An Assassination Plot Foiled
Acts 23:11-35
11 And
the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul:
for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also
at Rome. 12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded
together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither
eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 And they were more than
forty which had made this conspiracy. 14 And they came to the chief
priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that
we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 15 Now therefore ye
with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you
to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him:
and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. 16 And when
Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the
castle, and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions
unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a
certain thing to tell him. 18 So he took him, and brought him to the
chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to
bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. 19 Then
the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and
asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me? 20 And he said, The
Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow
into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. 21
But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them
more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will
neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready,
looking for a promise from thee. 22 So the chief captain then let
the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast
shewed these things to me. 23 And he called unto him two centurions,
saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen
threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; 24
And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe
unto Felix the governor. 25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth
greeting. 27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been
killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood
that he was a Roman. 28 And when I would have known the cause
wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: 29 Whom
I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid
to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. 30 And when it was told
me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and
gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against
him. Farewell. 31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took
Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go
with him, and returned to the castle: 33 Who, when they came to
Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before
him. 34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what
province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; 35 I
will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded
him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
Outline:
I. The Encouragement of Paul from the Lord (23:11)
II. The Plot to Assassinate Paul (23:12-15)
III. The Conspiracy Exposed by Paul’s Nephew (23:16-21)
IV. The Response of Claudius Lysias to the Threat
(23:22-24)
V. The Letter from Tribune Claudius Lysias to Governor
Felix (23:25-30)
VI. The Audience before Felix granted to Paul (23:31-34)
I. The Encouragement of Paul from the Lord (23:11)
And the night following the Lord
stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of
me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Other incidents involving direct revelation to Paul: Acts
9:4; 16:9; 18:9f.; 22:17; 27:23f.
Who is in control here?
How good is His Word?
Consider the timing of this revelation to Paul!
Christ will force the hand of his enemies. Rather than silencing
Paul, or ending his life, their efforts will have the opposite effect. The
Enthroned Messiah will see to it that their efforts actually produce an
expanded opportunity for Paul to bear his testimony while being protected by
Christ, using the Roman military authority as a means.
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
II. The Plot to Assassinate Paul (23:12-15)
12 And when it was day, certain of
the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they
would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 And they
were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. 14 And they
came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a
great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. 15 Now
therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him
down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly
concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
1. The Seriousness of the Plot (23:12-13) - Their Murderous Intent
2. The Expansion of the Plot (23:14-15) - Their Official Deceit
1. The Seriousness of the Plot (23:12-13) - Their
Murderous Intent
bound
themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till
they had killed Paul
In verse 14 they characterize this curse as “a great
curse.”
2. The Expansion of the Plot (23:14-15) - Their
Official Deceit
as
though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
III. The Conspiracy Exposed by Paul’s Nephew
(23:16-21)
16 And when Paul’s sister’s son
heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told
Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said,
Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to
tell him. 18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain,
and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this
young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. 19 Then
the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and
asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me? 20 And he said, The
Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow
into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. 21
But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them
more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will
neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready,
looking for a promise from thee.
1. Word of the Conspiracy comes to Paul (23:16)
2. Word of the Conspiracy comes to Claudius Lysias
(23:17-21)
1. Word of the Conspiracy comes to Paul (23:16)
Paul’s sister’s son
—
“The sudden introduction of Paul’s nephew is interesting;
we wish we knew more about Paul’s relations with his family, which might
provide a background to this incident.”[1]
“All attempts to learn about this young man and how he
got wind of what was happening are speculative, and we must be content to
remain ignorant about Paul’s family connections in Jerusalem.”[2]
2. Word of the Conspiracy comes to Claudius Lysias
(23:17-21)
1) The Secrecy of the Information Maintained (23:17-19)
2) The Details of the Conspiracy Explained (23:20-21)
1) The Secrecy of
the Information Maintained (23:17-19)
(1) he hath a certain thing to tell him
(2) who hath something to say unto thee
(3) the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside
privately
Paul
the prisoner — cp. the following!
Eph. 3:1 — I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles
Eph. 4:1 — I
therefore, the
prisoner of the Lord
2 Tim. 1:8 - Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his
prisoner
Phile. 1 — Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ
Phile. 9 — being such an one as Paul
the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ
2) The Details of
the Conspiracy Explained (23:20-21)
(1) The Duplicity (23:20)
The
Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow
into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
(2) The Conspiracy (23:21)
But do
not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty
men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor
drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise
from thee.
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
IV. The Response of Claudius Lysias to the Threat
(23:22-24)
22 So the chief captain then let
the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast
shewed these things to me. 23 And he called unto him two centurions,
saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen
threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; 24
And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe
unto Felix the governor.
1. The Response
of Claudius Lysias in the Charge to Paul’s Nephew (23:22)
2. The Response
of Claudius Lysias in the Order to the Centurions (23:23-24)
1. The Response of Claudius Lysias in the Charge to
Paul’s Nephew (23:22)
So the
chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no
man that thou hast shewed these things to me.
2. The Response of Claudius Lysias in the Order to
the Centurions (23:23-24)
23 And he called unto him two centurions,
saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen
threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; 24
And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe
unto Felix the governor.
Make
ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten,
and spearmen two hundred —
Bruce refers to these as “the three constituents of the
Roman army.”[3]
Marshall remarks, “This amounted to nearly half the
Jerusalem garrison…”[4]
Bring Enough Gun![5]
Never bring a knife to a gunfight! Or in this case to sword/spear
fight![6]
spearmen — “The
last word translates an otherwise unknown Greek word, which is interpreted in
this way in the Latin version.”[7]
The 40 assassins will now have to face 200 infantry, 70
cavalrymen, and 200 spearmen — for a total of 470 Roman warriors — in order to
fulfill their blood oath!
The Lord to the conspirators: “I’ll see your 40, and
raise you 430 well armed warriors!”
Jesus with Paul is a majority. 470 Roman soldiers is just
the icing on the cake!
Ps. 2:1-4 - 1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain
thing? 2 The kings of the earth set
themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against
his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands
asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall
have them in derision.
Ps. 37:12-15 - 12 The wicked plotteth against
the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at
him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14 The wicked have drawn out the sword,
and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter
into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Ps. 59:1-10 - Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house
to kill him. Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that
rise up against me. 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from
bloody men. 3 For, lo, they lie in wait
for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for
my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare
themselves without my fault: awake to
help me, and behold. 5 Thou
therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the
heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah. 6 They return at evening:
they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. 7 Behold,
they belch out with their mouth: swords are
in their lips: for who, say they,
doth hear? 8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all
the heathen in derision. 9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
Felix the governor
— Described by Tacitus as, “per omnem saeuitiam ac libidinem ius regium seruili
ingenio exercuit,”[8] which
is often cited. One translation of this
is: “…he exercised royal power with the mind of a slave.”[9]
The context for this assessment of Felix — with another translation
of this phrase — follows:
“The kings were either dead, or reduced to
insignificance, when Claudius entrusted the province of Judaea to the Roman Knights or to his own freedmen, one of whom, Antonius Felix,
indulging in every kind of barbarity and lust, exercised
the power of a king in the spirit of a slave. He had
married Drusilla, the granddaughter of Antony and
Cleopatra, and so was the grandson-in-law, as Claudius was the grandson, of Antony.”[10]
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
V. The Letter from Tribune Claudius Lysias to Governor
Felix (23:25-30)
25 And he wrote a letter after this
manner: 26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix
sendeth greeting. 27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have
been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having
understood that he was a Roman. 28 And when I would have known the
cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: 29
Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have
nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. 30 And when
it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to
thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they
had against him. Farewell.
This official
letter from the military commander in Jerusalem to the political administrator
of the province constitutes a “bill of particulars” containing a recounting of
the three incidents along with a preliminary determination of Paul’s innocence.
“It is the only secular letter in the New Testament.”[11]
So! You want to
accuse Paul, do you? Well, do it now before the Governor!
Oh, and another
thing! If you still want to go for it, you will have to do it in his Palace in
Caesarea, not in your comfort zone in Jerusalem!
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
VI. Paul Granted an Audience before Felix the Governor
(23:31-34)
31 Then the soldiers, as it was
commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go
with him, and returned to the castle: 33 Who, when they came to
Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before
him. 34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what
province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; 35 I
will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded
him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.
Antipatris — either
via main road through Lydda, or hill road by Bethel, apx. 25 miles south of
Caesarea — over half the distance from Jerusalem to Caesarea, 37 miles north of
Jerusalem, and 10 miles north of Lydda.[12]
Caesarea — apx.
60-65 miles from Jerusalem.
Cilicia — The
political area that Tarsus, Paul’s home city lies in.
Herod’s judgment
hall — In modern translations this has been transliterated — as in the
Latin — as “Praetorium” (NASB, ESV), or translated as “palace” (HCSB, NIV), and
“headquarters” (NLT).
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Conclusion:
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Later:
Ac 27:22-25 - 22
And
now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the
ship. 23 For there stood by me this
night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul;
thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that
sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good
cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
2 Ti 4:17 - Notwithstanding the Lord
stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully
known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of
the mouth of the lion.
Others:
Mt 9:2 - And, behold,
they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing
their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer;
thy sins be forgiven thee.
Mt. 14:24-27 - 24 But the ship was now in the
midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And
in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw
him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they
cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake
unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Us:
Jn 16:33 - These things
I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall
have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Be of good cheer, Paul: for as
thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Complete outline:
I. The Encouragement of Paul from the Lord (23:11)
II. The Plot to Assassinate Paul (23:12-15)
III. The Conspiracy Exposed by Paul’s Nephew (23:16-21)
IV. The Response of Claudius Lysias to the Threat
(23:22-24)
V. The Letter from Tribune Claudius Lysias to Governor
Felix (23:25-30)
VI. The Audience before Felix granted to Paul (23:31-34)
[Sermon preached 15
MAR 2015 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Appendix 1 — Resources
cited in Notes
F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text
with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary,
Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament
Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press,
1980; 2008 reprint).
Tacitus, The Histories, trans. Alfred John Church
and William Jackson Brodribb, on The
Internet Classics Archive at http://classics.mit.edu/Tacitus/histories.html
[accessed 31 MAR 2015].
Appendix 2 — on the word translated “spearmen” in Acts
23:23
“The unusual word δεξιολάβος (this is its first appearance,
and it does not occur again until the sixth century) seems to mean
‘spearman’(cf. LS9), lit., ‘taking (a spear) in the right hand’ (cf.
vg lancearios)…”
— F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and
Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951,
1952), pg. 416.
“89 tn A military technical term of
uncertain meaning. BDAG 217 s.v. δεξιολάβος states, “a word of
uncertain mng., military t.t., acc. to Joannes Lydus…and Theophyl. Sim., Hist.
4, 1 a light-armed soldier, perh. bowman, slinger; acc. to a scholion in
CMatthaei p. 342 body-guard….Spearman Goodspd., NRSV; ‘security officer’,
GDKilpatrick, JTS 14, ’63, 393f.””
— “NET Bible” note on Lumina
at https://lumina.bible.org/bible/Acts+23
[accessed 13 MAR 2015].
“The term translated
“spearmen” (δεξιολάβοι) is a
near hapax, only occurring in later Greek literature from the seventh and tenth
centuries a.d. Meaning literally holding with the right hand, it is
translated “spearman” or “lancers” in the early Latin versions. G. D.
Kilpatrick cites an ancient scholion in which it is said that the δεξιολάβοι were
“police officers.” He argues from this that they were local Jerusalem militia
and not part of the Roman cohort, thus reducing the drain on the Jerusalem
garrison (“Acts xxiii, 23. Dexiolaboi,”
JTS 14 [1963]: 393f.).”
— John B.
Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed.
David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992), pg.
474, note 86.
See also
the following:
F. Blass, and A. Debrunner, trans. and rev. Robert W.
Funk, A Greek Grammar of the New
Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 9th ed. (Chicago: The University
of Chicago Press, 1961), pg. 64, § 119(1).
Darrell L. Bock, Acts,
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids:
Baker Academic, 2007), pg.
681.
G. D. Kilpatrick, “Acts xxiii, 23. Dexiolaboi,” Journal of Theological Studies 14 (1963),
pp. 393ff.[13]
Johannes P. Louw,
and Eugene A. Nida, eds., Greek-English
Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains, 2 vols., 2nd ed. (New
York: United Bible Societies, 1988, 1966, elec. ed. 1996), I:551, § 55.22.
James Hope Moulton and Wilbert Francis Howard, Accidence and Word-Formation, Vol. II in
James Hope Moulton, A Grammar of New
Testament Greek, 4 vols. (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, n.d.), pp. 272-273.[14]
James Hope Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament
Illustrated from the Papyrii and other Non-literary Sources, one-volume ed.
(Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d., 1976 reprint; from 1930
orig. by Hodder & Stoughton, London), pp. 140-141.
David G. Peterson, The
Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar
New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009),
pg. 623.
A. T. Robertson, A
Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research (Nashville:
Broadman Press, 1934), pp. 168, 232.
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts,
Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical
Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2012), pg. 936.
Appendix 3 — Resources
on Acts
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of
the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Paul Barnett, The
Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, After Jesus, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 2005).
Darrell L. Bock, Acts,
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids:
Baker Academic, 2007).
F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text
with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
Dennis E. Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of
Redemption (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1997).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts:
An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The
Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar
New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts,
Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary,
gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers,
1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts,
Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical
Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2012).
W. C. van Unnik, “The ‘Book of Acts’ the Confirmation of
the Gospel,” in Novum Testamentum 4:1
(OCT 1960), pp. 26-59; reprinted in The
Composition of Luke’s Gospel: Selected Studies from Novum Testamentum,
compiled by David E. Orton, Vol. 1 of Brill’s
Readers in Biblical Studies (Leiden: Brill, 1999), pp. 184-218.
William H. Willimon, Acts,
in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for
Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed.
Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
Appendix 4 — Resources on Paul
Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural
Studies in 1 Corinthians (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011).
F. F. Bruce, Paul:
Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1977).
D. A. Carson, The
Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1996), pp. 496-501.
W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life, Times and Travels of St. Paul, 2 vols. in 1, unabridged
American ed. (New York: E. B. Treat U Co., 1869); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn1CAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Adolf Deissmann, Paul:
A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson
(New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).
F. W. Farrar, The Life
and Work of St. Paul (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1889); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=RB2KeCSM6KsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Bruce N. Fisk, “Paul: Life and
Letters”, in The Face of New Testament
Studies: A Survey of Recent Research, ed. Scot McKnight and Grant R.
Osborne (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), pp. 283-325.
Richard B.Gaffin, Jr.,
"Acts and Paul", 46 lectures (MP3 format), WTS Resources Media Center
on Westminster Theological Seminary
at http://wts.edu/resources/media.html?paramType=audio&filterTopic=5&filterSpeaker=10&filterYear=2005 [accessed 20 MAR 2013].
Frank J. Goodwin, A
Harmony of the Life of the St. Paul According to the Acts of the Apostles and
the Pauline Epistles (New York: American Tract Society, 1895); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=YgpEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[accessed 12 FEB 2013].
Richard N. Longenecker, The
Ministry And Message Of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).
Richard N. Longenecker, Paul,
Apostle Of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964).
Richard N. Longenecker, ed., The Road From Damascus : The Impact Of Paul's Conversion On His Life,
Thought, And Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).
Richard N. Longenecker, Studies
In Paul, Exegetical And Theological (Sheffield : Sheffield Phoenix Press,
2004).
J. Gresham Machen, The
Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures Delivered at Union
Theological Seminary in Virginia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1925).
Leon Morris, The
Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Co., 1955).
John Pollock, The
Apostle: A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969,
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End Notes:
[1] F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and
Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951,
1952), pg. 415.
[2] I.
Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction
And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint), pg. 388.
[3] Bruce, op. cit., pg. 416.
[4]
Marshall, op. cit., pg. 389.
[5]
Robert Ruark, Use Enough Gun: On Hunting
Big Game (1966).
[6] “Keith's First Law” (named for gunwriter and Idaho
"cowpuncher" Elmer Keith (1899-1984):
“Never bring a knife to a
gunfight.” [Keith's Second Law: “Never bring a pistol to a rifle fight.”]
This has been popularized
in modern culture, having often been repeated and paraphrased in movies: Sean
Connery as Jimmy Malone in The
Untouchables (1987); and often since, e.g.,
Mark Collie as Harry Heck in The Punisher
(2004); and perhaps most memorably by Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal
Skull (2008): “Nice try kid, but I think you just brought a knife. To
a gunfight.”
[7] Marshall, op. cit., pg. 389. For
more on this word see Appendix 2: on the word translated “spearmen” in Acts 23:23.
[8] Tacitus, Hist
V:9; cited by Bruce, op. cit., pg. 417.
[9] Marshall,
op. cit., pg. 390. Marshall comments that Tacitus “could sum up a character in
a terse biting phrase.” Ibid.
[10] Tacitus,
The Histories, trans. Alfred John
Church and William Jackson Brodribb, on The
Internet Classics Archive at http://classics.mit.edu/Tacitus/histories.5.v.html
[accessed 31 MAR 2015].
[11] Marshall, op. cit., pg. 390.
[12] Bruce, op. cit., pg. 419; Marshall,
op. cit., pg. 392.
[13] cited by Polhill, op. cit., pg. 474, note 86, and the
NET Bible, op. cit.
[14] Cited by Bruce, op. cit., pg. 416.
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