Acts Of The Apostles – Acts Chapter 23

Acts Of The Apostles – Acts Chapter 23

1. And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
2. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
3. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
4. And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?
5. 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.
6.  But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
7. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
8. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
9. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
10. And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
11. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
12. And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul
13. And there were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
14. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
15. Now, therefore, ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he comes near, are ready to kill him.
16. And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered the castle, and told Paul.
17. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
18. So he took him and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul, the prisoner called me unto him and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
19. Then the chief captain took him by the hand, went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?
20. And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21. But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.
22. So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me.
23. And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
24. And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
25. And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26. Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting
27. This man was taken of the Jews and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman
28. And when 1 would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:
29. Whom I perceived to be accused of Questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
30. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, 1 sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
31. Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32. On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
33. Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him
34. And when the governor had read the letter, he asked what province he was in. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
35. I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.

Read and Learn More The Act Of The Apostles

Chapter 23 – Multiple Choice  Questions

Question 1. Who is the high priest sitting in judgment on Paul? (Acts 23:2)

1. Ananias
2. Caiaphas
3. Telemachus
4. None of the above

Answer: 1. Ananias

“And the high priest Ananias…,” (23:2)

Question 2. ‘And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” What is the response of Ananias to Paul’s words? (Acts 23:2)

1. He laughs at Paul
2. He spits in Paul’s face
3. He listens to Paul attentively
4. None of the above

Answer: 4. None of the above

“And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.” (23:2)

Acts 23 The Plot To Kill Paul And God’S Intervention

Question 3. What is Paul’s argument against what Ananias has just commanded? (Acts 23:3)

1. He says that he is a Roman citizen and cannot be treated this way
2. He says that he is a representative of God and that by attacking him, Ananias attacks God
3. He says that he who picks up the sword shall die by the sword
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

Answer: 5. None of the above

Question 4. “And they that stood by said, ‘Revilest thou God’s high priest?’ 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.” What is Paul’s plan to divide the people? (Acts 23:6)

1. He says that he is a Sadducee, and denies the resurrection of the dead
2. He says that he is a Roman citizen and therefore should be tried by Caesar
3. He says that he was given the baptism of John the Baptist since the people recognized John the Baptist as a prophet
4. None of the above

Answer: 4. None of the above

“But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: Of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question” (23:6)

Question 5. Is Paul’s ruse successful? (Acts 23:7)

1. Yes
2. No
3. It’s not clear
4. None of the above

Answer: 1. Yes

“And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: And the multitude was divided. The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit: But the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: And the scribes that were of the Pharisees part arose, and strove, saying, ‘We find no evil in this man: But if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”‘ (23:7-9)

Acts 23 The Role Of God’S Angels In Protecting Paul

Question 6. “And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.” What happens the following night? (Acts 23:11)

1. God appears to Paul to comfort him
2. A band of Jews tries to get into the prison to kill Paul
3. The Roman soldiers secretly release Paul
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

Answer: 1. God appears to Paul to comfort him

“And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul: For as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”‘ (23:11)

Question 7. “And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse….” What does this band of Jews agree to do? (Acts 23:12)

1. To break into the prison and kill Paul
2. To not eat or drink until they kill Paul
3. To begin a persecution of the Christians in Jerusalem
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

Answer: 2. To not eat or drink until they kill Paul

Question 8. How many are in this band of Jews? (Acts 23:13)

1. 50
2. 100
3. 12
4. None of the above

Answer: 4. None of the above

“And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.” (23:13)

Question 9. What is the plan of this band of Jews to kill Paul? (Acts 23:14-15)

1. They decide to hide outside the prison until Paul is released
2. They decide to tell the chief captain that they have a question for Paul and ask him to bring Paul out of them
3. They decide to infiltrate the prison and kill Paul in his cell
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

Answer: 2. They decide to tell the chief captain that they have a question for Paul and ask him to bring Paul out of them

“And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, ‘We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now, therefore, ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: And we, or ever he comes near, are ready to kill him. ” (23:14-15)

Question 10. “And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, ‘Bring this young man unto the chief captain: For he hath a certain thing to tell him.1 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, ‘Paul the prisoner called me unto him and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.’ Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, ‘What is that thou hast to tell me?”1 What is the response of the chief captain? (Acts 23:22-23)

1. He laughs at Paul’s nephew and throws him out
2. He sends Paul’s nephew away and asks one of his soldiers to look into the allegations
3. He takes the threat seriously and acts on it
4. None of the above

Answer: 3. He takes the threat seriously and acts on it

“And he [Paul’s nephew] said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. But do not thou yield unto them: For there he in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: And now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.’ So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, ‘See thou tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me.’ And he called unto him two centurions, saying, ‘Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred….'” (23:20-23)

Acts 23 Paul’S Wisdom In Handling The Sanhedrin

Question11. When does the chief captain plan on sending Paul away? (Acts 23:23)

1. The next day
2. The next night
3. In a week’s time
4. None of the above

Answer: 4. None of the above

That very night: “And he called unto him two centurions, saying, ‘Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on….”1 (23:23-24)

Question 12. To whom does the chief captain send Paul? (Acts 23:24)

1. To Felix the governor
2. To Jude the governor
3. To the emperor
4. AH of the above
5. None of the above

Answer: 1. To Felix the governor

“And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.” (23:24)

Question 13. Where is Felix the governor located? (Acts 23:33)

1. In Antioch
2. InPatmos
3. In Caesarea
4. None of the above

Answer: 3. In Caesarea

“Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.” (23:33)

Question14. What question does Felix ask Paul? (Acts 23:34)

1. What is it that he is being accused of by the Jews
2. If he really is a Roman citizen
3. From which province Paul is from
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

Answer: 3. From which province Paul is from

“And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia…” (23:34)

Question 15. What is Felix waiting for? (Acts 23:3 5)

1. For permission to send Paul to Rome
2. For Paul’s accusers to present their case
3. For the band of forty Jews to arrive, so as to arrest them
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

Answer: 2. For Paul’s accusers to present their case

“I will hear thee; said he, ’when thine accusers also come,’ And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.” (23:35)