Bible Strands
Acts 23:2
At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — At this moment in Acts 23, the high priest Ananias commands men standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth immediately after Paul addresses the Sanhedrin.
The words — The Greek verb ἐπέταξεν (epetaxen) literally means "commanded," marking a direct official order rather than a spontaneous act. The participle παρεστῶσιν (parestōsin) specifies that the strike was carried out by attendants standing by the high priest.
The thread — This event mirrors the unauthorized blow in John 18:22, sets the stage for the formal accusations in Acts 24:1, and repeats the pattern of arbitrary physical intimidation found in 1 Kings 22:24.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to note how religious leadership abandons procedural fairness the moment it is challenged. It establishes a concrete baseline for evaluating claims of authority against their immediate actions.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
Cross-references
- John 18:22 When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”
- Acts 24:1 Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, who presented to the governor their case against Paul.
- 1 Kings 22:24 Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah went up, struck Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the Spirit of the LORD go when He departed from me to speak with you?”
- Micah 5:1 Now, O daughter of troops, mobilize your troops; for a siege is laid against us! With a rod they will strike the cheek of the judge of Israel.
- Jeremiah 20:2 he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
- Matthew 26:67 Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him