Acts 23:1-5

Whatever happened to R.E.S.P.E.C.T.?

 If we believe that all things are under God ’s control then we are to honor  those that He has placed in power. We may not agree with them but we do need to respect them. In America which we say is under God we have a say by our vote. Use it instead of your voice in disrespect. 

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 23:1-5

23 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.’ ”

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 ⁵iniquity. 

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. ^gThey are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 

2 Peter 2:10