Acts 23:1-5
This is the start of Paul's defense. It's a serious moment. Paul looked earnestly at the council. He was making eye contact, really focusing on speaking to them. His claim of 'good conscience' was offensive to them. Paul wasn't saying that he had lived a perfect sinless life. But that when he had sinned, he responded to his conscience and had set things right. His conscience was working.
Paul made a statement in 1 Corinthians 4:4 that reveals his attitude.
He said:
For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
We tend to judge ourselves very leniently. We get short memories about our own sins. Paul said justification came by the Lord who is his judge. It's his judgment that counts.
Now the High Priests whole function in life was the law. He should have been concerned about it. It was his job to be the administrator and the example of it. That was the reason Paul was brought to him. Yet, he himself broke the law by having Paul struck. He clearly had no respect for the law. He violated the spirit and letter of the law. And in doing so, he showed his lack of integrity and lack of respect for Paul.
Ananias, the high priest, isn't the same high priest that Jesus stood before. Ananias was one of the most corrupt and violent of all the high priests. He was famous for his greed. Josephus recorded that he stole the tithes intended for the other priests. Josephus said he was profane, greedy and hot-tempered. The Talmud records Ananias's conduct as unpardonable. He was regarded as a traitor and puppet for Rome.
Since Ananias was pro-Roman, this alienated him from his own people, the Jews. He didn't care though. The man was full of himself. He was apparently proud, egotistical and self-centered and had some serious anger management issues. However, he didn't like to get his hands dirty. In this case, he commanded those around him to punch Paul in the mouth.
Why did Paul's statement make Ananias so mad? Did he think it was just an outrageous statement for one to make when he stood accused of serious crimes? Or it could be Ananias felt the conviction of integrity. Ananias had no integrity. Or it's possible that Ananias understood Paul's claim to a clear conscience as an implication that others present didn't have a conscience. It's even possible that Paul meant to imply that.
Do you suppose that Ananias felt the conviction of being the High Priest, a man that was to represent God to the people, standing as accuser before a man who really did represent God to the people but stood as a lowly criminal? Here stood the High Priest as a man representing the Law of Moses, the Jews, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob yet he had not an ounce of integrity. And he stood before an accused criminal, a humble man, with integrity and an inclination towards holiness. It's just a really strange picture or contrast.
Paul had to be stunned at this response he got from the high priest and he lashed out at the Ananias. He said, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! The whitewashed wall was a similar idiom that Jesus used in Matthew speaking of whitewashed tombs. For the Jew, a grave was considered unclean. If you were unclean, you couldn't enter the temple. Touching a grave or walking over it would defile you or make you unclean. At the time of the feasts when the Jews were going to the temple, they had to avoid graves. The locals knew where the graves were and stayed away. However, these folks coming in from out of town wouldn't know. So, the graves were whitewashed so they could be easily seen and not accidentally stepped on causing uncleanness.
Jesus told the Pharisees they were whitewashed tombs. He said they might appear okay but on the inside were dead men's bones. The appearance of Ananias was clean and white like the tomb but on the inside was uncleanness and defilement. He was nothing but a whitewashed tomb.
It doesn't even say if Ananias understood the insult and was mad. But those around him understood and couldn't believe someone would say that about the high priest. These people who witnessed Paul's rebuke couldn't believe it. You just didn't talk to the High priest this way. Isn't it amazing they were stunned at Paul's response but they didn't say anything about the actions of the High Priest? They were probably used to seeing it.
Paul's reaction was wrong. Even though this man was evil, he was God's ordained leader. Paul admits his mistake. He respects the office of High Priest, even though he may not think much of Ananias personally.
Paul's excuse for disrespecting the High Priest was that he didn't know this man was the High Priest. It doesn't seem reasonable that Paul didn't know he was standing before the high priest. It may have been that Paul was commenting that the priest's actions weren't consistent to the office of the high priests. To me that sounds like Paul. It could also be that because the meeting was called quickly, the official may not be clothes in the official clothes. They may not have been recognizable. Others believe this is more evidence of Paul's eye problems. We don't really know.
Historically, there were other incidents where Annanias came against the Christians. Later, as persecution was breaking out against Christians, Ananias saw an opportunity to kill James, the brother of Jesus along with a group of other Christians. He commanded James to make a public proclamation from one of the galleries of the Temple at Jerusalem that Jesus was not the Messiah. Instead, James cried out that Jesus was the Son of God and Judge of the World.
Ananias was again enraged and had James hurled to the ground from a parapet on the temple. While on his knees praying "Father forgive them, they know not what they do" and getting ready to be stoned to death, a man picked up a club and smashed James's head in.
Later when there was a siege against Jerusalem, Paul's statement that 'God will strike him' came to pass. Assassins burned the house of Ananias. When it was discovered, he wasn't in the house when it burnt, they started a man hunt. The assassins found him hidden in an aqueduct. This once proud, arrogant, self-centered man who lived a life of greed and power grabbing was now holed up in an aqueduct like a rat in hiding. He was killed there.
Acts 23:6-10
Paul realized he wasn't going to get anywhere preaching the gospel. He makes a brilliant move here. He takes advantage of the council of the Sanhedrin made up of Sadducees and Pharisees. Paul may have been on the council at one time sitting as a Pharisee and understood the tensions that existed between these two factions.
Paul appealed to the Pharisees among the council. He said that he is one of them, a Pharisee and son of a Pharisee. Like them, he believed in the resurrection of the dead and said he was being judged because of it. Now, instead of having them united against him they are divided and fighting amongst themselves.
Paul had to be sitting there with a smile on his face. All these high falutin religious men were arguing amongst themselves while the accused sat there. As things continued to heat up the commander ordered Paul to be removed so he wasn't hurt in the melee. Paul was brought back to the barracks where he would have been captive until they figured out what to do with Him. The commander had to be shaking his head wondering what it was about this guy that became a catalyst for chaos among any crowd.
Acts 23:11-15
It had been a long day for Paul. Now he is alone with his thoughts. As long as the day was, it was probably an even longer night. I'm sure he rehashed every word, wondering what he could have done differently. It's in the quiet night, in the darkness when Paul's fears caught up with him. His trust in God may have faltered. Maybe it felt like his prayers were bouncing off the ceiling. And when Paul was down, the Lord appeared to him. The Lord stood at Paul's side and told him to 'be of good cheer.' Other versions say "take courage".
Paul was never alone. If the whole world hated him, he had Jesus and that was enough. We can be encouraged in this. Even a man like Paul could get discouraged, that tells me it's okay when it happens to me. Paul got a personal visit from the Lord, and maybe we have too, in some way. More likely, we are being ministered to by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to cheer up and told Paul just like he was witnessing in Jerusalem he would also be a witness in Rome. This was Paul's long time desire and Jesus personally delivered to him the desire of his heart. Paul had to be thrilled.
A band of angry Jews banded together and they meant to cause serious trouble. They obviously didn't know Paul just received a promise from the Lord. The oath they took was to do the work of the enemy, keeping Paul from what God called him to.
Paul got up the next morning with a smile on his face. Jesus had told him what would happen. They couldn't kill him. No one could harm him or change the plans of Jesus. He may lose his life for Christ, but not to this mob, not at this time; he was going to Rome. Paul was at the mercy of a sovereign, holy and merciful God, not at the mercy and the will of the whims of the world. We should experience that same freedom. We've received all kinds of promises from God. Our lives have been bought and paid for by the blood of Christ. We have a sure future and an eternal inheritance in our Lord. Nothing the world throws at us can change that. That should put a smile on our face every day.
There is really only one large conspiracy against all believers. Satan conspires to steal, kill and destroy. All smaller conspiracy against those who are in Christ are just part of the one larger one. Satan also has a sure future and he wants to take as many with him as he can.
These forty Jews formed a conspiracy against Paul. They took an oath that they wouldn't eat until he was dead. In this oath, they 'anathematized' themselves. This was to invoke divine judgment on them if they failed. They said if we don't kill Paul then we'll die of starvation.
These men went to the chief priests and elders and told them to have the Roman commander bring Paul down to them. Now remember Paul had the favor of the Pharisees. The priests and elders had to have been Sadducees to enter into a conspiracy against Paul. They wanted these Sadducees to have the Roman commander bring Paul to them. Then they would spring their trap on Paul and kill him.
Acts 23:16-22
How did Paul's nephew know about the ambush? Was he plugged into the happenings of the council and privy to inside information? This is the only place Luke speaks of Paul's family. Most speculate that Paul lost his family when he converted to Christianity. In Philippians 3:8 Paul said he suffered the loss of all things; many believe this included his family. While his family may have disowned him for his beliefs, they took exception to the ambush that was being laid out for him.
It's really no mystery the secret got out. There is no way forty men can keep a secret. The secret got out and Paul's nephew ended up finding out and ran to tell Paul.
One of the key things to remember here is that Paul is a Roman citizen. He's not under arrest. He is just in protective custody. When Paul's nephew tells Lysias about the plot to him, Lysias takes it seriously. This is the threat on the life of a Roman citizen.
Acts 23:23-31
Because of the constant threat on Paul's life Lysias realizes he has to escalate this situation. And escalate it he did when he called for 470 soldiers. These 40 men didn't stand a chance and that was likely the message Lysias wanted to send. He had to take action to resolve this or there would be an ugly confrontation with the Jews. He decided to kick this one up to his superior. He decided to take Paul to the governor, Felix.
This letter from Lysias is interesting. Lysias stretched the truth a little as he opened the letter. He makes it sound like he saved Paul's life when he learned he was a Roman citizen. He didn't know he was a citizen until later, right before he was set to scourge him. He leaves out the fact he was illegally bound in chains. Lysias had to put a little spin on his story.
Luke probably got the details of the letter from Paul himself. Claudius followed standard letter format at the time. This is where we learn the name of this Roman soldier that has been dealing with Paul since the mob scene at the temple.
Claudius addresses Felix as 'most excellent governor'. This is flattery as well as showing respect to the authority of Felix. History tells us that no one considered Felix an excellent governor. Felix was a freed slave and most wondered how he ever came to be governor. Tacitus was a Roman historian and he said Felix was "a master of cruelty and lust who exercised the power of a king with the spirit of a slave." He was considered a 'Vulgar Ruffian' at the time. His wife's name was Drusilla. She had divorced her first husband to marry Felix. She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I and sister of Agrippa II. Agrippa I pursued orthodox Jewish policies and persecuted the Christians. He had Peter arrested and killed James, son of Zebedee.
The soldiers escorted Paul and brought him to Antipatris, about halfway to Caesarea.
Acts 23:32-35
Paul would stay in the Praetorium, still in custody of Rome, but certainly not a bad setting. When Paul's accusers arrived, he would have his day in court. Paul wasn't worried about that day in court though. He already knew he was going to Rome.
©2008, 2014, 2022 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
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