Assignment for 9.13 to 9.19.09, Acts, Chapter 23: 1-11

[Irving]

Assignment for 9.13 to 9.19.09
THE BOOK OF ACTS, CHAPTER 23: 1-11


At the end of our last lesson, verse 30 of chapter 22, the Roman
garrison commander brought Paul in to stand before the Sanhedrin and
state his case. The commander wanted to understand the intense
animosity being shown against Paul by the Jewish leaders. Chapter 23
begins with Paul’s declaration that he has done his duty before God.
The high priest, Ananias, incensed at what he regards as arrogant self-
righteousness, orders those nearest Paul to strike him on the mouth,
an unseemly order for a high priest, and an illegal one in Jewish law.
Paul minces no words and calls the high priest a “Whitewashed Wall.”
Paul in turn was reprimanded by those standing near him: “How dare you
insult the high priest.” Paul excuses himself by saying he did not
realize it was the high priest, and quotes the appropriate Scripture
forbidding such insult. There are numerous explanations among
scholars about what message Paul might be trying to convey with his
excuse. Some, referring to indications that Paul might have suffered
from poor eyesight after the events on the road to Damascus, think
that he was just making a simple statement that he failed to recognize
the figure before him as the High Priest. Others add that often the
High Priest used substitutes to chair cases like this. Still others
have concluded that Paul was using irony by saying, in effect, no high
priest would order such a thing as having a man on trial struck on the
mouth. But then, Paul, Knowing that the present company of the
Sanhedrin was divided among Sadducees and Pharisees, seizes his
opportunity and identifies himself as a Pharisee who believes in the
resurrection of the dead. This awakened the old the dispute between
the Pharisees and the Sadducees over this doctrinal difference between
them, and in the process, generated support for Paul among the
Pharisees. The wrangling became so intense that he commander, again
fearing for Paul’s life, ordered his men to go down into the
Sanhedrin and take Paul away from them by force and put him safely
into the barracks. That night the Lord came to Paul, encouraging him
and telling him that he must testify in Rome. God’s purpose, namely,
to have him bear witness to his faith in Rome, was being made
increasingly clear to Paul.

CHAPTER 23.
verse 1. Paul begins his defense with a claim that he had fulfilled
his duty to God. (By this, he must have meant both as a Jew and as a
Christian afterwards. This speech he is about to make, however, will
concentrate on the former.

verse 2. Ananias’ order was totally inconsistent with high priestly
behavior. Ananias had a reputation of extreme cruelty. He was high
priest from 47 to 58 A.D. and is not to be confused with a
predecessor, Annas, 6 to 15 A.D., who had been deposed by the emperor,
succeeded by his son Eleazar, and then by his son-in-law, Caiaphas, 18
-36 A.D.; however, Annas was still considered to be the high priest by
the people, who, ultimately, assassinated him when they rebelled
against Rome in 70 A.D., because he had been regarded as a puppet of
Rome.

verse 3. “Whitewashed wall.” See Matthew 23:27 and Numbers 19:16.

verse 4. “ Insult to the high priest.” They were quick to apply O.T.
law to Paul’s conduct.

verse 5. Paul excuses himself by saying he didn’t realize it was the
high priest. Was this because of poor eyesight, or was Paul using
irony , saying, in effect, “How could I expect to discern as high
priest someone who would give such an order.” Paul quoted Exodus
22:28 to let all present know that he was acquainted with the
Scriptures.

verse 6. Paul exploits the differences between the Pharisees and the
Sadducees. He calls out that he is a Pharisee, and the son of a
Pharisee. He goes directly to one of the great doctrinal disputes that
separated the Pharisees from the Sadducees, namely, the resurrection
of the dead.

verse 7. Paul precipitated a dispute between the Pharisees and the
Sadducees

verse 8. An explanation of the doctrinal difference.

verse 9. Paul had succeeded in getting the Pharisees to defend him!!

verse 10. Now the two Jewish factions were really going at it, and the
commander, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, orders troops
to go down into the fighting group, take Paul away from them, forcibly
and secure him in the barracks.

Verse 11. That evening the Lord speaks to Paul, encouraging him and
explaining that he must testify in Rome as he did in Jerusalem. Recall
how in the previous chapters, e.g. 21:12, Paul’s associates and
friends tried to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem, fearing his
incarceration, punishment and even death. Yet, Paul knew that he had
to do this, and now in a nightly vision, God encourages Paul and
gives him further insight into future events to which he is being
called.

Study Questions for Chapter 23: 1-11

1. Consider the favorable impression that Paul has upon the Roman
military
personnel. How would you compare the relative importance of
Paul’s Roman
citizenship to his courageous and even-tempered behavior before
his religious
opponents, as factors in their protective treatment of him.

2. How do you analyze Paul’s strategy of arousing a dispute between
the two
major factions in the Sanhedrin ? What did he gain from it in the
short term. What
did it do for the Kingdom of God in the longer term?