4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? (Acts 23:4 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, That Ananias the high-priest having commanded the apostle unheard and uncondemned to be smitten, the apostle denounces the just judgments of God upon him for the same reason; yet not in a way of imprecation, but prediction; rather foretelling what would come, than wishing or desiring that it should come; not in a way of revenge, or recompensing evil for evil, but in a way of ministerial reproof, which the standers-by call reviling. Revilest thou God’s high priest?
Thence learn, That profane sinners look upon the faithful reproofs which the ministers of God give them for their lewdness, to be no better than revilings; they think we revile them, if we do but rebuke them; whereas, though we chasten sinners with the rod of reproof, we dare not sting them with the scorpion of reproach.