The day after the tribune discovered Paul’s citizenship, he unbound him and commanded the Sanhedrin to convene in order to ascertain the real reason why the Jews were accusing Paul. Standing before the council, Paul declared that he had lived his life “before God in all good conscience up to this day” (Acts 23:2). Enraged by Paul’s statement, the high priest Ananias commanded for Paul to be slapped across the face.
Paul responded quite forcefully (and perhaps prophetically), emphatically telling Ananias that God would strike him. Paul was indignantly outraged that Ananias could sit in judgment as God’s representative and treat God’s law with such contempt by commanding the illegal action of striking Paul. Those who stood nearby accused Paul of reviling God’s high priest. Paul stated that he did not know that he had spoken so forcefully to the high priest, citing Exodus 22:28, which forbids cursing a ruler of God’s people.
By now, Paul recognized he had no hope of getting a fair trial. Understanding that the Sanhedrin was largely comprised of 2 differing groups (the Pharisees and Sadducees), he cried out that he was a Pharisee and that the hope of the resurrection was the singular reason that he was on trial. Such a statement caused a dissension in the council because the Sadducees deny the theology of a resurrection (and angels and spirits).
Some of the Pharisees (who do confess resurrection theology) made the public statement that they found nothing wrong with Paul. “What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” Acts 23:9. This caused physical violence to break out; and so once again, the tribune rescued Paul from being killed by having his soldiers forcibly extract Paul to take him back to the barracks. The next night, the Lord Jesus physically appeared to Paul, giving him words of assurance, strength, and comfort. Jesus assured Paul that his testimony of Him was approved by God, and that Paul would surely testify of Jesus in Rome as well.
- Was Paul’s response to Ananias sinful? Why does Paul call him a whitewashed wall?
- How should we understand Paul’s response to the allegation of reviling God’s high priest?
- What was Paul’s motivation in stressing that he is a Pharisee?
- What did the scribes’ response mean? Were they followers of the Way as well?
- Why does the Lord’ statement to Paul signify?
You can listen to this teaching on Acts 22:30-23:11 by clicking on the following link: Christianity On Trial