Acts 23:2

23:2 At that¹ the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near² Paul³ to strike⁴ him on the mouth.

Acts 23:5

23:5 Paul replied,⁵ “I did not realize,⁶ brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”⁷

Acts 23:24

23:24 and provide mounts for Paul to ride⁸ so that he may be brought safely to Felix⁹ the governor.”¹⁰

¹tn Grk “and” (δέ, de); the phrase “at that” has been used in the translation to clarify the cause and effect relationship.

²tn BDAG 778 s.v. παρίστημι/παριστάνω 2.b.α has “οἱ παρεστῶτες αὐτῷ those standing near him Ac 23:2.”

³tn Grk “him”; the referent (Paul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴tn Or “hit” (‘strike’ maintains the wordplay with the following verse). The action was probably designed to indicate a rejection of Paul’s claim to a clear conscience in the previous verse.

⁵tn Grk “said.”

⁶tn Or “know.”

⁷sn A quotation from Exod 22:28. This text defines a form of blasphemy. Paul, aware of the fact that he came close to crossing the line, backed off out of respect for the law.

⁸tn Grk “provide mounts to put Paul on.”

sn Mounts for Paul to ride. The fact they were riding horses indicates they wanted everyone to move as quickly as possible.

⁹sn Felix the governor was Antonius Felix, a freedman of Antonia, mother of the Emperor Claudius. He was the brother of Pallas and became procurator of Palestine in a.d. 52/53. His administration was notorious for its corruption, cynicism, and cruelty. According to the historian Tacitus (History 5.9) Felix “reveled in cruelty and lust, and wielded the power of a king with the mind of a slave.”

¹⁰tn Grk “Felix the procurator.” The official Roman title has been translated as “governor” (BDAG 433 s.v. ἡγεμών 2).