Acts 23 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Acts 23 in 5 Minutes

WHEN:

• The events of this chapter occurred in approximately 57 A.D.

CHARACTERS:

• Paul (Saul) – Paul was an Apostles who planted churches in the Mediterranean region.

• The Jewish Council – Known as the Sanhedrin, these were Jewish civil and religious leaders who opposed Paul and Jesus.

• Claudius Lysias – The Roman tribune who watched over Paul during his arrest.

• Paul’s nephew – The son of Paul’s sister. He saved Paul from a murderous plot by the Jews.

• Antonius Felix – Roman procurator of Judea from 52-60 A.D.

WHERE:

• Most of Acts 23 takes place in Jerusalem. Towards the end of the chapter Paul is taken to Caesarea Maritima to stand trial.

OUTLINE:

• PAUL BEFORE THE JEWISH COUNCIL (23:1-10):

  • Chapter 23 picks up where 22 left off. The roman tribune (Claudius Lysias) brought Paul to the Jewish council to find out why a Jewish mob tried to kill him.

  • Paul stood before the council and declared that he had been living in accordance to God’s will.

  • Ananias, the high priest, commanded someone to hit Paul on the mouth.

  • Paul knew that the Jewish council was comprised of Pharisees and Sadducees (two religious sects) and that the two groups were strongly divided over the question of resurrection from the dead, so he said, “It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

  • This caused an internal argument amongst the members of the council.

  • The disagreement became violent, and the tribune ordered Paul to be taken back to the barracks.

• GOD APPEARS TO PAUL IN A VISION (23:11):

  • During the night, the Lord appeared to Paul and told him not to worry.

  • He told Paul he would have the opportunity to testify about Him in Rome.

• THE JEWS TAKE AN OATH TO KILL PAUL (23:12-22):

  • The next day, about 40 Jews took an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

  • They asked the Jewish council to summon Paul for additional questioning. They planned to ambush him on the way and kill him.

  • But Paul’s nephew overheard the plot and reported it to the Roman tribune.

  • The tribune believed him and told him to keep it a secret.  

• PAUL IS MOVED TO CAESAREA WITH AN ARMED GUARD (23:23-35):

  • The tribune prepared 200 soldiers, 200 spearmen, and 70 horsemen to transport Paul to Caesarea.

  • He wrote a letter to Felix the governor explaining Paul’s situation.

  • He told Felix he had found no reason for Paul to be imprisoned or put to death but was sending him to him so that he could judge his case.

  • Paul was transported to Caesarea under the cover of night.

  • Upon reading the letter and learning that Paul was from Cilicia, Felix told him he would give him a trial when his accusers (the Jews) arrived in Caesarea.

APPLICATION:

• God is working in unseen ways that don’t always appear miraculous.

• God promised Paul he would have the chance to preach in Rome (23:11).

• It was not luck that Paul’s nephew overheard the Jew’s plot to murder his uncle.

• God providentially arranged the time, place, and volume of the voice of those plotting murder and providentially arranged Paul’s nephew to be present to overhear.

• Perhaps Paul’s nephew was just out buying a loaf of bread or completing daily chores.

• God works His will through the mundane and ordinary events of a busy world.

• No doubt God is working in all kinds of subtle and unseen ways to direct our lives.