Acts 23:3-5

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to remain silent! Respect is earned, there is no doubt, but if Paul says not to speak evil of a ruler it is godly advice. 

I can think of exceptions…Hitler, Isis, Syria, Russia, even our US and the civil war. but is Paul referring to the worlds’ leaders? Or is he only referencing the Church and its leaders? There is so much going on in the world today that to remain silent can mean certain death to a large group of people…Gods’ creations each and every one of them. 

I think we need to judge actions by their Christian values. We are not of this world but we have proclaimed our love for Christ who came to this earth out of His agape love for us…we are bound by this to love God above all and others as much as ourselves.

God requires us to be just, forgiving and humble. Micah 8:6 Not only to those in our country but in all countries until He comes again.

It is possible Paul had never seen Ananias and was not aware he was the high priest. It is also possible that Paul was speaking sarcastically: He did not recognize Ananias because Ananias was not acting the way the high priest was supposed to act. Faithlife Bible.

 Whitewash is a thin paint used to make something dirty look clean. Ananias deserved this rebuke. The fact that Ananias had someone else “do his dirty work” did not absolve him from the ordering of the act. NKJ Bible.

Acts 23:3–5 (NKJV)

³ Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

⁴ And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

⁵ Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

Exodus 22:28 (NKJV)

²⁸ “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.