ACTS 23. PAUL, THE PRISONER The remaining part of the Book of Acts records events surrounding Paul when he was a prisoner of Rome. This fascinating portion of the book contains many different situations in which a prisoner of Jesus Christ has the opportunity to fulfill the divine commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, even in adverse circumstances. It begins with an unjust trial and accusations based on prejudice, not facts.
After a night in which his bruised and beaten body likely left him sore and dejected, the Roman commander, Claudius Lysias, wanted to know why a Roman citizen was considered to be worthy of death, according to the leaders of the Jews. To do this, he commanded that the whole Sanhedrin be brought in to listen to the proceedings. This event took place in the temple courtyard, and the Romans sat on the wall above them, overlooking the courtyard and the proceedings as the council gathered.
When Paul stepped forward to address the Sanhedrin, he looked at them directly. He was not a fearful man with something to hide. Those councilors knew what they were accusing him of was unfounded, and they knew what they had started was unjust. Many of them, especially those older who knew Paul before the Lord saved him, would likely have found it hard to maintain eye contact with one with no fear, no reason to fear, and a good conscience.
The human conscience has been given to every human being by our Creator-God as a tool to make it possible for us to tell right from wrong. It is a way by which we can evaluate our actions and the motives behind those actions. Conscience, by itself, is not a reliable guide because human beings are not good by nature. Neither are we, as many people describe themselves, “basically good,” with a few faults and failures here and there. A conscience that has not been trained and is not guided by the word of God and the Spirit of God will not naturally or necessarily lead a person to do what is right.
Conscience needs a good teacher to train it in righteousness and truth. If we allow it to be seared by doing what is wrong repeatedly, conscience becomes quite useless. If we allow it to be defiled by not guarding our thoughts and intentions, it can deceive us into believing sin is not all that bad, and the consequences of sin will be able to be avoided in some way. Ignoring one’s conscience begins early in life. We are born in sin and shaped in iniquity. It is natural for sinners to sin. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment, but people do what they know is wrong anyway. By nature, we resist restrictions and do wrong to see if we can escape them.
Small children often do what they have been told not to do and then turn to look at parents or teachers to see if they are going to do anything about it. Foolish parents and teachers who have never given any stated guidelines for conduct may get upset about things those under their care do, but they cannot expect anything different if there are no rules or standards. If there are no consequences for doing what is forbidden, that person will continue to do that same thing again and soon go further into wrongdoing until they are out of control.
Honest confession, v.1. Paul's ambition was a conscience void of offense and should also be ours. Life can be peaceful and productive when one lives with a good conscience. We can be useful to ourselves, others, and God when our consciences are clear. We can speak to our heavenly Father without embarrassment or guilt when we live with a good conscience. The will and word of God guide our consciences as the Holy Spirit enables us to live with a calm spirit before our Lord.
The usefulness of one’s conscience must find its source of action in the guidance of, and submission to, the Holy Spirit of God. Confession of sin and forsaking that which is wrong can clear the conscience. Refusing to do those things that we know are wrong according to God’s standards will allow us to live as Paul said to those members of the Sanhedrin, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”
Holy indignation, v.2-4 The first one to respond to Paul’s opening statement was the angry high priest, whose conscience was probably pricked at the thought of a good conscience. According to Josephus, the first-century historian, Ananias, the high priest (not Annas), was noted for his cruelty and violence. Josephus was not a Christian, but he followed the course of the early church as a historian would. He described Ananias as being a profane, greedy, and hot-tempered Sadducee. When Ananias commanded Paul to be hit in the mouth, he violated Jewish law by assuming Paul was guilty even before a trial was held. To inflict punishment on a prisoner who stated a personal fact was not lawful. Why Paul didn’t recognize him as the high priest could have been for several reasons.
Whitewashed walls cover blemishes and provide an attractive exterior to hide uncleanness inside. In some cases, tombs had whitewashed walls to make them look nice and maybe even to give the appearance of being a substantial wall. Perhaps people would not then consider the fact that inside that wall was a decaying dead body. The high priest was supposed to administer justice and guide others by his holy living, not promote hatred and animosity. He was to pass judgment on the guilty, not beat the innocent and righteous.
One reason Paul spoke to him as he did may have been that Ananias’ command broke the law he was supposed to represent. We need to think for a moment and consider whether we should represent our Lord Jesus Christ as we should. May it never be said of us by those who know us or work with us, “I didn’t know you were a Christian.” Another reason may have been because Paul couldn’t see him. Also, he knew that a true high priest would never give such an order, and perhaps he was making a point.
We don’t have to be groveling, timid, or unnecessarily polite in the face of evil. That can be as much an act of hypocrisy as a testimony of graciousness if there is no definable purpose behind the hesitancy to speak the truth. Misconduct on the part of authorities does not mean that we should lie and acquiesce or accept the accusation of guilt without making some qualifying comments regarding the charges laid against us.
Skillful attitude, v.6 At first, Paul’s harsh response seems out of character for Christian conduct, and some accuse Paul of having a wrong attitude and speaking to the high priest. I think Paul’s protest had two reasons. It highlighted the obvious fact that the high priest and those who were his henchmen had no intention of having a just hearing. The conduct of Ananias disqualified him as a fair judge, and Paul could see right through the whole plan. The proceedings would only deteriorate if the leader started off with that attitude in the first sentence he made.
The office of the high priest did command his respect, and by quoting a verse of scripture that applied to the matter, Paul backed down enough to make his admission more of an accusation than a confession of his ignorance. The high priest's behavior made him morally unrecognizable as a priest. He was beneath contempt as a man of authority, but his position was worthy of respect, so he brought a certain degree of retraction.
It is wrong to excuse evil. When one in authority does evil, promotes evil, and seeks to make a child of God submit to evil intent, there is a point where one says, “No.” It is then we ought to obey God rather than men. Subtilty on the part of those who oppose Bible-believing Christians takes many different forms today. The ecumenical movement that began many years ago as an open attempt to get us to submit to the opinions of most religionists has taken a different path in these later years, but the objective is the same. Undermining the absolute authority of the scriptures in church life and personal life is now spoken of in terms like, “there are many ways to look at the same thing,” and applies that to the infallible word of God.
Paul could see the majority of the audience was Sadducees, who accepted only the Pentateuch as the word of God. Because there is not much teaching about the resurrection, they did not accept that there was life after death. They also denied the existence of angels and spirits. There were also Pharisees in the council, who were devoted to the law and the whole of the Old Testament scriptures and their oral traditions. They were known for their strictly imposed righteousness of life and their religious pride. Paul still identified himself as a Pharisee in that he was committed to the word of God, righteousness of life, truth, and justice.
What we know about the Sadducees comes from historical accounts like that of Josephus and other ancient historians, as well as the writings of old Jewish rabbis. We learn a little bit about them in the Gospels, but it is in the book of Acts that we learn the Sadducees opposed the spread of the Gospel more than the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the open opposition to the Lord Jesus in the Gospel accounts. High priests when our Lord Jesus Christ was here, and during the time of the Acts of the apostles, the major opposers were Sadducees.
Paul could discern the two groups as he stood before the council and took that opportunity to declare the fundamental point of the Gospel message, that there is a resurrection of the dead. That moved the whole event from focusing on him to directing their attention to the purpose of the Gospel. He did that on several occasions, which we read about in Acts. His statement was not a subtle tactic to create tension between them to let him off by starting a fight between them. Rather, it was a fundamental statement of faith.
If people do not believe in the resurrection of the dead, they will not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again from among the dead according to the scriptures. Not only is Jesus alive, but He is alive forevermore. “Because He lives, we shall live also.” Any person who preaches the Gospel will preach Jesus and the resurrection. Our resurrection as human beings will be to everlasting life or everlasting damnation. Paul preached that truth wherever he went, and at this opportunity, his heart was toward those Jews who were lost souls, and he knew it; they did not know it.
Not only is the resurrection that of the body, but at the resurrection, the soul and spirit will be united again with the body. Human beings will be recognized as who they are. God created us to have fellowship with Him in our body, soul, and spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ is raised from the dead and is body, soul, and spirit. He is a real person in every way today, and as He is, so will we be.
Divided audience, v.7-10. Both groups had rejected Paul before, but when Paul stated clearly the fact of the resurrection of the dead, the Pharisees attempted to clear Paul because of his identification with them. Prejudice, partiality, political and religious parties, and personal passions put personal opinions before the truth of God. Righteousness is one thing, but personal faith in the word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior is another. People’s opinions are often contrary to God’s truth, but they still cling to what they think rather than what God says is true.
Divine encouragement, v.11. “The night following the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.’” There may be times in most Christian believers' lives when we feel alone and abandoned. In times like that, doubts and fears arise, and if we are not careful, we begin to question our faith. Do not despair! God knows the condition of our minds and the hostilities and difficulties we face. “The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.”
The words of our Lord on that dark night changed everything. Paul, His servant, was given clear guidance on what was ahead of him. He had perfect assurance that he would get to Rome despite all that would happen to him. His attitude and actions displayed a man of balanced judgment and controlled emotions who went through every situation confidently, with no evidence of being dejected. Any doubts he may have had about how he would fulfill the Lord’s commission to him were left behind as he bought up every opportunity to speak for his Lord on the journey to Rome. He was often able to give the Gospel message to those in authority, to Gentiles, to those in the military, and even to “kings.”
Our souls are comforted when the Lord is with us, and we are conscious of that. What had the potential of being a place of discouragement and despair became a place of opportunity and promise. How wonderful it is to have great peace, confidence and quietness of spirit that enables us to maintain a dignified walk with God amid all the turmoil and uproar around. Believe what our Lord says, and leave all the uncertainties to Him to deal with, or to guide us as to how to deal with them.
Determined plot, v. 12-15. There are often circumstances that arise on our journey through life over which we have no control. When there is no one to counsel us, and no one seems to understand what is significant and important to me, but to them, it is of no importance; what am I to do? “Vain is the help of man.” “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Yet, there may be circumstances in life that we need to take action to deal with, and using common sense is not a lack of faith. It is using the wisdom and understanding God has already given us to accomplish a purpose within our power.
Paul's nephew overheard an evil plot against Paul by forty men who were determined to kill him. This is the only time we learn about Paul’s family in Jerusalem. His sister made her home there and must have known what was happening to her brother. God uses whatever instrument He chooses, or whoever is available, to carry out His will. In this event, it was a young boy with good hearing and curiosity. The fact that he could get to where Paul was, and the centurion was willing to do what Paul asked, and the chief captain was willing to hear and believe what the boy told him, was all a work of the Lord on the behalf of His servant.
When God’s people are in fellowship with Him in God’s work, doing God’s service in God’s way, we can expect the best possible results. There is no night so dark that God cannot see the darkest plot being hatched in the darkened hearts of evil men. “The counsel of the wicked shall come to nothing, and their words shall not stand.”
Discovery and defeat, v.11-24. Those forty men must have planned to be in the crowd of people when they wanted to have Paul brought from the barracks to the place where the council would meet. They would not have attacked the Roman soldiers openly but intended to assassinate Paul as he was led through the crowd. They were likely planning to be dispersed through the crowd of people and would try to dart forward with a knife or sword and stab Paul as he passed by.
The small details of life may sometimes seem incidental, but when put into the context of the big picture of divine purposes, they make a full mosaic of important matters. Family relationships are not an important part of the whole story of Paul’s journey to Rome. But it is of personal interest that a young boy played an important part at the beginning of the whole divinely planned trip to Rome. This was certainly a different way than Paul had planned, but it was God’s way, and much was accomplished in the kingdom's work on this journey.
The boy was the first step in the drama unfolding at night in Jerusalem. His part led to immediate action on the part of the chief captain. Even the captain’s warning to keep silent about the matter was important so there could be no repercussions on Paul’s sister and her family, as well as the surprising journey of thirty or so miles through the night was able to be made without any confrontation. A curious boy, a willing commander, 470 soldiers – who would have thought Paul’s journey to Rome would begin in such a way? Surely, God was in control!
There are times in our lives when delay is dangerous. When we know something needs to be done and putting it off would not help, we must take action. Procrastination is the thief of time, and it is also the thief of souls and heaven. Go ahead and do what God directs you to do without delay. Then, we can move forward confidently to the next event before us.
We sometimes are amazed at how God uses those we least expect, even unbelievers at times, to carry out His will. God used 470 Roman soldiers to take Paul halfway to Caesarea. Then, a mounted cavalry of seventy took Paul the rest of the way from Antipatris to Caesarea the next day. The Lord he served had control of the journey right from the start. A boy, Gentile soldiers, and likely even a horse to ride were the elements the Lord arranged for the first phase of his journey. How unsearchable are God’s judgments and His ways past finding out!
Vengeance, or any violent reaction, really has no place in the work of the Lord. Those who take matters into their own hands are on their own. To say we serve God through violent means is a deception. Our Lord, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not. The Jews who intended to kill Paul were on their own, and they were all losers. Our greatest personal power is our witness to the truth of God when the Holy Spirit guides us. Many believers have suffered and died, and God has raised many others to take their place. The multiplying principle works.
The self-serving letter of Claudius Lysias gave Antonius Felix all the information he had about Paul. Ancient historians do not have much to say about Felix, the emperor who made the procurator of Judea. That was the same position Pontus Pilate held when our Lord Jesus Christ was here. Felix and his brother had been slaves, then Freedmen, and then high government officials when Claudius was the emperor of Rome. Herod’s palace in Caesarea had been used by Herod the Great years before, and at the time Paul was imprisoned there, it was used as the headquarters of the Roman governors.
It is important for all Christians to be assured we are not alone when times are difficult. We have the hope of the Gospel and know we belong to the Lord. He will not abandon us and is near to all that call upon Him. He is with us; the Father is with us, and the Holy Spirit is within us. He speaks to us in the scriptures of truth, and we can speak to Him in prayer, knowing that “O Thou who hearest prayer, to Thee shall all flesh come.” Our communication with Him can be maintained when we walk in the light as He is in the light. We can fellowship with God when we are in the most difficult of circumstances.
FALSELY ACCUSED