Acts 23 3

Acts 23:3 kjv

Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

Acts 23:3 nkjv

Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?"

Acts 23:3 niv

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!"

Acts 23:3 esv

Then Paul said to him, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?"

Acts 23:3 nlt

But Paul said to him, "God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?"

Acts 23 verses

Acts 23 3 Meaning

The Apostle Paul, in response to being struck by the High Priest Ananias, cites a divine prophecy regarding his fate. Paul's statement, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!" reveals his strong conviction that Ananias's unjust action against him is condemned by God. He foretells a divine judgment upon the High Priest, echoing biblical condemnations of hypocrisy.

Acts 23 3 Context

This verse occurs in Acts chapter 23 during Paul's trial before the Sanhedrin. After being arrested in Jerusalem, Paul is brought before this council of Jewish leaders. In his defense, Paul appeals to his conscience and his good life lived in God's sight. However, the High Priest Ananias, in a show of disdain and to silence Paul, orders him to be struck on the mouth. This action precipitates Paul's prophetic rebuke of Ananias. The broader context is the growing opposition to Paul's ministry and the escalating conflict between Jewish religious authorities and the early Christian movement.

Acts 23 3 Word Analysis

• καὶ (kai): "and" - A conjunction used to connect clauses or ideas. Here, it connects Paul's observance of righteousness with his prophetic statement.
• εἶπεν (eipen): "said" - The aorist tense of lego, meaning to speak or say. It's a common verb for stating words.
• πρὸς (pros): "to" or "against" - A preposition indicating direction. Here, it shows Paul speaking directly to Ananias.
• αὐτὸν (auton): "him" - The accusative pronoun for "he," referring to Ananias.
• ὁ (ho): "the" - The definite article.
• Παῦλος (Paulos): "Paul" - The proper name of the Apostle.
• ἀποκριθεὶς (apokritheis): "answering" - The aorist passive participle of apokrinomai, meaning to answer or respond. This signifies a direct reaction to being struck.
• εἶπεν (eipen): "said" - Repeats the verb for saying.
• πρὸς (pros): "to" or "against" - Used again for direction towards Ananias.
• αὐτὸν (auton): "him" - Again, referring to Ananias.
• στήσεται (stesetai): "will strike" - The future indicative of histēmi, which can mean to stand, set, or strike. In this context, it carries the meaning of God bringing judgment upon Ananias.
• ο (o): "O" - An interjection used in direct address.
• σέ (se): "you" - The personal pronoun in the accusative case, directly addressing Ananias.
• ὁ (ho): "the" - Definite article.
• θύσων (thusōn): "strike" (literally "slayer" or "smite") - Participle of thuo, meaning to kill or sacrifice. It carries a strong sense of a decisive blow or divine smiting.
• ὁ (ho): "the" - Definite article.
• θεός (theos): "God" - The divine name.
• σέ (se): "you" - Direct address to Ananias.
• Σὺ (Su): "You" - Pronoun for emphasis.
• δέρῃ (derē): "strike" - Aorist subjunctive of dero, meaning to beat or flay. It denotes a forceful blow.
• ἐν (en): "in" - Preposition indicating manner or condition.
• τοίχῳ (toichō): "wall" - The dative singular of toichos, meaning wall.
• κονίᾳ (konia): "whitewashed" - The dative singular of konia, meaning lime or plaster, used for whitewashing.

Words group analysis:

• "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!": This entire phrase is a prophetic denunciation. The "whitewashed wall" is a potent metaphor for hypocrisy, as it appears clean and presentable on the outside but is rotten or empty within. Ananias, as High Priest, was expected to uphold righteousness but was acting unjustly. Paul uses this vivid imagery, consistent with prophetic denunciations found in the Old Testament (like Ezekiel 13), to pronounce divine judgment on Ananias for his outward show of authority and inwardly corrupt actions.

Acts 23 3 Bonus Section

The High Priest Ananias was known for his severe administration and for having the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, in authority within the Sanhedrin. Historical accounts describe him as avaricious and ruthless. Paul’s denunciation may have also alluded to prophecies regarding the judgment of corrupt religious leaders who persecuted the righteous. Ananias’s own end, assassinated by Jewish zealots in AD 66, during the great Jewish revolt, can be seen by some as a fulfillment of this pronouncement of divine judgment for his life of injustice. The phrase "whitewashed wall" itself is a powerful idiom that resonated with Jewish understanding of the time, drawn from earlier prophetic rebukes.

Acts 23 3 Commentary

Paul’s outburst, while seemingly rash, was a divinely inspired prophetic declaration of judgment against Ananias. The term "whitewashed wall" directly calls to mind Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees' hypocrisy (Matthew 23:27), suggesting that Ananias, like them, presented a facade of piety while inwardly being corrupt and unjust. Ananias, being High Priest, held a position of spiritual authority, making his unlawful treatment of Paul even more grievous. Paul's reference to being struck by God points to divine retribution for such abuse of power and hypocrisy. This prophetic word from Paul indicates a significant prophetic gifting and discernment within the Apostle, allowing him to perceive the spiritual reality of Ananias's character and destiny.