Acts 23:3
What does Acts 23:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 23:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 23:3 means
Paul denounces the action: God will judge the man who ordered the blow, calling him a “whited wall”—a vivid image of outward respectability covering inner corruption. He exposes the contradiction: the high priest sits to judge Paul according to the law, yet commands an unlawful strike. Paul does not reject lawful authority, but he confronts lawless abuse. His words show prophetic courage, akin to the Old Testament’s rebuke of hypocrisy. By appealing to God’s judgment, Paul places justice beyond the reach of political maneuvering. The rebuke highlights the failure of the council’s leadership to practice what they claim to uphold, making the trial setting itself suspect.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then Paul said to him, God will give blows to you, you whitewashed wall: are you here to be my judge by law, and by your orders am I given blows against the law?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862then Paul said unto him, `God is about to smite thee, thou whitewashed wall, and thou--thou dost sit judging me according to the law, and, violating law, dost order me to be smitten!'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Then Paul said to him: God shall strike thee, thou whited wall. For, sittest thou to judge me according to the law and, contrary to the law, commandest me to be struck?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Then Paul said to him,God will smite thee, whited wall. And thou, dost thou sit judging me according to the law, and breaking the law commandest me to be smitten?
Context
The unlawful command to strike Paul provokes a direct and principled response. This verbal clash immediately shifts the dynamics in the room, as onlookers react to what they perceive as an insult to the high priest. The confrontation is not merely personal; it questions the council’s legitimacy in handling the case. In the next verse, those present challenge Paul for speaking against the high priest. Paul will then clarify his position, indicating his commitment to Scripture’s requirement to honor rulers, even as he maintains the moral inconsistency of the action taken against him.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 58:1
Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
- Micah 3:8
But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of Jehovah, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
- Leviticus 19:15
Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.
- Matthew 23:27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
- John 18:24
Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
- Amos 5:7
Ye who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth,
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