Acts 23:1-35

Continuing on from the end of chapter 22:

Acts 23:1-5:

^23:1But Paul having gazed-intently-on the council said, "Adult-males, brothers, I with all good conscience lived-being-a-citizen² to God continuously-until this day." ^.2But the chief-priest, Ananias, arranged-upon the (people) having stood-beside² to beat his mouth. ^.3Then Paul said towards him, "God is about to beat you, wall having been whitewashed², and you sit-down judging me according to the law and being-aside-from-law you command me to be beaten!" ^.4And the (people) having stood-beside² (him) said, "Do you revile the chief-priest of God?" ^.5And Paul said, "I had not known, brothers, that he is chief-priest, for it was written² that, 'You will not speak badly (regarding the) ruler of your people.' "

When Paul fixed his eyes intently upon the council (referring to the Judean Sanhedrin), he said…

"Adult-males (grown men), brothers (referring to the fact that he was also of the same Judean/Israeli background),
emphatically I
- with all good conscience (the word “conscience” means: a person’s knowing-awareness, the perception of what is right which he put together for himself in his mind as a result of all that he has already been taught and learned in relation to the one whom he recognizes as his ruler, the one who has authority; ultimately this authority should be the only true God – a good conscience is one that agrees with what issues from God; God is the standard of what is good)
lived being a citizen and I still live in the duty of being a citizen to God (in accordance with God’s citizenship, the condition and rights of being a free citizen within a walled town or city; I behave in accordance with the governing authority and enjoy the privileges which I have been given by God)
for the duration of time up-to and including this day."

Indeed Paul lived his life (Acts 22:3-16) endeavoring to do the will of the only true God, and on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18) he was told by the Lord Jesus Christ how to do this correctly according to God's viewpoint since the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2.

However, before Paul could continue explaining what he was saying and perhaps teaching them God's Word, the chief (high) priest named Ananias put it in order for the people who stood near-by Paul to beat (strike) him on his mouth for speaking like that while on trial! This Ananias was made the chief priest from 48 to 59 AD approximately.

At that time Paul said towards Ananias…

"God is on the point of striking you (this may be prophecy regarding Ananias’ death),
- wall having been whitewashed and continuing whitewashed (you look pretty and clean on the outside but in truth you are ugly and unclean within, like some old building or the whitewashed wall of a sepulcher),
and emphatically you are making a decision regarding me in accordance with the law of Moses (you claim that this is what you are following) – and being aside from that law you command me to be beaten (stuck)!"

And the people who stood beside Paul said to him, "Do you revile (rail-at, insult, verbally abuse) God's chief (high) priest?"

And Paul told (brought to light by speaking to) them…

"I had not known (when I said that I didn’t perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with my mind),
- brothers (again referring to the fact that he was also of the same Judean/Israeli background),
that he is chief-priest (in the office of being the high priest),
for it was written and continues written that,
‘You (singular, individual) will not speak badly (from now on you will not mindfully tell words that are contrary to God’s intention, you should not speak in a bad way or manner) of/to/regarding the ruler of your people (the chief, the person in first-placed position over all the people collectively including yourself).' "

Paul referred to an old covenant scripture (Exodus 22:28b) to which they had referred, showing that he too knew this scripture which was written and remained written all through the years ever since God revealed it.

[Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

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Acts Chapter 24