PAUL BEFORE THE COUNCIL

Acts 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

The chief captain realized the accusations against the apostle Paul by the riotous mob were not violations of Roman law, but were actions only contrary to Jewish law. Because of this, he had Paul brought before the Jewish council, that is the Sanhedrin, in order for him to understand exactly what they were accusing him of (See Acts 22:29-30). When Paul and members of the Sanhedrin were brought face to face, Paul earnestly observed the council. As he viewed the members of this Jewish council, no doubt Paul recalled the many times this same council had encouraged, and given him permission, to disrupt and destroy all people that had believed in, and accepted Jesus Christ as the Messiah, God's Son, the Savior of the world, and especially those that preached the gospel message of New Testament Christianity. It is very possible that Paul recognized many members that were once his personal friends within the Jewish community. Now, after his recognition, acceptance, and conversion to Christ on the road to Damascus, these Jewish leaders, by their actions and their own admission, were now Paul's enemies.

Now, addressing the council, Paul said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. Regarding this opening statement of Paul to members of the Sanhedrin, this one thing we know for sure. During his complete lifetime on earth, it could never been said that Paul was a dishonest hypocrite. As a Jew, he was totally sincere in the doctrine found in the Mosaic Law, and this he demonstrated in the conduct of his life. When Jesus Christ was revealed to him as the Son of God and the Savior of the world, he immediately believed, accepted, obeyed the will of God, was baptized into the body of Christ for the remission of his sins, and, from that time forward, lived a life completely devoted to the cause of Christ, which he diligently taught to Jews and Gentiles alike throughout the world. Paul lived free from a guilty conscience as a Jew and continued to do so after he became a follower of Christ. Indeed, it can be said of Paul that he lived in all good conscience before God for his complete lifetime on earth.

In the verses that follow the lesson text we find that this introductory comment by Paul enraged the high priest Ananias, so much so that he commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth (Vs.2). Without debating whether Ananias was in fact the high priest at this time, it is evident that he assumed the position, and members of the Sanhedrin seemed to allow him to do so. To have Paul smitten on the mouth was to demonstrate indignation for what he had just said. In the view of Ananias, and these Jewish zealots, Paul could not possibly say truthfully that he lived in all good conscience before God. In their minds, Paul had uttered a blasphemous statement. To say that he was free from guilt after having abandoned his Jewish faith and become a member of, what they termed, a "rebellious sect," known as Christians, whom he, in the recent past, had condemned and persecuted so ardently at their direction. This, in their minds, was an unforgivable act of blasphemy against the almighty God of Israel.

Josephus, as well as other writers of biblical history, tell us that Ananias met his untimely death at the hands of the killers that had been hired by Roman officials and consented to by Herod Agrippa. Therefore, Paul's response can be taken as an inspired prediction of the future demise of Ananias. Indeed, God allowed his death to take place as punishment for his rebellious actions against New Testament Christianity. Paul, before his most ardent condemners, the Sanhedrin, openly referred to Ananias as a whited wall (Vs. 3), meaning, he was a hypocrite. Why? Because Ananias had ordered Paul to be smitten on the mouth in direct violation of the Jewish law he, as the High Priest, was required to uphold. In his position as leader and judge of the Jewish people, he was never to exercise unrighteous judgment (Lev. 19:35). Jesus also used a similar condemning statement against the scribes and Pharisees. He called them hypocrites, saying to them that they were like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity (Matt. 23:27:28).

Paul's response to Ananias drew an outcry of condemnation from members of the Sanhedrin by asking him, Revilest thou God's high priest (Vs. 4)? By their reply they were accusing Paul of disrespecting the Jewish high priest, Ananias. Realizing that he had done so in a moment of human indignation, Paul, as it is recorded in verse 5, immediately apologized for his hasty, abrasive reply. Quoting the meaning but not the exact words of Exodus 22:28, Paul confessed that Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

As Paul beheld the council (Vs. 1), he made this observation noted in verse 6. The Sanhedrin was made up of the two major sects of the Jewish people: ...part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees (Vs. 6). He then confessed that he was a Pharisee. This proved to be significant for Paul's defense because the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both (Vs. 8). Paul stated emphatically that, as a Christian, he too had the hope and resurrection of the dead, and it was for this reason that he was called in question (Vs. 6) by the Jewish mob.

This being said, there arose a great cry between the sects. The religious leaders of the Pharisees, known as the scribes sided with Paul saying, We find no evil in this man. However, more that merely siding with Paul for upholding the Pharisee tenet of resurrection, they seemed to uphold his message of his vision of, and instructions given by Jesus Christ as he journeyed to Damascus. This they did by giving credence to Paul's message as he recounted this incident. They agreed by saying, but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God (Vs. 9). This brought about a great dissension between the Sadducees and the Pharisees that make up the body of the Sanhedrin. And fearing the contention would get out of hand and violence would erupt, the chief captain ...commanded the soldiers to go down, and take him (Paul) by force from among them, and bring him to the castle (Vs. 10).

Paul's life at this point seemed to be at an extremely low point. The church of Christ at Jerusalem had doubts about his teaching, his own Jewish people were calling for him to be slain for his "blasphemous" teaching, he had narrowly escaped death within the past few days, and he was presently a prisoner of the Roman officials. But here is Paul's consolation, and, by example, the consolation of every member of the church of Christ that is ridiculed, condemned, and persecuted by the anti-Christian society in which we live. Just as all Christians have this same promise, God stood by Paul, lifted him up, consoled his spirit, and assured him of greater accomplishments for the cause of Christ were in store for future times. In Paul's lowest hour, 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 (Vs. 11).