Acts 23:3
Paul turned to him and said: “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to try me in accordance with law, and yet, in defiance of law, order me to be struck?”
Open English Bible (US)
In The King James Version
In Context
2At this, the high priest Ananias ordered the men standing near to strike him on the mouth;
4The people standing near said to Paul, “Do you know that you are insulting God’s high priest?”
Cross References
Psalms 58:1Do you speak what is right, you gods? With equity judge you your people?
Psalms 94:20Can corrupt justice be your ally, framing mischief by statute?
Amos 5:7You who turn judgment to bitter wormwood, and cast righteousness into the dirt:
Matthew 23:27Alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed look fair outside, while inside they are filled with dead people’s bones and all kinds of filth.
John 18:24Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Matthew Henry on Acts 23:2-6
Paul's Second Defence. 1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 3 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? 4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that… Read the whole commentary →