducees and Pharisees quickly fall into an old fight about the resurrection of the dead. The tribune takes Paul back to the barracks where, that night, Jesus tells Paul he's on his way to 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.