ACC ~ Acts 23 v12 - 15

OVERVIEW:

Modern commentators have little to say about this particular part of the narrative. Some are intrigued by the presence of Paul’s married sister in Jerusalem (Acts 23:16), and some try to distinguish Luke’s source for the whole incident from Luke’s literary activity. Neither do the Fathers have much to contribute. Bede and Chrysostom both are drawn to the contrast between actions that on the surface resemble piety, and their true inner source.

23:12 | Bound by Oath

THE DEVIL USES PRETEXTS OF PIETY. CHRYSOSTOM: Behold fasting, the mother of murder! Just as Herod imposed that necessity by oath upon himself, likewise do these men. For these are the devil’s ways. Under the pretext of piety itself he sets his traps. HOMILIES ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 49.

BOUND UNDER A VOW. BEDE: While the Lord said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice,” these people on the contrary hungered for iniquity and thirsted as much for blood, so that they even gave up food for the body until they might be satiated by the death of a just man. But “there is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel in opposition to the Lord.” For [as we have read] also above, although Paul offered sacrifices, shaved his head, “went barefoot and to the Jews became a Jew,” nevertheless he could not escape the chains that had been foretold. In this case too, although these men took counsel together, bound themselves under a vow and laid snares [for Paul], nevertheless the apostle was kept unharmed so that he could also give testimony to Christ in Rome, just as had also been said. COMMENTARY ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 23.12.