Acts 27

Acts 27:1

God shall smite thee, etc. These words, spoken by the prisoner, indignant at the mockery of justice, were rather a prediction than an imprecation. I have just stated that this violent man came to an untimely death. The insult to Paul reminds us of a similar one to his Master before the same body (John 18:22). [Thou] white wall. By “whited wall” Paul means a hypocrite. See PNT Matthew 23:27.

Acts 27:3

I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest. It was contrary to the law of Moses to revile one in high authority (Exodus 22:28). Paul’s reply to the charge that he had violated the law has been variously explained. Howson gives what appears to me the most probable view: ``I did not take thought, at the moment, in my indignation over the command to smite a defenseless prisoner on trial, that he was the high priest. I am well aware that it is said, “Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people”.’’ His words were an apology for his hasty speech. “I wist not” is used in the sense of “I did not bear in mind”.

Acts 27:4

Perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees. When the Savior was condemned, the Sanhedrin was composed of both parties, and now, nearly thirty years later, we find the same. The chief priests, as a rule, were Sadducees, while the scribes were mainly of the Pharisees. I am a Pharisee, etc. Alford, says, concerning his declaration: ``All prospect for a fair trial was hopeless. Paul well knew from experience that personal odium would bias his judges, and violence prevail over justice. He therefore uses in the cause of truth the maxim so often perverted to the use of falsehood, “Divide and conquer”.’' Of the hope and resurrection of the dead. It was the doctrine of the resurrection that especially inflamed the Sadducees against the gospel (see PNT Acts 4:2). This was the ground of battle between the two sects, and Paul, himself once a Pharisee, now preaching a gospel of which the great fact is the resurrection, not only avails himself of the opportunity to proclaim the fundamental truth of Christianity, but in so doing divides his enemies.

Acts 27:5

There arose a dissension. The Pharisees were at once reminded that Paul was with them in their great ground of contention with the Sadducees. His appeal to them makes them at once his champions against the rival sect.

Acts 27:6

The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection. For the doctrinal view of the Sadducees, see PNT Matthew 3:7. The statement here is fully confirmed by Josephus (see “Wars of the Jews”, 2:8,14).

Acts 27:7

The scribes . . . arose. These were mostly Pharisees, and were a learned class. We find no evil in this man. There was more to them in common with him than with the materialistic Sadducees. If a spirit or an angel. They throw this out as a defense to the Sadducees who denied both angel and spirit. Let us not fight against God. This clause is not found in the best MSS.

Acts 27:8

There arose a great dissension. One party took Paul’s side, the other opposed; one sought to lay hands on him, the other to defend him. The cheif captain . . . commanded the soldiers to go down. The chief captain interposed and removed Paul to the castle.

Acts 27:9

The night following. Paul’s conditions seemed most forlorn. He was even suspected by the church in Jerusalem. He was a prisoner to the Romans. His own nature was thirsting for his life. He had twice, within two days, narrowly escaped death. He needed comfort, and hence the Lord stood by him, cheered him, and gave him encouragement concerning his future work. It not doubt was like a ray of light, as he passed a sleepless night in his prison cell, to learn that the dear Lord still had work for him.

Acts 27:10

Certain of the Jews banded together. Perhaps these Jews were of the bitter enemies from Asia who had laid hands on him in the temple. They may have belonged to a wild fanatical association of Jewish assassins, who, a few years later, played a prominent part, called Sicarii. The Talmud says that those who took such a vow were released from it, if it was impossible to carry it out. Their purpose was to induce the chief priests, who were Sadducees, to have Paul appear before the Sanhedrin the next day, and then they would murder him.

Acts 27:14

The son of Paul’s sister heard. This is the only mention in Acts of any of Paul’s relations. It is possible that this nephew was studying in Jerusalem, as Paul had done many years before, and heard of the plot from those who did not know that he was in any way related to Paul. Whether he was a Christian or not, he took pains to inform his uncle. And entered the castle. There was no difficulty of access, for Paul was a Roman, and would be treated with courtesy. Paul, at once, sent him to the chief captain with his information.

Acts 27:17

Took him by the hand. To show how carefully he was listening to the story.

Acts 27:21

Called unto [him] two centurions. These were told to prepare four hundred and seventy soldiers for an escort, a large force, but the country was in a disturbed condition, and all the occurrences connected with Paul confused and alarmed the commander.

Acts 27:22

Bring [him] safe unto Felix. Of this man, then governor, we will hear more. He was originally a slave, but had risen by base arts to a high position. His brother Pallas was the emperor’s favorite, and secured the important post of governor for Felix in A.D. 52. In A.D. 60 he was removed. The governor. See PNT Matthew 27:2.

Acts 27:23

He wrote a letter. Roman law required that when a prisoner was sent by a lower official to a higher for trial, a letter should be sent stating the charges. That of Lysias states his understanding of the case.

Acts 27:25

I . . . rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. Like many modern officials, he prevaricates. He found out he was a Roman after he rescued him (Acts 22:24-27).

Acts 27:28

I sent him straightway to thee. “Though I held him to be innocent, hearing of the plot against his life, I thought it best to send him to thee”. Had he released Paul in Jerusalem, the conspirators would have murdered him.

Acts 27:29

Brought [him] by night to Antipatris. They departed by night so that the Jews would know nothing of Paul’s departure until the next day. Antipatris was about thirty-eight miles from Jerusalem. The march was not probably made by night, but begun at night and was completed the next day.

Acts 27:30

On the morrow. The morrow after they reached Antipatris, all returned but the horsemen. Caesarea was now only twenty-six miles distant, and the danger was over.

Acts 27:32

The governor . . . asked of what province he was. Felix was governor of Judea under the proconsul of Syria. Had he found the prisoner to be of some other province under the proconsul, he would probably have turned him over to its governor, but when he found he was of Cilicia, a distant part of the empire, he retained him. Compare Lu 23:6,7.

Acts 27:33

Herod’s judgment hall. The palace built by Herod the Great in Caesarea for his own residence, but now occupied by Felix.

Acts 27:35

Paul’s Defense Before Felix SUMMARY OF ACTS 24: The High Priest and Elders Come Down to Accuse Paul. The Speech of Tertullus, Their Lawyer. Paul’s Reply: Declares His Manner of Life, That He is a. Christian, How He Acted. Felix Defers a Decision for Further Inquiry. Paul Preaches Before Felix and Drusilla. After five days. Five days after Paul departed from Jerusalem. The Roman usage was to investigate a case promptly. The high priest descended, with the elders. The deep animosity of the Jews is shown by the fact that the high priest himself came down to prosecute, attended by a delegation from the Sanhedrin (elders). A certain orator [named] Tertullus. A lawyer acquainted with the forms of Roman courts. Some have supposed that he was not a Jew, from his name, but it is probable that he was a Jew who had been educated in Roman law, perhaps at Rome. The name signifies nothing. That of Paul (Paulus) was itself Roman.

Acts 27:36

Seeing that by thee, etc. The first three verses of the address of Tertullus are compliments to Felix, intended to secure a favorable hearing.

Acts 27:39

For we have found this man . . . a mover of sedition. The charges begin, the first one of which is false. A ringleader of the sect. This was “the” offense of Paul. All their hatred was due to the fact that he was the great Christian leader. The reason why this urged was to show that Paul preached a religion not authorized by Roman law. See PNT Acts 18:13. Nazarenes. For hundreds of years the term was applied to Christians by the Jews. This is the only instance, however, in the New Testament where it so applied. The Mohammedans still use it.

Acts 27:40

Who also hath gone about to profane the temple. This false charge is repeated, because this was the cry when Paul was seized (Acts 21:28). Note that there are three charges: (1) That Paul was the author of sedition; (2) preached an unlawful religion (Acts 24:5); (3) profaned the temple. The penalty of the last by Jewish law was death, and the Romans usually permitted it to be enforced. Whom we took, and would have judged. This part of the sixth verse, all of the seventh, and the first clause of the eighth, are not found in the Revised Version, or the best MSS.

Acts 27:42

By examining of whom. “Whom” in the Common Version becomes “him” in the Revised Version and refers to Paul.

Acts 27:43

And the Jews also assented. Those who had come down from Jerusalem affirmed that Tertullus had spoken in the facts.

Acts 27:44

Paul . . . answered. He had the right to reply to his accusers. The Roman law condemned no one unheard. Thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation. For six or seven years Felix had been governor and was therefore familiar with the state of affairs in Judea. Upon this fact Paul courteously congratulates himself.