22:30 But on the next
day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he
released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and
brought Paul down and set him before them. 23:1 Paul, looking intently at the Council,
said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before
God up to this day.” 2 The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside
him to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to
strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law,
and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”
This is a significant scene. Jesus was "tried" by
the Jews and then by the Romans. Stephen was "tried" and stoned by
the Jews without any Roman involvement. This is the first recorded meeting or
trial of a Christian with the Jews that was overseen by Roman officials. This
is the most legitimate shot at truth coming to the surface rather than
prejudice and emotion carrying the day. The presence of the somewhat neutral
Roman commander will bring some balance to the scene and force Paul's accusers
to bring something of substance to the conversation.
Paul speaks first. His opening line is not what one would
expect to hear. He already admitted earlier that was a killer of Christians and
now is preaching Christ among the Gentiles. How could he say he has always
lived with a clear conscience before God? Why could he say that? Because it was
true. He never said everything he did was right. He said he did it all with a
clear conscience.
Do you remember what warning Jesus gave the disciples?
"The day will come when men will kill you and believe they are doing God a
favour."
In other words they will kill you with a clear conscience
before God. Saul/Paul had been one of those people Jesus warned about.
Do you remember what Jesus prayed when they nailed Him to the
cross? "Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing."
When you do wrong believing it is right you have a clear
conscience and that is a significant point. The thinking of the mind may be
wrong but the intent of the heart is good. That is why truth is so important.
Sincere people with honest hearts who have the wrong information are as
dangerous as evil people yet they are not evil. Their conscience is clear.
Their intentions are good and right.
As soon as Paul spoke those few words the High Priest ordered
him to be struck in the mouth, a symbolic gesture that his words were lies and
must be immediately struck down.
Paul's reaction is equally swift. “God is going to strike
you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in
violation of the Law order me to be struck?”
Whitewashed walls was a theme from the preaching of Jesus. It
signified men who looked every bit innocent and holy on the outside but their
hearts were deeply corrupt. They weren't men with a clear conscience. They were
evil and knew it but carefully hid the fact from everyone else. They were
wolves in sheep's clothing.
How do you recognize a wolf in disguise? Paul tells us. They
speak one thing but do the opposite. Paul is on trial because the Jewish
believers say he has no regard for the law, yet here is the High Priest
disregarding the law by having Paul struck before any legal decision has been
reached. He demands law keeping but does not keep the law himself when it is an
inconvenience to him.
Do we see that today? Do we hear people who say one thing but
in practice do another? Do we hear leaders who criticize dishonesty in others
all the while lying whenever it suits them? Do we hear citizens claiming a
certain leader is going to destroy the nation as they run through the streets
destroying it themselves?
Paul did horrific things but truly believed it was right.
It's likely many of the believing Jews in Jerusalem are just as he had been.
They honestly believe Paul is a man that must be stopped.
It's a messy thing when everyone believes they are right yet
are completely opposed to one another. At the end of the day every honest man
will follow, must follow his conscience. That is why it is imperative that we
develop a conscience trained in the school of Christ as quickly as possible.
Our every motive and every move must be measured by the question "What
would Christ do? What did He do in similar situations? How did He react when
opposed? How did He treat His enemies?
These are the questions that will create in us an informed
conscience so we can not only feel innocent before God but be innocent too.
There is one truth about Jesus that I am slowly and painfully
learning. He did not defend Himself. May today reveal something more about Him
to each one of us.
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