Opening: A widely held piece of advice says that persons in conversations should
refrain from talking about religion or politics. Why? Too controversial?
Hot-button topics? Potential for argument? What do you think? Are there any
other “forbidden” topics?
Scripture: Read Acts 22:30-23:11.
Insights:
- The Roman commander is totally confused. He probably didn’t speak the native language, so he didn’t understand Paul’s speech to the crowd in Acts 22:1-21 or what he said that made them so mad. He wasn’t the notorious Egyptian revolutionary, but a Roman citizen. The commander had no idea what the truth was.[1] So he sends Paul to the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high council, for them to make sense of it all.
- Paul’s first words to the Council were that he had lived a “guilt-free life” before God. As a Jew, he claimed he was a rising star and strict adherer to the Jewish faith (see Galatians 1:14). As a Christian, he believes that “those who are in Christ Jesus are not judged guilty.”[2] So, from his perspective, it was what he believed. Yet from the Council’s perspective, Paul’s statement was provocative and inflammatory. To them, Paul believed he was sinless.
- Ananias was high priest from 47-59 AD. He was a typical Sadducee: wealthy, haughty, and unscrupulous. Notorious as a glutton and thief, he filled his sacred office for purely selfish and political ends, wielding great influence, which he used in a lawless and violent ways. He was anti-nationalist in his relation to the Jews and friendly to the Romans. He was assassinated by zealots (sicarii) at the beginning of the First Jewish war (66–73 AD).
- What Paul is really saying about Ananias is, "This man sitting there – I never knew a man like that could be high priest of Israel."
- Just as he did in Athens (see Acts 17:18-34), he uses his audiences’ differing viewpoints (once again: the resurrection) to move the focus off him and toward each other. But it almost backfires; the commander has to rescue Paul from being torn apart.
Life
Questions:
- Of course, we know that there are Christians around the world facing arrest, persecution, even martyrdom (see http://www.christianpost.com/news/iran-detains-seven-more-christians-in-church-raid-83240/ for a recent article). Has there ever been a time when you have felt threatened because you were a Christian? Read Mark 13:9-11 to discover Jesus’ promise of help when we come under fire for our faith.
- Acts 23:11 reads, “That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, ‘Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.’”[3] Doesn’t sound all that great? Paul is in prison, nearly killed not once but twice, and now this?[4] What kind of faith does it take to obey God when the road ahead looks hard? When you are going through difficult experiences? Do you have that kind of faith? What do you think it takes to have that kind of faith?
Prayer
Focus: That we would not be afraid to declare “Jesus is
Lord!”
