Acts 23:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He said, “The Judeans have agreed to ask you tomorrow to bring Sha’ul down to the Sanhedrin on the pretext that they want to investigate his case more thoroughly.

Berean Standard Bible:

He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

American Standard Version:

And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul to-morrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G1161} he said^{G2036},^{G3754} The Jews^{G2453} have agreed^{G4934} to desire^{G2065} thee^{G4571} that^{G3704} thou wouldest bring down^{G2609} Paul^{G3972} to morrow^{G839} into^{G1519} the council^{G4892}, as^{G5613} though they would^{G3195} enquire^{G4441} somewhat^{G5100} of^{G4012} him^{G846} more perfectly^{G197}.

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Commentary for Acts 23:20

Acts 23:20 is a verse set within the larger narrative of the Apostle Paul's tumultuous ministry and his arrest in Jerusalem. The verse is part of the account where Paul is in Roman custody in Caesarea, having been rescued from a plot against his life by a group of Jews who had taken an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed him. In this context, a man named Claudius Lysias, the chief captain of the Roman cohort, is informing Paul of a conspiracy involving more than forty Jews who have bound themselves to an oath to neither eat nor drink until they have killed Paul.

The verse specifically highlights the ongoing animosity between Paul and certain factions of the Jewish leadership. It reflects the political and religious tensions of the time, as Paul, a Jew and a Christian apostle, is perceived as a threat to traditional Jewish beliefs and practices. The Jewish leaders are portrayed as determined to bring about Paul's downfall by contriving a scenario in which they can question him under the guise of seeking further information, suggesting that their intentions are not sincere but rather a pretext to harm him.

Historically, this verse captures the strategic and sometimes hostile interactions between the early Christian movement and the Jewish authorities. It also underscores the role of Roman officials in the early Christian story, illustrating their responsibility to maintain order and their occasional involvement in the affairs of the Christian community. The verse reflects the complex dynamics at play in the first century, with religious, political, and personal motives intersecting in the life of Paul and the spread of Christianity.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
2. Strong's Number: G2036
   There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἔπω
   Transliteration: épō
   Pronunciation: ep'-o
   Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω.
   
3. Strong's Number: G3754
   There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὅτι
   Transliteration: hóti
   Pronunciation: hot'-ee
   Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
   
4. Strong's Number: G2453
   There are 187 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Ἰουδαῖος
   Transliteration: Ioudaîos
   Pronunciation: ee-oo-dah'-yos
   Description: from Ἰουδά (in the sense of Ἰούδας as a country); Judæan, i.e. belonging to Jehudah:--Jew(-ess), of Judæa.
   
5. Strong's Number: G4934
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: συντίθεμαι
   Transliteration: syntíthemai
   Pronunciation: soon-tith'-em-ahee
   Description: middle voice from σύν and τίθημι; to place jointly, i.e. (figuratively) to consent (bargain, stipulate), concur:--agree, assent, covenant.
   
6. Strong's Number: G2065
   There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐρωτάω
   Transliteration: erōtáō
   Pronunciation: er-o-tah'-o
   Description: apparently from ἐρέω (compare ἐρευνάω); to interrogate; by implication, to request:--ask, beseech, desire, intreat, pray. Compare πυνθάνομαι.
   
7. Strong's Number: G4571
   There are 179 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: σέ
   Transliteration: sé
   Pronunciation: seh
   Description: accusative case singular of σύ; thee:--thee, thou, X thy house.
   
8. Strong's Number: G3704
   There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὅπως
   Transliteration: hópōs
   Pronunciation: hop'-oce
   Description: from ὅς and πῶς; what(-ever) how, i.e. in the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual):--because, how, (so) that, to, when.
   
9. Strong's Number: G2609
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: κατάγω
   Transliteration: katágō
   Pronunciation: kat-ag'-o
   Description: from κατά and ἄγω; to lead down; specially, to moor a vessel:--bring (down, forth), (bring to) land, touch.
   
10. Strong's Number: G3972
    There are 160 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Παῦλος
    Transliteration: Paûlos
    Pronunciation: pow'-los
    Description: of Latin origin; (little; but remotely from a derivative of παύω, meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle:--Paul, Paulus.
    
11. Strong's Number: G839
    There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὔριον
    Transliteration: aúrion
    Pronunciation: ow'-ree-on
    Description: from a derivative of the same as ἀήρ (meaning a breeze, i.e. the morning air); properly, fresh, i.e. (adverb with ellipsis of ἡμέρα) to-morrow:--(to-)morrow, next day.
    
12. Strong's Number: G1519
    There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἰς
    Transliteration: eis
    Pronunciation: ice
    Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).
    
13. Strong's Number: G4892
    There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: συνέδριον
    Transliteration: synédrion
    Pronunciation: soon-ed'-ree-on
    Description: neuter of a presumed derivative of a compound of σύν and the base of ἑδραῖος; a joint session, i.e. (specially), the Jewish Sanhedrin; by analogy, a subordinate tribunal:--council.
    
14. Strong's Number: G5613
    There are 433 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὡς
    Transliteration: hōs
    Pronunciation: hoce
    Description: probably adverb of comparative from ὅς; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.
    
15. Strong's Number: G3195
    There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μέλλω
    Transliteration: méllō
    Pronunciation: mel'-lo
    Description: a strengthened form of μέλω (through the idea of expectation); to intend, i.e. be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation):--about, after that, be (almost), (that which is, things, + which was for) to come, intend, was to (be), mean, mind, be at the point, (be) ready, + return, shall (begin), (which, that) should (after, afterwards, hereafter) tarry, which was for, will, would, be yet.
    
16. Strong's Number: G4441
    There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πυνθάνομαι
    Transliteration: pynthánomai
    Pronunciation: poon-than'-om-ahee
    Description: middle voice prolonged from a primary (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses); to question, i.e. ascertain by inquiry (as a matter of information merely; and thus differing from ἐρωτάω, which properly means a request as a favor; and from αἰτέω, which is strictly a demand for something due; as well as from ζητέω, which implies a search for something hidden; and from δέομαι, which involves the idea of urgent need); by implication, to learn (by casual intelligence):--ask, demand, enquire, understand.
    
17. Strong's Number: G5100
    There are 419 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τὶς
    Transliteration: tìs
    Pronunciation: tis
    Description: an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).
    
18. Strong's Number: G4012
    There are 304 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: περί
    Transliteration: perí
    Pronunciation: per-ee'
    Description: from the base of πέραν; properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period):--(there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with. In comparative, it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).
    
19. Strong's Number: G846
    There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὐτός
    Transliteration: autós
    Pronunciation: ow-tos'
    Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
    
20. Strong's Number: G197
    There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀκριβέστερον
    Transliteration: akribésteron
    Pronunciation: ak-ree-bes'-ter-on
    Description: neuter of the comparative of the same as ἀκριβέστατος; (adverbially) more exactly:--more perfect(-ly).