Year of the Bible
Acts of the Apostles 23
Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 23:
Chapter 23 begins as the Roman military commander has just unbound Paul (22:29) upon learning that Paul was indeed a Roman citizen with the right to a hearing. This representative of the secular governing authorities wanted to know why Paul’s fellow-Jews were accusing him so the Sanhedrin, the council of Jewish leaders that governed the Temple, was convened (22:30). The Sanhedrin includes Jews from the Saduccee sect and the Pharisee movement. As in all of his opportunities to witness to Jesus throughout Acts, Paul tailors his speech to his audience, aiming to connect with their background and viewpoints. Some Jews respond positively (vs. 9) but others begin to plot to murder him (vs. 12-13). Paul’s nephew lets the Romans know about the plot, and the government moves Paul to a new place: Caesarea and Governor Felix. Throughout the chaos Paul receives encouragement from the Lord (vs. 11).
The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 23:
1 And Paul, looking intently at the council, said, “Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience up to this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God shall strike you, you white washed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” 5 And 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.’ ”
6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead I am on trial.” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9 Then a great clamor arose; and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks.
11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome.”
The Plot to Kill Paul
12 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 And they went to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 You therefore, along with the council, give notice now to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
16 Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush; so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 And Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune; for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” 19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. 21 But do not yield to them; for more than forty of their men lie in ambush for him, having bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.” 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of this.”
Paul Is Brought to Felix the Governor
23 Then he called two of the centurions and said, “At the third hour of the night get ready two hundred soldiers with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea. 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:
26 “Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greeting. 27 This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And desiring to know the charge on which they accused him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 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.”
31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And the next day they returned to the barracks, leaving the horsemen to go on with him. 33 When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked to what province he belonged. When he learned that he was from Cilicia 35 he said, “I will hear you when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
The hand of Divine Providence once again protects St. Paul from those who would put him to death before his appointed time. How have you seen the providence of God at work in your own life, perhaps rescuing you from danger, or leading you to conversion?
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1 Fijos los ojos en el Sanedrín, Pablo
exclamó:
–¡Hermanos, yo me he comportado
con entera buena conciencia ante Dios
hasta este día!
2 El sumo sacerdote Ananías ordenó
a los que estaban junto a él que le golpeasen en la boca. 3 Entonces Pablo le
dijo:
–¡Dios te golpeará a ti, muro blanqueado!
¿Tú te sientas para juzgarme
con arreglo a la Ley, y contra la Ley
mandas golpearme?
4 Los presentes dijeron:
–¿Ultrajas al sumo sacerdote de Dios?
5 Respondió Pablo:
–No sabía, hermanos, que era el
sumo sacerdote; está escrito: No maldecirás
al príncipe de tu pueblo.
6 Sabiendo Pablo que unos eran saduceos
y otros fariseos, gritó en medio
del Sanedrín:
–¡Hermanos, yo soy fariseo, hijo de
fariseos, y se me juzga por la esperanza
en la resurrección de los muertos!
7 Al decir esto se produjo un enfrentamiento
entre fariseos y saduceos y
se dividió la multitud. 8 Porque los saduceos
dicen que no hay resurrección,
ni ángeles ni espíritus; los fariseos, en
cambio, confiesan una y otra cosa. 9 Se
produjo un enorme griterío y puestos
en pie algunos escribas del grupo de los
fariseos discutían:
–No encontramos nada malo en
este hombre. ¿Y si le ha hablado algún
espíritu o algún ángel?
10 Como el alboroto crecía cada vez
más, temeroso el tribuno de que despedazaran
a Pablo, ordenó a los soldados
bajar, sacarlo de en medio de ellos
y conducirlo al cuartel. 11 Esa noche se le
apareció el Señor y le dijo:
–Mantén el ánimo, pues igual que
has dado testimonio de mí en Jerusalén,
así debes darlo también en Roma.
12 Cuando amaneció, los judíos se reunieron
y se comprometieron bajo juramento
a no comer ni beber hasta haber
dado muerte a Pablo. 13 Los conjurados
eran más de cuarenta. 14 Se presentaron
a los príncipes de los sacerdotes y a los
ancianos y dijeron:
–Bajo juramento nos hemos comprometido
a no comer nada hasta que
no hayamos dado muerte a Pablo.
15 Ahora vosotros, de acuerdo con el Sanedrín,
pedid al tribuno que os lo lleve,
como si desearais examinar más detalladamente
su caso. Nosotros, por nuestra
parte, estamos preparados para matarle
antes de que llegue.
16 El hijo de la hermana de Pablo se
enteró de la conjuración, fue al cuartel,
entró y se lo comunicó a Pablo. 17 Llamó
éste a uno de los centuriones para decirle:
–Conduce a este joven hasta el tribuno,
porque tiene algo que anunciarle.
18 Se lo llevó con él al tribuno diciendo:
–Pablo, el preso, me ha llamado para
rogarme que te trajera a este joven, que
tiene algo que decirte.
19 El tribuno le tomó de la mano, se
retiró con él aparte y le preguntó:
–¿Qué tienes que decirme?
20 Él respondió:
–Los judíos se han puesto de acuerdo
para pedirte que mañana lleves a Pablo
ante el Sanedrín, con el pretexto de
averiguar más exactamente alguna cosa
sobre él. 21 Pero tú no les creas, porque le
preparan un atentado más de cuarenta
de ellos, que se han comprometido bajo
juramento a no comer ni beber hasta
haberle dado muerte y ahora están preparados
en espera de tu conformidad.
22 El tribuno despidió al muchacho
con esta advertencia:
–No digas a nadie que me has comunicado
estas cosas.
23 Llamó luego a dos centuriones y
les dijo:
–Preparad doscientos soldados de a
pie, setenta jinetes y doscientos lanceros,
para ir a Cesarea a la tercera vigilia
de la noche, 24 y tened dispuestas cabalgaduras
para montar a Pablo y ponerlo
a salvo ante el gobernador Félix.
Y escribió una carta en estos términos:
26 «Claudio Lisias al excelentísimo
Prefecto Félix: saludos. 27 De este hombre
se habían apoderado los judíos y lo
iban a matar cuando, al enterarme de
que era romano, acudí con la tropa y le
libré de ellos. 28 Con el deseo de saber
de qué delito le acusaban le bajé a su
Sanedrín 29 y descubrí que le acusaban
de asuntos relativos a su Ley, pero que
no tenía ningún cargo que mereciera
muerte o prisión. 30 Al llegarme noticias
de que preparaban un atentado
contra este hombre, te lo he mandado
enseguida y he indicado a sus acusadores
que presenten ante ti su querella
contra él».
31 Los soldados tomaron a Pablo, según
se les había ordenado, y lo condujeron
de noche a Antípatris. 32 Al día
siguiente, siguieron con él los de caballería
y se volvieron los demás al cuartel.
33 Cuando llegaron a Cesarea entregaron
la carta al gobernador y le presentaron
también a Pablo. 34 Después de leerla le
interrogó sobre su provincia de origen y,
al enterarse de que era de Cilicia, le dijo:
35 –Te juzgaré cuando lleguen tus
acusadores.
Y mandó custodiarlo en el pretorio
de Herodes.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
La mano de la Divina Providencia protege una vez más a San Pablo de los que querían darle muerte antes de su tiempo previsto. ¿Cómo has visto la providencia de Dios actuando en tu propia vida, quizás rescatándote del peligro, o conduciéndote a la conversión?
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dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).