Acts 23:4-5

Paul may not have known that the person who commanded the soldier to strike him was the high priest for any number of reasons. Paul had not been in Jerusalem for an extended visit for over 20 years and may not have been able to recognize the current high priest by sight. Perhaps Ananias was not wearing his high priestly robes since this was not a regular meeting of the Sanhedrin. [Note: Longenecker, "The Acts . . .," p. 531.] Perhaps Paul was looking in another direction when Ananias gave the order to strike him. Perhaps Paul had poor eyesight. [Note: McGee, 4:614.] However this seems less likely in view of Acts 23:1. The passage to which some commentators appeal to argue that Paul had deficient eyesight (Galatians 4:13-15) does not really say that. Another possibility is that Paul was speaking in irony: "’I did not think that a man who would give such an order could be the high priest.’" [Note: Marshall, The Acts . . ., p. 364; Neil, p. 228.] Some interpreters believe that Paul simply lost his temper. [Note: Ironside, Lectures on . . ., p. 537.] Others believe he was apologizing. [Note: Kent, p. 168.] Paul voiced similar passionate utterances on other occasions (cf. Galatians 2:11; Galatians 5:12; Philippians 3:2).

The high priest was a ruler of the Jews in a higher sense than was true of the rest of the Sanhedrin members. Paul’s quotation from Exodus 22:28 showed that he was in subjection to God’s revealed will that he was on trial for repudiating. Being subject to governmental authorities is a requirement under the New Covenant as it was under the Old (cf. Romans 13:1-7; et al.). Paul quoted the Old Covenant here for the benefit of the Jews who lived under it.