College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 23:1-10
e.
Paul addresses the council. Acts 23:1-10.
And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.
And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees-' part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?
And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.
Fredrick Farrar remarks as to the place of the assembly of the council (Page 504).
Acts 23:1 The Sanhedrin met in full numbers. They no longer sat in the Lishcath Haggazzith, the famous hall, with its tessellated pavement which stood at the south side of the Court of the Priests. Had they still been accustomed to meet there, Lysias and his soldiers would never have been suffered to obtrude their profane feet into a chamber which lay within the middle wall of partitionbeyond which even a procurator dare not even have set a step on pain of death. But at this period the Sanhedrin had probably begun their meetings in the Chanujoth, or -booths-', the very existence of which was a proof of the power and prosperity of -the Serpent House of Hanan-'. To this place Lysias led his prisoner and placed him before them.
Paul was determined to secure a fair hearing of his cause and case before the proper authorities. It must have been with this thought in heart that he looked stedfastly on the council.
He did not refer to them as Peter and John had (Acts 4:8) Rulers of the people and elders.
Paul here simply called them Brethren possibly because he himself had been a member of this body of men. First he wanted it known that he was not guilty.
Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.
865.
What does Farrar say about the place of the meeting of the Sanhedrin? How proven?
866.
Why call the council brethren?
Acts 23:2-3 Maybe it was the familiarity with which Paul addressed the council or the bold statement of innocence or perchance the guilty conscience of the high priest that irritated him. In a moment of hot rage he cried out to those near Paul, Smite him on the mouth. Instantly the heavy hand of some soldier struck Paul full in the face. Smarting from the blow, the apostle flashed out with the words: God shall smite thee, thou whited wall! What! Sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
867.
Why have Paul struck on the mouth?
868.
Why call the high priest a whited wall if he did not know him?
Acts 23:4-5 Those observing this incident (members of the Sanhedrin) had so schooled themselves in self-deception that the truth or falsity of Paul's statement made no appeal to them. The only thing apparent to them was that the high priest had been reviled. They were shocked! Revilest thou God's High Priest?
Why had Paul so spoken? Did he not know who occupied the chair of this office? It is perfectly possible that he didn-'t for the Sadducees passed the chair with disgraceful frequency. Since Paul had been away from Jerusalem he had not informed himself on just who was or who wasn-'t the high priest.
Then also Frederick Farrar suggests that the apostle's poor eyesight played a part in the reason for his words. He says:
Owing to his weakened sight, all that he saw before him was a blurred white figure issuing a brutal order, and to this person, who in his external whiteness and inward worthlessness thus reminded him of the plastered wall of a sepulchre, he had addressed him in indignant denunciation. (ibid. 541).
Immediately upon learning the identity of the delinquent, Paul retracted his previous statement for he well knew it was a direct violation of the scriptures. (Exodus 22:28).
869.
How is the self-deception of the Sanhedrin seen?
870.
How is it that Paul did not know who was high priest?
871.
How does Paul's poor eyesight fit into this picture?
872.
What scripture was violated by Paul's words?
Acts 23:6-9 Paul, like Peter, John, the twelve, and Stephen, knew that there was to be no justice or mercy administered by this court.
The council hadn-'t changed since Paul was associated with it. It was divided into two partiesthe Sadducean priest and the Pharisaic elders and scribes.
As the apostle surveyed the council, he decided that an act of strategy was the best way out.
Brethren, I-'m a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees and for the hope of the resurrection I am called into question.
This bold statement lined him up with one side of the Sanhedrin and at once touched the sore spot between the two parties. The statement of the apostle was indirectly true for the preaching of the resurrection of Christ was several times opposed. The scribes of the Pharisees could not let this opportunity pass. Here was a chance to contend for the truth. Up one of them jumped. We find no evil in this man. And what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?
This touched off the powder keg of emotion and ill feeling. It was only a matter of minutes until everyone was arguing and haranguing his neighbor. In the midst of this wild disorder stood the apostle.
Some of them had hold of him, those of the Pharisees in defense and those of the Sadducees in hatred. He was pulled and hauled between them until he was threatened by the force of the pulling to be torn limb from limb.
873.
Why use the act of strategy he did?
874.
Was the statement of the apostle true?
Acts 23:10 Now Claudius Lysias must have been confused and disgusted. What kind of people were these Jews? He could make no sense out of their words or actions.
He gave the command to those soldiers near him to interfere in this insane melee and rescue their prisoner. This they did and probably none too gently.
If ever it was that the apostle needed encouragement, it was now. He had come to Jerusalem with a free will love offering for his Jewish brethren. He came with a sincere prayer that they would receive him. He was glad to try for reconciliation in the temple purification. He was falsely accused, and tried to get a hearing on the steps of the castle while he stood in Roman chains. He only escaped a cruel beating by an appeal to his Roman citizenship. He found nothing but hatred and insolence from the highest court of his people. Here he was bound in a Roman prison.
875.
How was Paul's life endangered?
876.
What were the probable feelings of Claudius Lysias at the result of the trial?
877.
Give three facts that point to an evident need for encouragement on the part of Paul.