Acts
23 opens with Paul on trial yet again, this time before the Sanhedrin. Even
with his opening statement, Paul didn’t try to smooth the situation and calm
people down. He boldly spoke the truth: “I have lived my life with a perfectly
good conscience before God up to this day” (v. 1). The high priest ordered
people to strike Paul on the mouth for this statement (v. 2). Paul firmly
rebuked the high priest, calling him a hypocrite (v. 3). Paul promptly apologized
upon realizing to whom he had spoken, for it was against the law to speak evil
of the high priest (v. 5, Exodus 22:28). Having observed the crowd, Paul
recognized that some were Pharisees and some were Sadducees (v. 6). He cleverly
stated that he was a Pharisee and was on trial because of “his hope in the
resurrection of the dead” (v. 6). As Paul would have foreseen, this started a
sharp debate among the Sanhedrin members (v. 7-9). The Roman commander was
afraid Paul would be killed in the uproar, so he took Paul back to the barracks
(v. 10). That night, the Lord told Paul he would testify in Rome (v. 11). At
this time, a group of men hatched a plot to kill Paul (v. 12-15). However,
Paul’s nephew heard about the plot and immediately went to inform Paul (v. 16)
and the Roman commander (v. 18-22). In order to prevent Paul’s assassination,
the Roman commander ordered Paul to be transferred to Caesarea under heavy
Roman guard (v. 23-24). Paul’s case was transferred to the Governor, Felix (v.
27-30). This set off a chain of events were Paul would have the ear of
increasingly important Roman officials.
Journaling and Prayer
1. Paul was confident before the Sanhedrin because
he had a clean conscience before God (v. 1). Ask God if there is anything
keeping you from having a clean conscience before him.
2. God told Paul that he was going to testify in
Rome (v. 11). Knowing God’s plan gave Paul peace in the midst of chaos. Paul
wasn’t afraid of dying in the uproar, because he knew God had more in store for
him. Ask God if there is anything He wants to show you about the next season of
your life. Write in your journal anything He shows you.
3. Pray for believers in the business community. They
often face immense pressure to make immoral business decisions. Pray that God
would show them the reward of having a clean conscience before Him. Pray that
God would empower them with faith, steadfastness and joy. Pray that their hope
would be in eternity with Jesus, rather than in the riches of earth. Pray that
how they run their businesses would be a testimony that would lead many to
Jesus.
