Acts 23:1-2323

Paul’e life was forever changed and orchestrated by God to send salvation to the Gentiles. 

We can think our beliefs are totally right, like the Pharisee Saul, but spiritually  they are not. Jesus opened his eyes and gave him a new name, Paul. 

After His resurrection Jesus sent Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of salvation in His Son. We need to trust Him to reveal His will for our lives.

1 Peter 2:23 tells us that Jesus “entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” He simply left the judging to God. He, to the astounding contrary, spoke on their defense. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). They were a crazy mob, mad at something they couldn’t see so they took it out on of all people, God.

Yet, Jesus died for them. How could he do it? I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if we don’t see Christ’s love as much in the people he tolerated, as in the pain he endured. Amazing grace!

Acts 23:1-2323 

Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 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.’ ” 6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. 8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. 9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.”  10 Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. The New King James Version

The Sanhedrin was the governing Jewish body in Jerusalem over religious matters. The group consisted of both Pharisees and Sadducees who held many opposing viewpoints.

Ananias was a corrupt high priest who ruled around ad 47–58. First-century Jewish historian Josephus records that he was quick-tempered. Faithlife Study Bible

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, miracles, life after death, or the existence of angels. On the other hand, the Pharisees believed in the supernatural and affirmed the very things the Sadducees denied.

Warned by friends not to go to Jerusalem, Paul may have begun to doubt his decision. The Lord encouraged Paul not to be afraid because he was under the sovereign care of God. As Paul had borne witness to Jesus as a prisoner in Jerusalem, so he would do as a prisoner in Rome. Paul’s chains would glorify God in ways that would have been impossible without them.

The NKJV Study Bible

Whoever is against us, we need not fear, if the Lord stand by us. It is the will of Christ, that his servants who are faithful, should be always cheerful. He might think he should never see Rome; but God tells him, even in that he should be gratified, since he desired to go there only for the honour of Christ, and to do good. 

Believing in the Lord, we and ours shall be kept from every evil work, and kept to his kingdom. Heavenly Father, give us by thy Holy Spirit, for Christ’s sake, this precious faith. 

All hearts are in God’s hand, and those are blessed who put their trust in him, and commit their ways unto him. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary