Devo Acts 23

Chapter 23

1Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my

duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” 2At this, the high priest Ananias

ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3Then Paul said to

him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according

to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!” 4Those

who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?” 5Paul

replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do

not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’” 6Then Paul, knowing that some of

them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My

brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope

in the resurrection of the dead.” 7When he said this, a dispute broke out between

the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8(The Sadducees

say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but

the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 9There was a great uproar, and some of the

teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find

nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to

him?” 10The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would

be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away

from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Meditation:

1. Why would the high priest react so violently to Paul’s statement in v1 (see

21:21, 28)? Why and how does Paul show his respect for the Jewish Law

(vv1-5)?

2. Paul then changed the focus of attention from whether he has kept the law

to his hope in the resurrection. Given the tension on this issue between the

Pharisees and Sadducees, what must the next few minutes of the assembly

have been like? What effect does the split have on Paul’s cases (vv7-10)?

3. The last time God spoke to Paul was in 18:9-10, after he had experienced

a series of setbacks. How would the Lord’s message here (v11) help Paul

again? How might this help Paul remember what the Lord said about him

to Ananias in 9:15-16?

4. Describe a time when I felt the Lord especially near to me. What circumstances

caused this sense of the Lord’s presence? What were the impacts on me?

Personal Note:

The religious leaders were breaking the law and accusing Paul.  Paul had the wisdom from the Spirit to defend himself.  God's comfort and presence is necessary.  Paul is going against the religous leaders who are supposed to know who God is.  Realistically, they are far away from God's will and haert.  In carrying out God's mission, there would be opposition and setbacks.  Let's be strong and courageous in witnessing for God's glory.