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Acts 23:5

Paul
Humility

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?

Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
KJV
Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
WEB
Paul said, “I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
ASV
And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.
DARBY
And Paul said, I was not conscious, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evilly of the ruler of thy people.
BLB
And Paul was saying, “I was not aware, brothers, that he is high priest; for it has been written: ‘You shall not speak evil [of] the ruler of your people.’”
ÅB
Og Paulus sa: Jeg visste ikke, brødre, at det var ypperstepresten; det står jo skrevet: Mot en høvding blant ditt folk skal du ikke bruke ukvemsord.
OTB
Paulus svarte: «Jeg var ikke klar over, brødre, at han var ypperstepresten; for det står skrevet: ‘Du skal ikke tale ondt om en hersker over ditt folk.’»
B1930
Og Paulus sa: Jeg visste ikke, brødre, at det var ypperstepresten; det står jo skrevet: Mot en høvding blandt ditt folk skal du ikke bruke ukvemsord.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 22:28

    Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

    Read in context

  • Ecclesiastes 10:20

    Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

    Read in context

  • Jude 1:8–9

    Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

    Read in context

  • 2 Peter 2:10

    But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

    Read in context