Acts 23:5

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Paul replied,“I did not realize, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written,‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Exod 22:28 : 28 “You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
  • Eccl 10:20 : 20 Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words.
  • 2 Pet 2:10 : 10 especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,
  • Jude 1:8-9 : 8 Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult the glorious ones. 9 But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses’ body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said,“May the Lord rebuke you!”

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Acts 23:1-4
    4 verses
    82%

    1Paul looked directly at the council and said,“Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day.”

    2At that the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

    3Then Paul said to him,“God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law you order me to be struck?”

    4Those standing near him said,“Do you dare insult God’s high priest?”

  • Exod 22:28
    73%

    28“You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.

  • Acts 25:15
    70%

    15When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him.

  • Acts 23:6
    70%

    6Then when Paul noticed that part of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, he shouted out in the council,“Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead!”

  • Acts 25:10
    69%

    10Paul replied,“I am standing before Caesar’s judgment seat, where I should be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.

  • Acts 3:17
    69%

    17And now, brothers, I know you acted in ignorance, as your rulers did too.

  • Acts 25:2
    69%

    2So the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought formal charges against Paul to him.

  • Acts 25:8
    69%

    8Paul said in his defense,“I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.”

  • Acts 22:25-27
    3 verses
    69%

    25When they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing nearby,“Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen without a proper trial?”

    26When the centurion heard this, he went to the commanding officer and reported it, saying,“What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.”

    27So the commanding officer came and asked Paul,“Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” He replied,“Yes.”

  • Acts 28:17
    68%

    17Paul Addresses the Jewish Community in Rome After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them,“Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans.

  • Jas 4:11
    68%

    11Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.

  • Acts 24:1-2
    2 verses
    68%

    1The Accusations Against Paul After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor.

    2When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying,“We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight.

  • Acts 23:9
    68%

    9There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly,“We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

  • Acts 24:20
    67%

    20Or these men here should tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the council,

  • Acts 23:15
    67%

    15So now you and the council request the commanding officer to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine his case by conducting a more thorough inquiry. We are ready to kill him before he comes near this place.”

  • Acts 24:10
    67%

    10Paul’s Defense Before Felix When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied,“Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense.

  • Acts 28:21
    67%

    21They replied,“We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there and reported or said anything bad about you.

  • Acts 7:27
    67%

    27But the man who was unfairly hurting his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying,‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?

  • Acts 22:1
    66%

    1Paul’s Defense“Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense that I now make to you.”

  • Acts 5:35
    66%

    35Then he said to the council,“Men of Israel, pay close attention to what you are about to do to these men.

  • Acts 28:19
    66%

    19But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar– not that I had some charge to bring against my own people.

  • John 11:49
    66%

    49Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said,“You know nothing at all!

  • Acts 7:1
    66%

    1Stephen’s Defense Before the Council Then the high priest said,“Are these things true?”

  • Matt 26:62-63
    2 verses
    66%

    62So the high priest stood up and said to him,“Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?”

    63But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him,“I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

  • Rom 13:3
    66%

    3(for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation

  • Acts 5:27
    66%

    27When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them,

  • 1 Pet 2:17
    66%

    17Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.

  • Acts 26:30
    66%

    30So the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them,

  • Acts 21:39
    66%

    39Paul answered,“I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Please allow me to speak to the people.”

  • Acts 4:8
    66%

    8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied,“Rulers of the people and elders,

  • Acts 19:36
    66%

    36So because these facts are indisputable, you must keep quiet and not do anything reckless.

  • Acts 23:29-30
    2 verses
    65%

    29I found he was accused with reference to controversial questions about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.

    30When I was informed there would be a plot against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges against him before you.

  • Acts 22:29-30
    2 verses
    65%

    29Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away from him, and the commanding officer was frightened when he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had had him tied up.

    30Paul Before the Sanhedrin The next day, because the commanding officer wanted to know the true reason Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council to assemble. He then brought Paul down and had him stand before them.

  • Acts 21:37
    65%

    37As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commanding officer,“May I say something to you?” The officer replied,“Do you know Greek?

  • Acts 26:26
    65%

    26For the king knows about these things, and I am speaking freely to him, because I cannot believe that any of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.

  • John 18:23
    65%

    23Jesus replied,“If I have said something wrong, confirm what is wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why strike me?”

  • Acts 23:22
    65%

    22Then the commanding officer sent the young man away, directing him,“Tell no one that you have reported these things to me.”

  • Acts 26:12
    65%

    12“While doing this very thing, as I was going to Damascus with authority and complete power from the chief priests,

  • Acts 25:18
    65%

    18When his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected.

  • Acts 24:23
    65%

    23He ordered the centurion to guard Paul, but to let him have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs.

  • Acts 22:19
    65%

    19I replied,‘Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues who believed in you.