Acts 23

“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God…” Naming Men keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the…” Naming Paul and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was…” Naming Pharisees and Sadducees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would…” Naming Jews and Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat…” Naming Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye…” The line’s distinctive content terms include captain, chief, concerning. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.” Naming Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as…” Naming Jews and Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.” Naming Felix and Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he wrote a letter after this manner:” The line’s distinctive content terms include letter, manner, wrote. Its relationship to verses 24 and 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.” Naming Claudius and Felix keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having…” Naming Jews and Roman keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:” The line’s distinctive content terms include accused, cause, council. Its relationship to verses 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to…” Naming Farewell and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:” The line’s distinctive content terms include castle, horsemen, left. Its relationship to verses 31 and 33 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.” Naming Paul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of…” Naming Cilicia keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.