11 And on the following night, the Lord having stood by him, said, 'Take courage, Paul, for as thou didst fully testify the things concerning me at Jerusalem, so it behoveth thee also at Rome to testify.'
12 And day having come, certain of the Jews having made a concourse, did anathematize themselves, saying neither to eat nor to drink till they may kill Paul; 13 and they were more than forty who made this conspiracy by oath, 14 who having come near to the chief priests and to the elders said, 'With an anathema we did anathematize ourselves—to taste nothing till we have killed Paul; 15 now, therefore, ye, signify ye to the chief captain, with the sanhedrim, that to-morrow he may bring him down unto you, as being about to know more exactly the things concerning him; and we, before his coming nigh, are ready to put him to death.' 16 And the son of Paul's sister having heard of the lying in wait, having gone and entered into the castle, told Paul, 17 and Paul having called near one of the centurions, said, 'This young man lead unto the chief captain, for he hath something to tell him.' 18 He indeed, then, having taken him, brought him unto the chief captain, and saith, 'The prisoner Paul, having called me near, asked 'me' this young man to bring unto thee, having something to say to thee.' 19 And the chief captain having taken him by the hand, and having withdrawn by themselves, inquired, 'What is that which thou hast to tell me?' 20 and he said—'The Jews agreed to request thee, that to-morrow to the sanhedrim thou mayest bring down Paul, as being about to enquire something more exactly concerning him; 21 thou, therefore, mayest thou not yield to them, for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who did anathematize themselves—not to eat nor to drink till they kill him, and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from thee.' 22 The chief captain, then, indeed, let the young man go, having charged 'him' to tell no one, 'that these things thou didst shew unto me;'
23 and having called near a certain two of the centurions, he said, 'Make ready soldiers two hundred, that they may go on unto Caesarea, and horsemen seventy, and spearmen two hundred, from the third hour of the night; 24 beasts also provide, that, having set Paul on, they may bring him safe unto Felix the governor;' 25 he having written a letter after this description: 26 'Claudius Lysias, to the most noble governor Felix, hail: 27 This man having been taken by the Jews, and being about to be killed by them—having come with the soldiery, I rescued him, having learned that he is a Roman; 28 and, intending to know the cause for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their sanhedrim, 29 whom I found accused concerning questions of their law, and having no accusation worthy of death or bonds; 30 and a plot having been intimated to me against this man—about to be of the Jews—at once I sent unto thee, having given command also to the accusers to say the things against him before thee; be strong.' 31 Then, indeed, the soldiers according to that directed them, having taken up Paul, brought him through the night to Antipatris, 32 and on the morrow, having suffered the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the castle; 33 those having entered into Caesarea, and delivered the letter to the governor, did present also Paul to him. 34 And the governor having read 'it', and inquired of what province he is, and understood that 'he is' from Cilicia; 35 'I will hear thee—said he—when thine accusers also may have come;' he also commanded him to be kept in the praetorium of Herod.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Acts 23:11-35
Commentary on Acts 23:6-11
(Read Acts 23:6-11)
The Pharisees were correct in the faith of the Jewish church. The Sadducees were no friends to the Scripture or Divine revelation; they denied a future state; they had neither hope of eternal happiness, nor dread of eternal misery. When called in question for his being a Christian, Paul might truly say he was called in question for the hope of the resurrection of the dead. It was justifiable in him, by this profession of his opinion on that disputed point, to draw off the Pharisees from persecuting him, and to lead them to protect him from this unlawful violence. How easily can God defend his own cause! Though the Jews seemed to be perfectly agreed in their conspiracy against religion, yet they were influenced by very different motives. There is no true friendship among the wicked, and in a moment, and with the utmost ease, God can turn their union into open enmity. Divine consolations stood Paul in the most stead; the chief captain rescued him out of the hands of cruel men, but the event he could not tell. Whoever is against us, we need not fear, if the Lord stand by us. It is the will of Christ, that his servants who are faithful, should be always cheerful. He might think he should never see Rome; but God tells him, even in that he should be gratified, since he desired to go there only for the honour of Christ, and to do good.
Commentary on Acts 23:12-24
(Read Acts 23:12-24)
False religious principles, adopted by carnal men, urge on to such wickedness, as human nature would hardly be supposed capable of. Yet the Lord readily disappoints the best concerted schemes of iniquity. Paul knew that the Divine providence acts by reasonable and prudent means; and that, if he neglected to use the means in his power, he could not expect God's providence to work on his behalf. He who will not help himself according to his means and power, has neither reason nor revelation to assure him that he shall receive help from God. Believing in the Lord, we and ours shall be kept from every evil work, and kept to his kingdom. Heavenly Father, give us by thy Holy Spirit, for Christ's sake, this precious faith.
Commentary on Acts 23:25-35
(Read Acts 23:25-35)
God has instruments for every work. The natural abilities and moral virtues of the heathens often have been employed to protect his persecuted servants. Even the men of the world can discern between the conscientious conduct of upright believers, and the zeal of false professors, though they disregard or understand not their doctrinal principles. All hearts are in God's hand, and those are blessed who put their trust in him, and commit their ways unto him.