Thought for the Week

Scriptures to Read:

Acts 22:24-25

Acts 22:26-29

Acts 23:1-3

Acts 23:4-5

Acts 23:6-9

Acts 23:10

Acts 23:11

The Roman Commander, Claudius Lysias, is doing everything in his power to understand what is happening, so he might be able to bring a charge against someone in these circumstances. Paul clearly has in mind a desire that he might become all things to all men that by all means, he might save some (see I Corinthians 9:22). The Jews are angry they almost succeeded in killing Paul twice but failed. It also seems Jesus has been whispering into Paul's ear that there is more for him to do and not to give up now but to press on toward victory.

At any rate, The Commander does not let things rest and cool down but presses the Jewish High Council, the Sanhedrin, to meet so he might find a charge to bring. The trial, if we might call it that, begins with fireworks. Paul addresses them as "men and brethren," making himself their equal and peer. He says he has lived in all good conscience before God. I think he has. He has "walked his talk and talked his walk." In other words, he has lived out what he believed. To him, he has lived the Truth.

The Truth was known because it was obeyed and because it was obeyed, it was known. These words incensed the High Priest, who was the Sanhedrin Chairman and presiding officer. He ordered someone to "punch him in the mouth." Paul's quick response was, "You hypocrite, you sit to judge me according to The Law and break The Law with that order." With that someone else shouts, "You revile (criticize) The High Priest." Paul nearly apologizes saying, "It is wrong to curse, (criticize) the Ruler of the people" (see Exodus 22:28).

Paul quickly surmises that a large portion of the Sanhedrin is Pharisee. In the time of Jesus most all Sanhedrin were Sadducees. In the intervening years the balance of power is shifting and there are now many more Pharisees. He also knows there are radical philosophical differences between Pharisees and Sadducees. He immediately seizes on one of those differences by saying he is on trial because he believes and has hope in the Resurrection. This the Pharisees believed, the Sadducees did not. I have a feeling if he can go on, Paul is going to talk specifically of the Resurrection of Jesus and confidence he has that the Resurrection of Jesus provides hope for resurrection of all who believe in Him. This provoked an immediate dissension with the Pharisees now siding with Paul. The debate was so fierce the Commander was concerned bodily harm would be done to Paul.

So, even though he is no nearer to finding a basis for charge against Paul, he orders the soldiers to go and rescue Paul the third time. We don't know how Paul felt but our closing verse tells us clearly, Jesus came to Paul in a night vision and commended him for being faithful in Jerusalem and encouraging him to be faithful in Rome also. This pretty much assures Paul that he would ultimately move on to stand before the supreme human ruler and leader of the Roman Empire.