Comfort in Times of Trial
August 14, 2022
Commentary
Chapter 23 opens with Paul standing before the Sanhedrin presenting his case. Gazing earnestly at the council, he told them he had lived before God, doing his duty with a perfectly good conscience (v. 1). Ananias, a corrupt high priest, order that Paul should be slapped across the mouth to forcibly silence him (v. 2). Paul’s temper flared and he protested with a sharp retort. Turning to the high priest he said, “You whitewashed wall! God will hit you. You sit there to judge me by the Law of Moses. But you order men to break the Law by hitting me” (v. 3). He retracted his statement once he was told to whom he had spoken (v. 4). He quoted Exodus 22:28 as his reason for doing so. Perhaps Paul failed to recognize Ananias due to his poor eyesight. It’s also possible that Ananias, a very wealthy and influential man, wasn’t dressed in his high priestly robes for this meeting. Paul paid his respects to the position, if not to the person. We need to remember that God always holds government officials with respect, and we should do the same (v. 5).
Paul had been assaulted by the mob, threatened with scourging by the Romans, and bullied by the high priest. He knew he wasn’t likely to receive a fair trial in a court headed by Ananias. In desperation he acted politically, rather than spiritually. Seeing that the council was made up of both Pharisees and Sadducees and knowing that the Sadducees denied the resurrection while the Pharisees believed in it, he identified himself as a Pharisee. Immediately the two parties began to squabble (vv. 6-8). The Pharisees took Paul’s part and demanded his acquittal (v. 9). The captain had to rescue Paul by force (v. 10). Perhaps Paul was wondering what good had been done by his coming to Jerusalem. The next night the Lord Himself drew near to Paul to comfort and encourage him, and to assure him that he would go to Rome (v. 11). Whoever is against us, we need not fear, if the Lord stand by us. It is the will of Christ that his faithful servants should always be cheerful.
Application
I have had some trials and discouragement in this life, but nothing compared to what Paul went through. Lord, help me to always have a good attitude when trials come my way.
Acts 23:1– 11 (NET)
1 Paul looked directly at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day.” 2 At that the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those standing near him said, “Do you dare insult God’s high priest?” 5 Paul replied, “I did not realize, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.’”
6 Then when Paul noticed that part of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, he shouted out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead!” 7 When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 9 There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly, “We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 When the argument became so great the commanding officer feared that they would tear Paul to pieces, he ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.
11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”