May 29, 2022
Acts 22:30-23:11
“Dispute and Distract”
Service Overview: Paul’s appearance before the Sanhedrin placed their dysfunctionality on full display. God wasn’t done with Paul and so Paul brings up a matter more controversial to these people than even he was; the idea of resurrection. This distraction, and the drama that unfolds, once again lands Paul into the safety net of a Roman cell.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)
Background Information:
- This group was composed of seventy (or seventy-one) of the leading Jewish teachers, with the high priest presiding. It was their responsibility to interpret and apply the sacred Jewish law to the affairs of the nation, and to try those who violated that law. The Romans gave the council permission to impose capital punishment where the offense deserved it. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 394)
- The high priest at this time was Ananias, son of Nedebaeus, who received the office from Herod of Chalcis (younger brother of Herod Agrippa I) in A.D. 47 and held it for eleven or twelve years. He brought no credit to the sacred office. Josephus tells how his servants went to the threshing floors to seize the tithes that ought to have gone to the common priests, while the Talmud preserves a parody of Ps. 24:7 in which his greed was lampooned (F.F. Bruce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Acts, 447)
- (v.2) When the high priest ordered Paul to be struck, he himself was transgressing the Law, which said, “He who strikes the cheek of an Israelite, strikes, as it were, the glory of God.” (William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 164)
- (v.3 re: “whitewashed wall”) This was a typically Judaic way of calling someone a hypocrite. The only whitewashed walls in Israel were the walls of tombs. Jesus used this same figure of speech: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean” (Matthew 23:27). (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 290)
- What Paul said about Ananias was prophetic. The man was notoriously cruel and avaricious, and practiced even violence and robbery in his pursuit of wealth and power. He was deposed in A.D. 58 and assassinated by Jewish zealots in the uprising of A.D. 66. He was indeed a “whitewashed wall” tottering toward ruin. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 260)
The question to answer…
Why does Paul seem to instigate further chaos in the situation he’s now in?
Answer…
Paul realized the conscience of this court had been seared and it would only be futile to push further.
What aspects of Paul’s character should stand out to us in this account?
- Paul’s clear conscience.
(v. 1 | Prov. 4:23; Acts 24:16; Titus 1:15; Heb. 9:14; James 4:17; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 John 1:9)
Conscience innately tells us that there is a distinction between right and wrong, and that we ought to do the right. A healthy conscience also produces in us a sense of approbation when we do right, or a sense of disapproval when we do wrong. But conscience is dependent upon our moral judgment or discernment or training with respect to what is right and what is wrong. Thus it was that Paul could say that even in persecuting the Church, he had acted ignorantly in unbelief (cf. 1 Tim. 1:13), but not in violation of his conscience as it was informed at that time. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 259)
- Paul’s fast-acting humility.
(v. 5 | Prov. 3:34; 11:2; 18:12; 22:4; 29:23; Rom. 12:3; Phil. 2:3; 1 Peter 5:6; 1 John 1:9)
The bystanders were shocked: that was no way to speak to the high priest. They do not appear to have been so shocked by Ananias’s outburst, although that was no way for the high priest to speak. As soon, however, as they pointed out to Paul that the man to whom he spoke so freely was God’s high priest, he apologized to the official, if not to the man. And in the act of apology, he displayed his ready submission to the law which he was accused of flouting. (F.F. Bruce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Acts, 448)
- The quick-wit in Paul’s thinking.
(v. 6 | Proverbs 4:23; 15:28; Isaiah 26:3; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Timothy 4:2; 2 Timothy 1:7)
Paul moved himself out of trouble by once again taking the initiative. He defused the attack against him by dividing the “enemy” force. Paul claimed that he stood on trial because of [his] hope in the resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6). Paul was not lying. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was a key pillar of his preaching (see, for example, 13:30). But, at this point, the Jews were united in opposition to Paul’s ministry among Gentiles. But with the question of the Resurrection, Paul cunningly moved attention away from his ministry to an issue that divided the Sanhedrin. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Location, 4413)
Conclusion… How can a text like this serve to inform, influence, and shape our faith?
A. Follow your conscience; so long as it is under the influence and authority of God’s Word.
(Prov. 3:5-6; Rom. 9:1; 13:5; Col. 2:8; 1 Tim. 1:5; 4:1-2; Hebrews 10:22; 1 Peter 3:16)
We all have had our conscience influenced by things apart from God, for better or worse. We have a tendency to live not by the mandates of Scripture but by Jiminy Cricket theology, which says, “Let your conscience be your guide.” If you commit sin in good conscience, it is still sin. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 336)
We cannot excuse this sudden burst of anger, though we must not view it self-righteously. We are made of the same stuff as Paul, and his provocation was greater than most of us will ever face. Yet his quickness in acknowledging his wrong (v.5) was more than many of us are willing to do. (Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, John and Acts, 531)
There is one thing alone that stands the brunt of life throughout its course: a quiet conscience. (Euripides)
B. Seek to identify and subdue pride every chance you get.
(Ps. 25:9; Prov. 11:2; 20:27; Luke 14:11; Rom. 12:16; Col. 3:12; Ja. 3:13; 4:6, 17; 1 Pet. 5:5)
We should not try to defend Paul’s retort any more than he did. The fact is that he did respond in anger, didn’t turn the other cheek as Jesus had taught, and didn’t live out the potent admonitions about patience he had written in his epistles to the churches. Confronted by that evidence of humanity, we are then challenged by Paul’s expression of humility. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 316)
It is not our mistakes that do us in; it’s our pride that keeps us from admitting them. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 316)
C. Know that the same Jesus who stood by Paul in his darkest moments stands by you in yours.
(v. 11 | Psalm 16:11; 73:28; Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Hebrews 13:5; James 4:8)
The hour of discouragement is always God’s time to act. He often waits for us to reach our lowest point—and then, when our self-sufficiency has run its course, leaving us broken and bankrupt, He rebuilds us in His image. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 292)
“The Lord stood by him.” If that had been all He did for the Apostle, it would have been enough. To know that the Lord is with us is a magnificent source of courage. He promised that He would never leave or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). And He always makes the first move toward us. We seek Him because He has found us. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 318)
Gospel Application…
The resurrection of Jesus is still indeed the issue at hand.
(vv. 6-9 | Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; John 6:40; 11:25; Acts 24:15; Romans 6:4; 8:11, 34; 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:12-32; 1 Thessalonians 4:14; 1 Peter 1:3)
Belief in Christ’s resurrection and the promise of our own is the source of lasting courage. Christ was not only vindicated by the resurrection, but clearly taught that through Him we too will be resurrected. Death has no power over us. We are alive forever. … It is a hope that out of our impossibilities the Lord will raise up possibilities of which we never dreamed. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 317)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- Is there any sense in which you might be able to relate to Paul in this instance? i.e. being falsely accused, having to apologize for a misstep on your part, or being unjustly treated? How did it go? What would or could you have done differently?
- What is one way in which your conscience has developed over your walk with Christ? What is something you used to believe that has now changed because of Jesus?
- Has there been a time in your life where having Jesus stand with you made all the difference? What was that like? How did you have to rely on him for courage and/or strength to face what you had to face?
- What advice might you give someone in the midst of a trial or circumstance where they are being unjustly treated?
Quotes to note…
There are people who believe that certain things are wrong and sinful, even though the Bible leaves people free at that point, and if their conscience is persuaded that something is evil but they go ahead and do it anyway, then they have sinned. On the other hand, if someone is totally convinced that a certain activity is just and virtuous even though in God’s sight it is a sin, does the fact that he acts according to conscience exonerate him? No, not if his conscience has been calloused by repetitive sin and by a slothful neglect of the Word of God, which is what captures the conscience. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 336)
Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome (23:11). With these words, God both affirmed Paul for his recent actions (“Good job, Paul!”), but also assured him that he would not be killed as a result of the present situation (“Everything will be OK!”). Through the events of the next two years (see 24:27), those words must have strengthened Paul. At times during that long stretch, Paul may have felt deserted. But he could hang on to God’s promise. God would bring him through. Fortunately, God has given us many promises. In days that seem dark to us, we also can rest in Him. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts, Kindle Location 4425)
Paul’s sudden insight that the Council was a mixture of Sadducees and Pharisees is an example of the power that Jesus promised to believers (Mark 13:9-11). God will help his people when they are under fire for their faith. Like Paul, believers should always be ready to present their testimony. The Holy Spirit will give them power to speak boldly. (Grant R. Osborne, Acts, 384)
Paul had every reason to be properly indignant. He was correct in pointing out the violation of the code regarding the treatment of those on trial. Complacency toward evil and evil men is not a sign of piety. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 260)
Conscience does not set the standard; it only applies it. The conscience of a thief would bother him if he told the truth about his fellow crooks just as much as a Christian’s conscience would convict him if he told a lie about his friends. Conscience does not make the standards; it only applies the standards of the person, whether they are good or bad, right or wrong. Conscience may be compared to a window that lets in the light. God’s law is the light, and the cleaner the window is, the more the light shines in. As the window gets dirty, the light gets dimmer, and finally the light becomes darkness. A good conscience, or pure conscience (1 Tim. 3:9), is one that lets in God’s light so that we are properly convicted if we do wrong and encouraged if we do right. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 394)
The sure sign of pride is that we defend our mistakes with protestations of our purity or goodness. Think of how many failures we have willfully refused to admit because of our need to be right. Pride controls us and keeps us from confessing an imperfection. We back people into the corner of their own failures when we won’t admit our own. Humility is admitting that we are people in process. Christ’s perfection and not our own is our security. (Ogilvie, Acts, 316)
