Acts 23:1-6
23:1 a In addressing the high council, Paul insisted on his personal integrity before God—he had not violated God’s law or done the things they accused him of doing.23:2 b Ananias was the Jewish high priest from AD 47 to 58.
• slap him: He apparently assumed that Paul was lying and tried to intimidate him.
23:3 c you corrupt hypocrite: Cp. Ezek 13:10-17 d; Matt 23:27 e.
23:5 f Why Paul did not recognize the high priest is not known.
• Paul replied by quoting Exod 22:28 g, acknowledging the respect to which the high priest was entitled by virtue of his office.
23:6 h Paul focused on the key issue in his trial, the hope of resurrection from the dead. His preaching was simply the outworking of that hope and the fact of Jesus’ resurrection, but the message was unacceptable to both groups of Jews because of its implications. Pharisees could not abide the inclusion of the Gentiles apart from circumcision and keeping the law of Moses (cp. 15:5 i), but that was what the resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Spirit had provided (Acts 2:39 j; 10:34-48 k). Sadducees could not stand the proclamation of the resurrection at all (cp. 4:1-2 l).
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