Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 23:3

3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee , thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judg me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten g contrary to the law?

An excellent similitude to represent wicked men, especially Hypocrites by, who counterfeit zeal for Gods glory and worship, whilst they intend onely their own profit or grandeur. Thus our Saviour compared the Scribes and Pharisees unto whited Sepulchres, Macth. 23.27. Whited Sepulchres and Walls, tho they seem fair and comely, have within nothing but rottenness and useless rubbish. Now these words are not to be looked upon as a Curse or Imprecation upon the High Priest; which does not consist with the temper of the Gospel; but they are rather to be taken as a Prophesie or Prediction, St. Paul having on occasion had the gift of Prophesie amongst the other gifts of the Holy Ghost. And accordingly, 'tis observed, that this High Priest either died, or was put out of his place soon after. And thus Paul's Imprecation upon Alexander the Copper-smith, mentioned, 2 Tim. 4.14. is to be understood: as also several other Curses (seemingly wished) by holy men, especially in the Psalms; as Psal. 109.6, 7, &c. and many other places; which ate by no means for our imitation; neither were they spoken so much as the Wishes or Prayers of such as uttered them, as they were their Prophesies and Predictions; which we know came to pass: as that now mentioned was fulfilled in the person of Iudas.

It was contrary to all Law, Divine and Humane, that any should be punished before that he was heard; and especially to their own Judicial Law, which in matters of this nature they were yet governed by under the Romans. Now the Iews were first to hear and enquire di[illegible: 2 letters]gently, whether the matter any was accused of, were true, before they might give sentence, or inf[illegible: 1 letter]ict any punishment upon them, Deut. 17.4.

Marginal references: Lev. 19.3[illegible: 1 letter]. Deut. 25.1, 2.