In the previous lesson, we studied that Paul was attacked and beaten up by the Jews because they believed he "...teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (Acts 21:28) Then the commander of the Roman army took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. (Acts 21:33) Paul then asked to be allowed to speak to the Jews. So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language,... (Acts 21:10)
Paul went on to explain how he had gone from being born a Roman citizen, to being raised in Jerusalem and taught by the high priest, to persecuting Christians, to Jesus stopping him on the road to Damascus and his own conversion to Christianity. (Acts 22:1-21) The Jews listened up until he said, “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’” (Acts 22:17-21)
Once the Jews heard that, the guilt of their sin must have been too much for them to bear. But instead of repenting, they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” (Acts 22:22) The commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?” (Acts 22:24-25)
Because Paul was a Roman citizen, the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. (Acts 22:29) So we get to where the commander released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear before the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of the Jews with 71 members, the high priest being the presiding member.
Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?” [Deuteronomy 25:1-3] (Acts 23:1-3) No punishment of physical contact was supposed to be made until they come to court, that the judges may judge them, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked,... (Deuteronomy 25:2) He had not been convicted of a crime yet, so they were out of order.
Again, what happened to Paul is very similar to what happened to Jesus when he was arrested and taken before the high priest. The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.” And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” (John 18:19-23)
Paul had to deal with the same treatment. And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” [Exodus 22:28] But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” (Acts 23:4-6)
And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” (Adts 23:6-9)
We mentioned it in the previous lesson but it bears repeating, that God had prepared Paul from the beginning of his life to his conversion to be an apostle of Christ. Because of his diverse background, he was able to do what most of his counterparts could not do. He could speak Hebrew and Greek. He was a Roman citizen but raised and trained as a Jew. He knew the scriptures and he was a Pharisee.
The Pharisees were strict observers of the Mosaic law and believed in the resurrection of the body and the existence of spiritual beings or people having a spirit from God. The Sadducees were priests that only believed the written Mosaic law, but did not believe in the resurrection of the body nor the existence of spiritual beings or people having a spirit from God. Yet again, Paul was very wise and knew bringing up the fact that he was a Pharisee and believed in the hope and resurrection of the dead would cause division among the Sanhedrin.
We mentioned it in the previous lesson but it bears repeating, that God had prepared Paul from the beginning of his life to his conversion to be an apostle of Christ. Because of his diverse background, he was able to do what most of his counterparts could not do. He could speak Hebrew and Greek. He was a Roman citizen but raised and trained as a Jew. He knew the scriptures and he was a Pharisee.
The Pharisees were strict observers of the Mosaic law and believed in the resurrection of the body and the existence of spiritual beings or people having a spirit from God. The Sadducees were priests that only believed the written Mosaic law, but did not believe in the resurrection of the body nor the existence of spiritual beings or people having a spirit from God. Yet again, Paul was very wise and knew bringing up the fact that he was a Pharisee and believed in the hope and resurrection of the dead would cause division among the Sanhedrin.
Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” (Acts 23:10-11)
When Paul was in Corinth, he had to deal with hostility from various groups, but the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you,... (Acts 18:9-10) After he had left there and gone to Ephesus, he said, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21) And when he wrote the letter to the church in Rome, he told them, So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. (Romans 1:15)
The desire to go to Rome was in Paul, and it was also God's will that he go. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (I John 5:14-15) Paul had the assurance that no matter what happened to him, God was going to answer his prayer and allow him to get to Rome. We have the same assurance that no matter what happens to us, God will not allow us to leave this planet until we have the petitions that we have asked of Him, if we ask anything according to His will. Just as Jesus said, we must learn to say, "...nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) AMEN!
When Paul was in Corinth, he had to deal with hostility from various groups, but the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you,... (Acts 18:9-10) After he had left there and gone to Ephesus, he said, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21) And when he wrote the letter to the church in Rome, he told them, So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. (Romans 1:15)
The desire to go to Rome was in Paul, and it was also God's will that he go. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (I John 5:14-15) Paul had the assurance that no matter what happened to him, God was going to answer his prayer and allow him to get to Rome. We have the same assurance that no matter what happens to us, God will not allow us to leave this planet until we have the petitions that we have asked of Him, if we ask anything according to His will. Just as Jesus said, we must learn to say, "...nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) AMEN!
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