Contradictions and Paradoxes in Acts 23:27

Check out Contradictions Catalog of Acts 23:27 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts Acts 23:27. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to Luke, the author of the book, Paul was in danger and could have been hurt by some people. But the person telling the story came with soldiers to save Paul because they found out he was a Roman citizen.

Acts 23:27: This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.

Contradiction with Exodus 14:14

This verse suggests that the Lord will fight for you and you only need to be silent, which contradicts the idea of a human delivering someone from a perilous situation like in Acts 23:27.

Exodus 14:14: The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Contradiction with Proverbs 21:31

This verse states the horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord, contradicting the notion that a person delivered Paul by their own action.

Proverbs 21:31: The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD. [safety: or, victory]

Contradiction with Jeremiah 17:5

This verse says that cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, opposing the concept of deliverance by human intervention rather than divine trust.

Jeremiah 17:5: Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Contradiction with Psalm 118:8

States that it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man, contradicting the attribution of safety to human action as in Acts 23:27.

Psalm 118:8: [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Contradiction with Isaiah 31:1

Warns against trusting in military might instead of looking to the Lord, which contradicts the reliance on human action for deliverance found in Acts 23:27.

Isaiah 31:1: Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because [they are] many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

Paradox #1

Acts 23:27 involves an inconsistency where the Roman commander, Claudius Lysias, claims to have rescued Paul because he learned Paul was a Roman citizen. However, the earlier text suggests that he discovered Paul's citizenship only after he had him bound. This presents a contradiction in the sequence of events regarding when and why the action was taken to rescue Paul.

Paradox #2

The historical conflict in Acts 23:27 is that the commander claims he rescued Paul because he learned Paul was a Roman citizen, but earlier accounts suggest he initially ordered Paul to be bound and questioned without knowing this. This inconsistency raises questions about the sequence of events and the commander's awareness of Paul's citizenship at the time of rescue.

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