Acts 23

Acts 23:1

I Have lived,] or I have served God according to my charge.

Acts 23:2

The high,] this Ananias is not numbred amongst the High Priests by Isephus a Iewish Historian, and it is likely by that which is written, v. 5. that it was some surrogate or that hee was brought in by some sinister practices and corruptions, according to the disorders of that time.

Acts 23:3

Whied wall,] false hypocrite in thy fained zeale under which thou hidest the corruption of thine unjustice and cruelty. See Ezekiel 13:10. Matth. 23. 27.

Acts 23:5

I wist not,] as much as to say, all men know well enough that hee is no lawfull High Pst, and therefore may be reprehended for his faults without violating Gods command.

Acts 23:6

Sadduces,] See upon Acts 4. 1. and 5. 17 I am,] he speakes this, not to insinuate with the Pharisees or to approve of their doctrine in all points: but to redargue these false judges in their persecution who fining to be very zealous for Iudaisme against him, did tolerate the Sadduces heresie, and did them the honour to sit in their consistory: and also to divide them, causing their inward partialities and hatreds to burst forth; and that not so much for the securing of his owne person, as for the Gospells advantage, which was suppressed by this conspiracy Of the hope,]for the Christian doctrine, by which only the hope of eternall happines in body and soule contrary to the Sadduces doctrine, Matth. 22. 32.) is firmely established by Christs Resurrection.

Acts 23:8

Neither angell, seeing the Sadduces admitted of Scripture, which speakes directly of Angels, it is likely they did not absolutely deny but that there were Angels, but they did not beleeve they were snosisting and immortall natures, but transitory apparitions created by God to signifie his will to men. Or some divine action and motion to produce some speciall and notable effect. And the same judgment they gave of the soule of man. See upon, Matth 22. 23.

Acts 23:9

The Scribes,] that is to say the doctors, Matthew 2:4 A spirit,] this word is of a larger signification then the word Angell which followeth after. For it may bee applyed to the Spirit of God speaking to Prophets by internall revelations, or to some spirit or soule of some deceased person, according to the errour of those times, See upon Acts 12:15.

Acts 23:10

Get downe, out of the Rocke, which was higher then the place where they held their consistory, Acts 22:30.

Acts 23:11

Stood by him, in a vision.

Acts 23:21

Doe not thou yeeld,] the Italian, Doe not beleeve them,] or do not give consent unto them, or doe not let them perswade the Looking for,] or to see what answer thou wilt give them.

Acts 23:23

Speare then,] The Italian Sarjeants,] they might be some of the Governours guard or Officers belonging to the Court of Iustice for securing of the high wayes or otherwise.