Acts 23:4

4 Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”

Acts 23:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Those who stood by said, "Would you revile God's high priest?
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 The aides were scandalized: "How dare you talk to God's Chief Priest like that!
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 The men standing near Paul said to him, "You're insulting God's chief priest!"
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 And those standing nearby said, "Do you dare revile God's high priest?"
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 Those who were standing near Paul said, "How dare you talk like that to God's high priest!

Acts 23:4 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 23:4

And they that stood by
The members of the sanhedrim that were next to the apostle; or the servants of the high priest, since they are said to stand, whereas those of that court sat: said,

revilest thou God's high priest?
which seems to confirm that the apostle's words were not a bare prediction, but an imprecation, since they are charged with reproaching, reviling, and speaking evil of him; and the aggravation of which was not only that the person reviled was a priest, an high priest, but an high priest of God; though this could not have been proved, for there was now no high priest of God but Jesus Christ; the priesthood was changed and abrogated, and there were no more high priests among men of God's appointing and approving.

Acts 23:4 In-Context

2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
4 Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”
5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’ ”
6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.”
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