Acts 23

Acts 23:1

The register - Probably the chief governor of the public games. The image which fell down from Jupiter - They believed that very image of Diana, which stood in her temple, fell down from Jupiter in heaven. Perhaps he designed to insinuate, as if falling down from Jupiter, it was not made with hands, and so was not that sort of idols which Paul had said were no gods.

Acts 23:3

Nor blasphemers of your goddess - They simply declared the one God, and the vanity of idols in general.

Acts 23:4

There are proconsuls - One in every province. There was one at Ephesus.

Acts 23:5

In a lawful assembly - In such a regular assembly as has authority to judge of religious and political affairs.

Acts 23:6

This concourse - He wisely calls it by an inoffensive name.

Acts 23:9

After the tumult was ceased - So Demetrius gained nothing. Paul remained there till all was quiet.

Acts 23:10

He came into Greece - That part of it which lay between Macedonia and Achaia.

Acts 23:11

An ambush being laid for him - In his way to the ship.

Acts 23:12

To Asia - There some of them left him. But Trophimus went with him to Jerusalem, Acts 21:29. Aristarchus, even to Rome, Acts 27:2.

Acts 23:14

We set sail - St. Luke was now with St. Paul again, as we learn from his manner of expressing himself.

Acts 23:15

To break bread - That is, to celebrate the Lord’s Supper; continued his discourse - Through uncommon fervour of spirit.

Acts 23:16

There were many lamps in the room where they were assembled - To prevent any possible scandal.

Acts 23:17

In the window - Doubtless kept open, to prevent heat, both from the lamps and the number of people.

Acts 23:18

Paul fell or him - It is observable, our Lord never used this gesture. But Elijah and Elisha did as well as Paul. His life is in him - He is alive again.

Acts 23:19

So departed - Without taking any rest at all.

Acts 23:20

And they brought the young man alive - But alas! How many of those who have allowed themselves to sleep under sermons, or as it were to dream awake, have slept the sleep of eternal death, and fallen to rise no more!

Acts 23:21

Being himself to go on foot - That he might enjoy the company of his Christian brethren a little longer, although he had passed the night without sleep, and though Assos was of difficult and dangerous access by land.

Acts 23:22

Mitylene - Was a city and part of the isle of Lesbos, about seven miles distant from the Asiatic coast. `16. For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus - Which lay on the other side of the bay. He hasted to be at Jerusalem on the day of pentecost - Because then was the greatest concourse of people.

Acts 23:25

Sending to Ephesus, he called the elders of the Church - These are called bishops in the 28th verse, Acts 20:28 (rendered overseers in our translation.) Perhaps elders and bishops were then the same; or no otherwise different than are the rector of a parish and his curates.

Acts 23:26

Ye know - Happy is he who can thus appeal to the conscience of his hearers.

Acts 23:27

Serving - See the picture of a faithful servant! The Lord - Whose the church is, with all humility, and with tears, and trials - These are the concomicants of it. The service itself is described more particularly in the following verse. This humility he recommends to the Ephesians themselves, Ephesians 4:2. His tears are mentioned again, Acts 20:31, as also 2 Corinthians 2:4; Philippians 3:18. These passages laid together supply us with the genuine character of St. Paul. Holy tears, from those who seldom weep on account of natural occurrences, are no mean specimen of the efficacy and proof of the truth of Christianity. Yet joy is well consistent therewith, Acts 20:24. The same person may be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.

Acts 23:28

I have preached - Publicly; and taught - From house to house. Else he had not been pure from their blood. For even an apostle could not discharge his duty by public preaching only. How much less can an ordinary pastor!

Acts 23:29

Repentance toward God - The very first motion of the soul toward God is a kind of repentance.

Acts 23:30

Bound by the Spirit - Strongly impelled by him.

Acts 23:31

Save that - Only this I know in general; the Holy Ghost witnesseth - By other persons. Such was God’s good pleasure to reveal these things to him, not immediately, but by the ministry of others.

Acts 23:32

Nor do I count my life precious - It adds great force to this and all the other passages of Scripture, in which the apostles express their contempt of the world, that they were not uttered by persons like Seneca and Antoninus, who talked elegantly of despising the world in the full affluence of all its enjoyments; but by men who daily underwent the greatest calamities, and exposed their lives in proof of their assertions.

Acts 23:33

Ye shall see my face no more - He wisely inserts this, that what follows might make the deeper impression.

Acts 23:35

For I have not shunned - Otherwise if any had perished, their blood would have been on his head.