Acts 23

Acts 23:1

At last, Paul had returned to Jerusalem, where, following two riots and one near scourging, he found himself standing before the Sanhedrinthe Jewish Supreme Court. Customarily, members of the Sanhedrin were addressed as “fathers.” Referring to them as “brethren” implies that before his conversion, Paul had himself been a member of this auspicious body. It has been said the only way to have a good conscience is to have a bad memory. Paul was an exception. He was an incredible individual who, before his conversion, could truly say, “According to my conscience, I was blameless.” The only indication Paul ever gave of violating any part of the Law was in Romans 7, when he said, “I violated the commandment not to covet,” (see Rom_7:7). What did Paul covet? Probably not material possessions or sensual pleasuresbut prestige and power in the religious system of which he was a part. From the outside, Paul looked impeccableradical for righteousness, a Pharisee of Phariseeswhich proves to me conclusively that, although a conscience can be a good goad, it’s a lousy guide. Paul’s conscience goaded him into enslaving, incarcerating, and ultimately executing Christians, but it was unable to guide him to the truth.

Acts 23:2

A multimillionaire by today’s standards, Ananias was one of the worst high priests in the history of Israel. He had worked out a deal with the priests so that animals brought to the temple for sacrifice would conveniently be found flawed upon inspection. “Can’t use this one,” the priest would say. “This sheep is blemished. But this is your lucky day. We just happen to have some sheep over here you could purchase.” “Really?” the relieved supplicant would say. “How much?” “Well, they’re a little pricybut they’re worth it,” the priest would answer. “They’ve already been preapproved.” Through such deals, Ananias gouged the people and pocketed huge amounts of money. No wonder that, after serving twelve years as high priest, he was assassinated by his own countrymen.

Acts 23:3

If you were in Israel at this time, making your way to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, for example, it would have been very important that on your way you didn’t accidentally become ceremonially unclean by stepping on or brushing against a grave or sepulchre. Consequently, graves and sepulchres were painted white to warn people of the dead bones within. Thus, in calling Ananias a “whited wall,” Paul was actually calling him a bag of bones. This passage is often cited by people who say there are times when it’s right to respond vehemently. “Because Paul raised his voice and called Ananias a bag of bones,” they say, “it’s okay for me to speak my mind just as pointedly.” I suggest to you, however, that although Paul does do that herethere is a higher example of Another who was struck in the mouth in the presence of a high priest. Like Paul, Jesus was struck by one who stood by the high priest. But instead of heatedly raising His voice, He humbly raised a question when He said, “If I said something wrong, correct Me. But if what I have said is true, then why are you doing this?” (see Joh_18:23). As excellent a model as Paul might be for us, we must always make sure our model for behavior is the Person of Jesus Christ, for He set a higher standard than any other. “How dare you judge me,” said Paul to Ananias, “when you’re violating the law yourself.” You see, according to Deuteronomy 25, it was absolutely forbidden for a man to be smitten without due process of law. And if smitten, he was to be smitten on the back, not on the mouth.

Acts 23:4

Those who stood by Ananias were aghast. “Do you dare to revile God’s high priest?” they asked Paul.

Acts 23:5

Why didn’t Paul know Ananias was the high priest? It could have been an oversight. Ananias may not have been wearing his high priestly regalia. It could have been because Paul was out of sight. That is, because he had been away from Jerusalem for many years ministering in Asia Minor, Paul may not have been aware that Ananias had ascended to the office of high priest. It could have been due to bad eyesight. Many scholars believe Paul’s vision was extremely impaired (Gal_4:15; Gal_6:11). “Well, then,” you say, “since Paul didn’t know who Ananias was, it is excusable that he lashed out at him.” But isn’t that the point? We never know people like we think we do. I love the story of the German schoolteacher who clicked his heels together and bowed before each of his second- and third-grade students as they entered his classroom every morning. When asked why he did this, he said, “I don’t know which of these students might one day be a king or a chancellor. I want to respect them now because I don’t know what they’ll become.” The reason this story is known is because it was told by one of his more famous studentsa man named Albert Einstein. Truly, before I call someone a bag of bones, I better realize I may not know as much about him as I think I do. Speak No Evil A Topical Study of Act_23:5 I feel this is an important verse in light of the political climate. It’s so easy to feel emotions rising and passions stirringand to find ourselves saying things that are not right in the sight of the Lord, for truly, “we are not to speak evil of the ruler of the people.” “But politicians are so undeserving of respect,” you say. “They’re all a bunch of con artists.” “Read the eye chart,” the draft board physician said. “What eye chart?” asked the draft dodger. “Son, you better sit in that chair while I check your records,” the concerned doctor said. “What chair?” Convinced the would-be soldier had terrible eyesight, the doctor wrote him a deferment. Greatly relieved, the young man walked into a darkened theatre and sat down with a bag of popcorn to celebrate. He had a great timeuntil the lights came on and he realized he was sitting next to the eye doctor. Thinking fast, the young man turned to him, and said, “Is this the bus to Detroit?” Sometimes, as we see politicians change their stories and position themselves quite cleverly, we find ourselves becoming cynical and bitter toward our leaders. “I’m so upset with those guys and how they behave. I’m perfectly justified in berating them verbally and criticizing them caustically,” we say. Really? That’s not what Paul said. When he realized Ananias was the high priest, he said he would not have called him a bag of bones because the position is to be honored even if the person holding it is dishonorable. Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God…Rom_13:1-2 (a) To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.Isa_40:18; Isa_40:22-23 In the day Isaiah wrote these words, every culture and every society had determined that the world was flat. Those living in India thought a huge elephant held the flat world on its back. The Egyptians thought the flat world rested on the back of a large tortoise. Greeks were convinced it was held up by the strong arms of Atlas. Although Isaiah declared that God sits upon the circle of the earth, and that Job said He hung the earth upon nothing (Job_26:7), it would not be until centuries later that scientists would make the “profound discovery” that the earth is round and suspended in mid-air. Truly God sits upon the circle of the earth. He’s on the throne. He is the One who makes princes, presidents, and Supreme Court justices come and go as He wishes. Therefore, it is up to us not to criticize and complain, but to take heed to Peter’s words. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.1Pe_2:17 “That was easy for Peter,” you say. “In his day, those in positions of authority had character.” Really? When Peter wrote these words, Caesar Nero was on the throne. Caesar Nero was the man who rode naked in his chariot, shrieking at the top of his lungs in demonic laughter while he watched over one thousand Christians who had been dipped in wax, ignited as human candles to light his garden. What did Peter say to do about Nero? He didn’t say to impeach him, sign petitions about him, or rebel against him. He said to honor him. Am I suggesting we shouldn’t be engaged politically? No. I’m suggesting we do what God’s people were to do in Jeremiah’s day. The Babylonians had carried the Israelites into what would turn out to be a seventy-year captivity in Babylon. “Since we’re only going to be here for a little while,” said the Israelites, “let’s not get too settled.” But the Lord said otherwise: Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.Jer_29:5-7 Some Christians say, “We’re only here on earth for seventy years. Since our real home is in heaven, we’re not going to get involved with what’s going on down here.” But the Lord says we are to be like the children of Israel. We’re to leave this place better than we found it. Therefore, even though Babylon is not our home, even though we’re only here for a relatively short season, we are to build houses, plant gardens, seek peace, and pray for our cities. And as we pray, we can trust our Lord, knowing He is sovereign and He sees what needs to happen presently based upon what will happen prophetically. This applies not only politically, but parentally. Kids, you are told to honor your parents (Exo_20:12). “Oh, but they’re such idiots,” you say. “My dad’s a bag of bones, and my mom’s out of it. They don’t relate to me, and I can’t understand them.” Listen, if you are living at home, the word to you is to honor your parents. Why? Because of all the billions of parents throughout history who have peopled this planet, God chose your mom and dad as the ones to work on your life in a unique way. The same is true in marriage. Ephesians 5 says wives are to reverence their husbands (Eph_5:33). “You don’t know my husband,” you say. “Everything he does rubs me the wrong way.” Oh, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be. The massive stones used in the construction of Solomon’s temple were actually shaped and chiseled to perfection a great distance from the temple mount. Why? So that on the temple mount the sound of a hammer or chisel would not be heard (1Ki_6:7). So, too, Peter says we are living stones, being fit together for eternity (1Pe_2:5). This earth is the rock quarry wherein we are being shaped, chipped, and chiseled. As living stones, we are constantly moving, each of us knocking rough edges off, smoothing, shaping one another. Why? So that when we reach heaven, the ultimate temple, the sound of a hammer or chisel will not be heard. We must realize the Lord has allowed us to be in the situation we’re inbe it politically, parentally, or maritallyfor our good and His glory. Therefore, we are not to revile. We are not to reject. We are to realize He is sovereign and in control. Then we can say, “Lord, if You’re allowing this politician to be elected to fulfill Your purpose nationally and propheticallyso be it.” “If You’re allowing these people to parent me, even though I may not understand them presentlyI will honor them.” “If You’re allowing my husband or wife to shape me for eternityThy will be done.” My prayer for you, precious people, is that during these days you will not be uptight or stressed-out, cynical or causticbut that in the midst of political, parental, or marital turmoil, you will remember that the God who sits on the circle of the earth is still in complete control.

Acts 23:6

Looking at the crowd, Paul saw two parties in the room: the Pharisees, who believed in the supernaturaland the Sadducees, who didn’t. Paul exploited this division when, referring to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, he said, “Resurrection is the reason for the controversy that surrounds me.”

Acts 23:9

When Paul said the word “resurrection,” the Sanhedrin was immediately split in two. “If he saw someone resurrected or an angelwe have no problem with that,” said the Pharisees. But, of course, the Resurrection presented a major problem for the Sadducees.

Acts 23:10

Here’s Claudius Lysias againrescuing Paul from riot number three.

Acts 23:11

As Paul reflected on the events that led to his being held in protective custody, he must have thought, “I went into the temple to try to appease James and the other brothersand a riot broke out. I shared my testimony on the steps of the Fortressand people wanted to kill me. I came into the Sanhedrinand created tumult and turmoil. I failed. There’s no fruit, no headway whatsoever.” But that’s precisely when the Lord came to him, saying, “I have seen you witness for Me. Be of good cheer, Paul. You’re doing more than you think.” Be of Good Cheer A Topical Study of Act_23:11 Training to be a paratrooper, an army private was instructed to jump out of the airplane, count to ten, and pull his ripcord. If his primary parachute didn’t open, he was to pull the ripcord on his front pack, which would open his auxiliary chute, whereby he would float to safety, after which time a truck would pick him up and take him back to the base. The private did exactly as he was told: On command, he jumped out of the airplane, counted to ten, pulled his ripcordbut nothing happened. He then pulled the ripcord on his front pack, but, againnothing happened. “Great,” he said. “My parachute didn’t open. My backup didn’t open. The truck probably won’t be there to pick me up, either.” Paul must have felt the same way. After twenty years of ministering to the Gentiles, he had finally returned to Jerusalem. When he arrived in the Holy City, he must have expected something wonderful to happen. Instead, it seemed as though everything came crashing down around him, when, after causing three riots, nothing less than the Roman army was needed to save his life. Maybe you can relate to Paul. Maybe you’ve longed to do something for the Lord and have stepped out in faith to serve Him. But you feel like nothing’s happening except a mess. I have good news! Our text is for you. The Lord Appearing to Paul And the night following…Act_23:11 When did the Lord appear to Paul? In the darkest hour of Paul’s darkest day. When does the Lord appear to you and me? Frequently, He becomes most real to us when we’re in the midst of darknesswhen we’re discouraged and defeated, when things appear hopeless. Why? Didn’t Jesus say He was the Light of the World (Joh_8:12)? If I strike a match in a well-lit room, it won’t be noticed at all. But if I strike a match in a pitch-black room, it will be seen very readily. The same is true of the Lord. I have found He is seen most clearly by me when things are pretty dark. When things go fine, I get caught up in everything around me, and I’m not always tuned in to the Lord. It’s in the night, when I’m wondering, Lord, am I doing anything right at all? Why am I so stubborn? Why am I so hard of heart? that I see the Lord most clearly, for, as the Light of the World, the darker the situation, the brighter He shines. The Lord Standing by Paul …the Lord stood by him…Act_23:11 The Lord didn’t say, “Forget it, Paul. You’re so stubborn coming here to Jerusalem. I’m not standing by you.” No, the Lord stood by Paul because, when we are faithless, He is faithful still, for He cannot deny Himself (2Ti_2:13). Even if I am fickle, faithless, and foolish, the Lord is faithful. He can’t be anything other than that, for His faithfulness is not a decision He makesit’s who He is. And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.Zec_3:1-4 There is a courtroom drama constantly taking place in heaven wherein Satan accuses me day and night. But Jesus is my Advocate, my defense lawyer, who says, “Father, Jon is spotless because My blood has cleansed him totally” (see 1Jn_2:1). The Father then hits the gavel, if you would, and says, “Case dismissed for complete lack of evidence.” Satan, however, comes back again and again, bringing up case after case before becoming so frustrated by his inability to win his case in heaven that he chooses a different tactic: He perches on my shoulder and whispers in my ear, “You’ve really blown it. Your motives are mixed. You’re lacking in prayer. Your ministry is empty. Your service is nothing.” It’s then that, like Paul, I can begin to think, Maybe I’m not doing anything at all. Maybe I’m out of God’s will. Maybe He’s no longer interested in me. It was when Paul was in a dark hour that the Lord said, “Be of good cheer. I’m standing by you. Why? Because, Paul, even if you have failed, the work of the Cross covers and cleanses totally.” Moses had taken Aaron and Hur up on the mountain at Rephidim, where he instructed his protigie, Joshua, to lead the Israelite troops into battle against the Amalekites. Joshua obeyed, while Moses stayed upon the mountain with the rod of God in his hands. As long as Moses held up the rod, the Israelites were victorious. But whenever his arms got heavy and began to fall, the Amalekites took control. Finally, Aaron stood on one side of him, and Hur stood on the other, and together they propped up Moses’ arms, and Israel won the battle (Exodus 17). While this story has wonderful application concerning the importance of prevailing prayer, there’s something else I want you to see here. That is, every time Joshua looked back and could see three men on the hillone in the middle holding up the rod with outstretched handshe knew he would be victorious in battle. So, too, on another hill, called Calvary, another Man’s hands were outstretched between two men (Mat_27:38). And, like Joshua, as long as I see His hands on the Cross and understand that even if my motives are mixed, even if my vision is fuzzy, even if I’m not exactly where I should beI can engage in battle, I can keep going, I can be of good cheer, knowing He has provided His blood to cleanse me. I can look to the mountain and see One who does not fail, One whose hands have never fallen, One who paid the price completely. And as long as I see Him, even when I do fail, and even if I am failing, Satan has no case against me." The Lord’s Evaluation of Paul …For as thou has testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.Act_23:11 “You testified of Me here,” said Jesus. “Really, Lord?” Paul must have said. “I thought I only caused problems.” In Mat_10:42, Jesus said, “If you offer a cup of cold water to a little one in My Name, you’ll have reward.” When you gave a cup of cold water to a kid; when you helped your neighbor get his trash out to the street; when you wrote a letter of encouragementthe Lord took note. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love” (Heb_6:10). You see, although we have a tendency to think we’re never doing enough, and that the little we are doing is probably flawedin reality, the Lord keeps record of all the good stuff we doeven the things we think are insignificant. In Matthew 25 Jesus told the story of a man who went to a far country. Before he left, he gave talents to his servants, a talent being one year’s salary. To one servant he gave one talent, to another, five talents, to another, ten. When he came back, he found the man who had ten talents had doubled the money by investing it wisely. The same was true of the man with five talents. But the man with one talent said, “Master, I know you’re a harsh man, that you reap where you have not sown, and gather where you have not strawed. So I buried my talent.” “It is true I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not strawed,” said the master. “But you are a fool because you could at least have put the money in the bank and drawn interest. I’m going to give your talent to the one who has ten; and you will be cast into outer darkness.” Now, a lot of us hear that story and say, “That’s me. I’m the foolish servant. I have buried my talent. I’m not doing enough. And I know when the Lord returns, I’ll just hand Him my one muddy talent, and He’ll send me to outer darkness. No, no, no! The man who was cast into outer darkness didn’t even know the Lord. He wasn’t a believer. That’s why he said, “You are a harsh man” (see verse Mat_25:24). The world always views the Lord as a “harsh man.” Yet, although the master in the parable repeated the servant’s claim that he reaped where he had not sown, and gathered where he had not strawedhe did not repeat the claim that he was a harsh man (verse Mat_25:26)because he wasn’t. “I am meek and lowly in heart,” Jesus said in the only autobiographical statement He ever made (Mat_11:29). “Give a glass of cold water to someone and I’ll reward you. I’ll take notice of even the simplest expression of My love. Even if you’re making a mess of things in Jerusalem, Paul, I can find something good in what you’ve done. You did testify of Me. And because of that, I’m sending you somewhere you’ve always wanted to go: on an all-expenses-paid trip to Rome.” Folks, in the times you thought you messed up and were disobedient, the Lord says, “Even though you think you’ve made a mess of the situation, I acknowledge the good you have done.” If you don’t believe me, let’s look at Hebrews 11. As you read the list in God’s “Hall of Faith,” you come across Rahab the harlot. “But she lied,” you say. “She also hid My people,” counters the Lord. Next is Gideon. The Lord said, “I’m going to use you, Gideon.” “Give me a sign,” said Gideon. “I’ll put a fleece out, and if it is wet in the morning, I’ll believe You.” Sure enough, the fleece was wet, and the ground was dry. “Hmm. I still don’t believe You,” said Gideon. “This time make the ground wet and the fleece dry.” The next day Gideon rowed his boat out to the fleece, and it was totally dry. Yet the Lord lists Gideon as a hero of faith? Next is Samson. Would you put Samson in your “Hall of Faith”? After Samson is Barak, who was told by the prophetess Deborah that he would experience victory as he led the Israelites against Sisera to battle. What did Barak say to Deborah? “I’m not going unless you go with me.” Yet Barak, hiding behind Deborah’s skirts, makes it into Hebrews 11 as a hero of faith. I’m perplexed by this until I understand the nature of my Father, the character of my Lord, the heart of my Savior. He’s incredibly kind, and if there’s any good thing He can find, He will. You see, gang, in the New Testament, there is no mention of any sin of an Old Testament saint. “Well, Barak, at least you went.” “Gideon, you finally did get out there.” “Samson, you did some good things (we won’t mention Delilah).” “Rahab, despite your lie, you saved the spies,” says the Lord. So, too, here’s Paul sitting in prison. The Lord stood by him, threw an arm around him, and said to him, “Be of good cheer, Paul. You have been a witness for Me here. Now I’m sending you on to further ministry.” Dear brother, precious sisterdon’t listen to the condemning accusation of the Enemy saying, “You’re not doing enoughand what you are doing is tainted by false motives.” Instead, look behind you to the three men on the hill. See the Man in the middle with outstretched hands, and understand the price He paid. Jesus Christ has cleansed you from all sin. And even when you are faithless, He is faithful to come to you time and time again, saying, “Be of good cheer.”

Acts 23:12

Forty men took an oath not to eat until Paul was dead. Their plan was to tell Claudius Lysias that the Sanhedrin wanted to question Paul the next day, but when he was brought to the council, they would spring out and kill him. However, it “just so happened” that Paul’s nephew heard the entire conversation.

Acts 23:17

It was neither coincidence nor accident that Paul’s nephew was in earshot of the plan to kill Paul; it was part of God’s program for Paul. At some point in their walk, most believers ask, “How can I know what God wants me to do?” And, like Elijah in 1 Kings 19, they sit in a cave, wondering. Like Elijah, they feel the earth shakingbut the Lord is not in the earthquake. They see the fire glowingbut the Lord is not in the fire. They watch the wind blowingbut the Lord is not in the wind. Many people are still looking for an earth-shaking confirmation, a fiery illumination, or a wind to blow them in divine direction. But it’s much simpler than that: As Elijah discovered, God’s is a still, small voice (1Ki_19:12). The Lord whispers in your heart, writes desires upon your heart, and then gives confirmation to your heart through situations and people around you. Accuse me of being simplistic, but I find it so wonderful to say, “Father, this is the desire of my heart. I’m going to pursue this course, knowing You will close and open doorsas You lead me in a supernaturally natural way.” For whatever question you face presently, just make sure your heart is open to the Lordand He’ll have a nephew in the right place at the right time who will overhear a conversation, go to the Roman captain, and set events in motion, which the world will call luck, but in which you’ll see the hand of God.

Acts 23:22

What a trip! Paul is about to be escorted by two hundred infantrymen, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to the seaport city of Caesarea in the middle of the night. Imagine the reaction of the forty men who took the oath to kill Paul. Can you hear their stomachs growling? The only slave in Roman history to become a governor, Felix was a cruel character who received his appointment because his brother, Pallos, was a friend of Caesar Nero. Of Felix, the brilliant Roman historian, Tacitus, said, “He executes the prerogatives of a king with the spirit of a slave,” for although he was in power as governor, Felix retained a slave’s mentality of getting back at the world for all the abuses it had heaped upon him.

Acts 23:25

It’s funny how Claudius Lysias conveniently forgot to mention he had Paul bound and was ready to beat him.

Acts 23:28

“I’m sending Paul to you, Felix,” wrote Claudius Lysias. “Let his accusers come and present their case to you. You’re the governor. Now Paul’s your problem.”

Acts 23:31

Herod’s judgment hall was neither a dungeon nor a prison, but rather a palace on the shore of the Mediterranean. Thus, as we’ll see in chapter 24, Paul would spend two years in protective custody on the beach.