Acts 23 10

Acts 23:10 kjv

And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

Acts 23:10 nkjv

Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.

Acts 23:10 niv

The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Acts 23:10 esv

And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Acts 23:10 nlt

As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.

Acts 23 verses

Acts 23 10 Meaning

Acts 23:10 describes a critical moment during Paul's appearance before the Jewish Sanhedrin. A fierce and violent dissension erupted between the Pharisees and Sadducees concerning the doctrine of the resurrection, ignited by Paul's strategic declaration. This conflict grew so intense and physical that the Roman chief captain, Claudius Lysias, feared Paul would be literally torn apart by the contending parties. Consequently, to prevent Paul's death and a full-blown riot, he swiftly commanded his soldiers to intervene, forcibly rescue Paul from the chaotic assembly, and bring him back to the relative safety of the Roman barracks in the Antonia Fortress. This action marked Paul's temporary salvation from mortal danger, albeit into continued Roman custody.

Acts 23 10 Context

Acts chapter 23 begins with Paul's second appearance before a Jewish judicial body in Jerusalem, this time the Sanhedrin, after his arrest for allegedly bringing a Gentile into the Temple. Having been saved from an attempted scourging by the chief captain Claudius Lysias due to his Roman citizenship (Acts 22:24-29), Paul is brought before the highest Jewish council to ascertain the true charge against him.

In Acts 23:1-5, Paul starts by declaring his clear conscience. When struck on the mouth for this, he condemns the High Priest Ananias as a "whitewashed wall," highlighting hypocrisy. Then, with shrewd discernment (Acts 23:6), Paul publicly declares his Pharisaic identity and the core issue of his trial: his belief in "the hope and the resurrection of the dead." This declaration deliberately exploited the existing theological rift between the two dominant parties within the Sanhedrin – the Pharisees, who believed in resurrection, angels, and spirits, and the Sadducees, who rejected all three. Paul's statement successfully polarized the council, shifting their collective focus from his actions to their own deep-seated doctrinal dispute (Acts 23:7-9).

The ensuing verbal battle quickly escalated into a violent tumult, reaching the climax described in Acts 23:10, where the Roman commander had to intervene for Paul's safety. This immediate context reveals Paul's tactical wisdom, the deep theological divisions within Judaism, and the persistent hostility of religious authorities towards the Gospel message and its proponents. The verse sets the stage for Paul's subsequent detention, the Jewish plot against his life, and his eventual journey to Rome under Roman protection, fulfilling God's overarching purpose.

Acts 23 10 Word analysis

• And when there arose a great dissension,

  • And when there arose: Marks the unfolding of an intense event following Paul's deliberate provocation.
  • a great: Signifies the magnitude and severity of the ensuing conflict.
  • dissension: From Greek stasis (στάσις). While stasis can mean simply "standing" or "a party," in this context it implies a vehement dispute, an insurrectionary uprising, or even sedition. Here, it refers to the furious theological and personal division between the Pharisees and Sadducees, rapidly degenerating from a debate into physical altercation. It suggests the Council members were literally coming to blows, or at least highly agitated to that point, making Paul's position perilous.

• the chief captain,

  • the chief captain: From Greek chiliarchos (χιλίαρχος), meaning "commander of a thousand" soldiers, i.e., a military tribune. This refers to Claudius Lysias, the Roman garrison commander stationed at the Antonia Fortress overlooking the Temple area. He had already rescued Paul once and was responsible for maintaining order in Jerusalem.

• fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them,

  • fearing lest: Reveals the chief captain's assessment of the extreme and immediate danger. His concern was not primarily for Paul's welfare but for maintaining Roman order and preventing a prisoner under his charge from being violently killed, which would reflect poorly on Roman control.
  • Paul should be torn in pieces: From Greek dialyasthē (διαλυθῇ), meaning "to be dissolved," "disintegrated," "utterly broken apart," or "destroyed completely." This vivid and violent imagery conveys the intensity of the hatred and fury among the Jewish council members. It suggests a mob tearing a person limb from limb, underscoring the lethal potential of the conflict.

• commanded the soldiers to go down,

  • commanded: Highlights the chief captain's authority and his decisive action.
  • the soldiers: Roman legionaries from the garrison. Their presence symbolizes Roman power and their role as peacekeepers.
  • to go down: Indicates the soldiers' movement from their vantage point in the Antonia Fortress (which was built on a higher rock at the northwest corner of the Temple compound) down into the Temple court area where the Sanhedrin was meeting.

• and to take him by force from among them,

  • to take him by force: From Greek harpazō (ἁρπάζω). This strong verb means "to snatch away," "to seize by force," "to carry off suddenly," or "to plunder." It signifies a forceful, urgent, and direct rescue operation, rather than a calm escort. Paul was not simply invited out but snatched away from the melee.
  • from among them: Indicates his removal from the midst of the warring Jewish factions, who were literally engulfing him.

• and to bring him into the barracks.

  • the barracks: From Greek parembolē (παρεμβολή), referring to a military camp, encampment, or fortress. In Jerusalem, this specifically means the Antonia Fortress. This was Paul's temporary prison but also his immediate refuge from the hostile Jewish council, providing a degree of Roman protection and security, though he remained a detainee.

Words-Group Analysis

• "And when there arose a great dissension": This phrase underlines the immediate and significant consequence of Paul's strategic declaration. It portrays the intense internal strife within Judaism that Paul deftly exploited, turning a trial against him into an internal squabble that revealed deep-seated doctrinal differences.
• "fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them": This highlights the mortal danger Paul was in. The chief captain's intervention, though motivated by maintaining Roman control and not necessarily by concern for Paul's safety, providentially secured Paul's life against the deadly fervor of his opponents.
• "commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force": This demonstrates the Roman military's efficiency and readiness to intervene decisively to suppress civil disorder. It underscores Paul's complete helplessness in the face of such a hostile mob and his dependence on external authority for his survival.
• "from among them, and to bring him into the barracks": This marks Paul's shift from being surrounded by a threatening mob of Jewish leaders to being confined by Roman guards. It's a move from immediate, uncontrolled physical danger to a controlled environment, where his life is secure but his freedom remains limited, allowing for the next stages of God's plan for his witness.

Acts 23 10 Bonus section

The Antonia Fortress, built by Herod the Great and named after Mark Antony, was strategically located to observe and control the Temple complex. It was a clear symbol of Roman power and control over Jewish life and religion. This location allowed Claudius Lysias and his forces to quickly intervene whenever disturbances erupted in the Temple area, as they frequently did during Jewish festivals. The repeated Roman intervention in Paul's arrest and subsequent trials highlights the providential way God used Roman legal and military structures to advance Paul's ministry and eventually bring him to Rome, a journey essential for spreading the Gospel to the wider Roman Empire (Acts 19:21). This also demonstrates the stark contrast between the internal theological conflict and violent passion of the Jewish religious authorities and the pragmatic, order-focused intervention of the Roman occupiers, inadvertently furthering God's agenda.

Acts 23 10 Commentary

Acts 23:10 marks a critical turning point in Paul's journey, illustrating God's providential care amidst intense persecution. Paul, strategically leveraging the doctrinal divide between Pharisees and Sadducees, intentionally brought the debate over the resurrection into the Sanhedrin's proceedings. This tactic, though divisive, was divinely used to split his accusers and inadvertently save his life from their unified wrath. The ensuing "great dissension" wasn't merely a heated argument but an escalating physical confrontation, revealing the depth of animosity towards Paul and his message.

The Roman chief captain, Claudius Lysias, acted out of necessity to maintain order and prevent a riot—a paramount Roman concern in Jerusalem. His fear that Paul would be "torn in pieces" reflects the genuine and savage threat of the mob. Thus, the very secular power, seemingly detached from divine purposes, became the instrument of God's deliverance for Paul. This rescue into the Antonia Fortress secured Paul from immediate physical harm, placing him in a safer, albeit imprisoned, environment, where he could not be secretly disposed of by his Jewish adversaries.

This event underlines several themes: God's faithfulness in protecting His chosen vessels (Acts 9:15-16), Paul's boldness and wisdom (even using earthly wisdom in the service of truth), the inherent divisiveness of the Gospel message for those who oppose it (Matt 10:34), and the reality that even ungodly authorities can serve God's overarching plans (Rom 13:1). Paul's safety here was crucial, as God still intended for him to testify in Rome (Acts 23:11), and this intervention prevented his premature demise, ensuring his mission continued.