Acts 22:23-23:5
English
Standard Version (ESV)
23 And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and
flinging dust into the air, 24 the tribune ordered him to be
brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to
find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But
when they had stretched him out for the whips,[a] Paul said to the centurion who was standing
by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and
uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the
tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman
citizen.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are
you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune
answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a
citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about to examine him
withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized
that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.
Paul Before the
Council
30 But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he
was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests
and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.
23 And looking intently at the council, Paul said,
“Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this
day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood
by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him,
“God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me
according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 4 Those
who stood by said, “Would you revile God's high priest?” 5 And
Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is
written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
Paul was about to be killed by the mob
of people and now was going to be interrogated by flogging to find out why he
was stirring the crowd. That doesn’t
make much sense to me! Why not interview
the crowd? Probably because the crowd
didn’t even know why they were against him!
I found it interesting that even though the ones who were going to be
interrogating him backed down, he must have remained bound because verse 30
begins, “The next day . . .” .
As Paul is being questioned by the
Jewish council he makes a remark, similar to one of Jesus in Matthew 23:27
where He uses the metaphor of whitewashed tombs to describe the scribes and the
Pharisees. He did not realize this was
directly insulting the High Priest. How
often do we insult our leaders, directly or indirectly? This is something that is so easily done as
we fail to recognize that there is no
leader placed in office without the approval of our Heavenly Father. Although they may treat us poorly, we must
still respect that God has a plan for their leadership. That is really difficult when you think of
some leaders that have persecuted Jews and Christians. However, God uses them to bring glory to
Him. We must learn to acknowledge their
role. Paul knew this but did not know
that he was speaking to the High Pries.
This could have been for a couple of reason, he had not been in
Jerusalem for many years and there was not television or photography of this
man. It could have also been because of
his poor vision. All we know is that
Paul stated that he did not know the man.
I don’t see an act of apology but rather a demonstration that Paul knew
the scriptures and what it said in regards to how to treat our leaders.
As we seek Him today, may we remember
to thank Him for our leaders and ask Him to guide and direct them in order that
our Heavenly Father can be glorified.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheial
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