Acts 23:5

If you cannot say something nice about those appointed or elected,remember your manners and show respect….keep silent! Ignorance is no excuse.

It is one thing to disagree with a law or ruling and protest or use the power of your vote.…quite another to gossip, making personal, derogatory comments. 

Remember God controls ALL things and nothing happens that is not first known by Him. 

Out of our hearts the mouth speaks words that edify or words that tear down.

Note that Paul did not defend his behavior, but rather repented of it. There are several possible reasons why Paul did not know Ananias was the high priest. It could be that Paul’s eyesight was poor, and he could not see Ananias clearly. Or perhaps this was not a normal assembly of the Sanhedrin, and the high priest was not wearing his normal robes or sitting in his usual place.

Acts 23:5

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.’ ”

¹⁷ “If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity. 

Leviticus 5:17

¹⁸ And he shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, with your valuation, as a trespass offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him regarding his ignorance in which he erred and did not know it, and it shall be forgiven him. 

Leviticus 5:18

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

Exodus 22:28

²⁰Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter. 

Ecclesiastes 10:20

¹⁰ and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 

2 Peter 2:10