Wayside Gospel Chapel: Ananias

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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Pastor's Sermon Notes: The Initial Hearing Before Felix Acts (24:1-21)

The Initial Hearing Before Felix

Acts 24:1-21

¹And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. ²And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, ³ We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. ⁴Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. ⁵For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: ⁶Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. ⁷But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, ⁸Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. ⁹And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. ¹⁰Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: ¹¹Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. ¹²And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: ¹³Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. ¹⁴But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: ¹⁵And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. ¹⁶And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. ¹⁷Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. ¹⁸Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. ¹⁹Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. ²⁰Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, ²¹Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

Introduction:

Paul finally made it to Jerusalem. And now Paul has made it alive out of Jerusalem. Paul has been interrupted every time he had opportunity to speak in Jerusalem in his own defense.

“Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.”

Let’s see Paul’s accusers interrupt him now! Let’s see them treat him like they did in Jerusalem, now that the Romans are in control of the hearing in Caesarea!

Outline:

I. The Prosecution Presented by Tertullus for the Jews (24:1-9)

1. The Occasion for the Prosecution (24:1)

2. The Presentation of the Charges (24:2-8)

3. The Affirmation of the Accusations (24:9)

II. Paul’s Self-Defense (24:10-21)

1. Paul’s Readiness to Speak to Felix in His Own Defense (24:10)

2. Paul’s Response to the First Charge (24:11-13)

3. Paul’s Response to the Second Charge (24:14-21)

Transition:

It is important to keep in mind two items of vital background information as this hearing begins:

1. The letter from Claudius Lysias to Felix, and,

2. The historical information about the character of Felix, and the impact of his rule on the Jews.

I. The Prosecution Presented by Tertullus for the Jews (24:1-9)

1. The Occasion for the Prosecution (24:1)

2. The Presentation of the Charges (24:2-8)

3. The Affirmation of the Accusations (24:9)

1. The Occasion for the Prosecution (24:1)

¹And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.

“a certain orator named Tertullus” - This is a smooth move on the part of the Jews. They seem aware of the carefulness they need to operate with given this change of venue, which has removed the prosecution of Paul from their control. This is about playing politics, and attempting to win over Felix to their side with a skilled spokesman. How they are operating now is quite different from the incidents which Claudius Lysias witness in their midst in Jerusalem!

2. The Presentation of the Charges (24:2-8)

1) The Flattery of Felix (24:2-4)

2) The First Charge — Sedition, a violation of Roman Law (24:5)

3) The Second Charge — Desecration, a violation of Jewish Law (24:6)

4) The Complication — Prosecution in the proper venue prevented by Lysias (24:7-8)

1) The Flattery of Felix (24:2-4)

²And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,

³ We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.

⁴Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

Read: “You have been a royal pain to our nation, the cause of great disruptions among our people. You have been guilty of many criminal offenses in your corrupt rule, which rule we reject bitterly, and thus expect no fair hearing or justice at your hands.”

If this were a ball game, there would not be 9 innings. There is only one inning in this ball game, and Tertullus is on the mind. There will only be 3 pitches thrown, and if they are not strikes then the side will be retired. However, this pitch sets the pace for this first half of this one inning ball game. Tertullus is throwing illegal pitches that were gradually outlawed between 1919 and 1934. They were nicknamed “spit balls.” It does not look good for Tertullus if this is the best Ananias has in his dugout!

2) The First Charge — Sedition, a violation of Roman Law (24:5)

⁵For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

Read: “No one could be more disturbing to our troublemaking than he who was authorized by us to persecute the followers of Jesus Christ, whom we crucified.”

3) The Second Charge — Desecration, a violation of Jewish Law (24:6)

⁶Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.

Read: “…would have murdered in cold blood.”

4) The Complication — Prosecution in the proper venue prevented by Lysias (24:7-8)

⁷But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, ⁸Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.

There is a textual issue involving the end of verse 6, all of verse 7, and the beginning of verse 8.

However, without these words we are left with no explanation for the determination of Felix in verse 22: “And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.”

Read: “…who prevented the violence that we were about to perpetrate.”

3. The Affirmation of the Accusations (24:9)

⁹And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

The many against the one.

This is a familiar scenario in the history of the faithful!

From Noah, to Elijah, from Christ to Paul, from Athanasius to Martin Luther, it has been the same!

2 Timothy 4:16-18 — 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Note: What Paul refers to in this “swan song,” his final epistle prior to his execution, may possibly refer to his attempt at an informal defense in Acts 22:1, to this this event which stands as a formal pre-trial hearing, or to an unknown initial hearing in Rome before Caesar.

II. Paul’s Self-Defense (24:10-21)

1. Paul’s Readiness to Speak to Felix in His Own Defense (24:10)

2. Paul’s Response to the First Charge (24:11-13)

3. Paul’s Response to the Second Charge (24:14-21)

1. Paul’s Readiness to Speak to Felix in His Own Defense (24:10)

¹⁰Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:

No flattery here! What a contrast to the opening statement by the “orator”!

2. Paul’s Response to the First Charge (24:11-13)

1) The Time Period Involved in the Charge Insufficient (24:11)

2) The Absence of Activity Anywhere to Substantiate the Charge (24:12)

3) The Absence of any Proof of the Charges (24:13)

1) The Time Period Involved in the Charge Insufficient (24:11)

¹¹Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.

The significant point here is the limited time period: “yet but twelve days.”

They give me an awful lot of credit if they claim that he could do all of this in less than two weeks!

2) The Absence of Activity Anywhere to Substantiate the Charge (24:12)

¹²And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:

Paul makes a specific point about the fact that he never engaged in any arguments, nor attempted to stir up anyone in any venue: not in the Temple, or in any of the synagogues in Jerusalem, nor in public.

3) The Absence of any Proof of the Charges (24:13)

¹³Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.

Where is their proof?

3. Paul’s Response to the Second Charge (24:14-21)

1) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence According to the Scriptures (24:14-16)

2) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence Regarding the Charge of Desecration (24:17-19)

3) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence Before the Jewish Council (24:20-21)

1) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence According to the Scriptures (24:14-16)

¹⁴But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: ¹⁵And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. ¹⁶And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

What they call heresy, I call the truth of God!

My faith and my worship is rooted in the Scriptures!

My hope is in something that they themselves will not deny, the general resurrection of the dead!

My conscience is clear, and I am not guilty of anything against God or men!

2) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence Regarding the Charge of Desecration (24:17-19)

¹⁷Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. ¹⁸Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. ¹⁹Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.

Here is what really happened!

Any tumult was their doing!

Where are the individuals who fabricated this false accusation, and created the initial disruption in the Temple?

Why aren’t they here?

3) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence Before the Jewish Council (24:20-21)

²⁰Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, ²¹Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

Why didn’t they deal with this in their own council when they had the opportunity?

The only real issue on the table that there is any proof of at all is my belief in the resurrection!

Conclusion:

The many against the one.

This is a familiar scenario in the history of the faithful!

From Noah, to Elijah, from Christ to Paul, from Athanasius to Martin Luther, it has been the same!

Paul could stand alone.

You can stand alone.

Paul was not really alone.

You are not not ever really alone.

Paul was a prisoner, who was not free to go where he wanted.

He would not have chosen this avenue.

Paul had been the subject of violent and frightening opposition.

He did not anticipate this turn of events.

However, Paul keeps speaking of hope.

Paul is looking far beyond his circumstances, and the events of this life.

With the eye of hope he sees and seizes opportunities like this to witness to Christ and the truth of God’s ultimate triumph over death and sin.

Opportunities continue to be laid before the people of God even in the midst of violent persectution, unjust imprisonment, and wicked false accusations.

God does not just “use” wicked turns of events.

God designs and controls every event.

He is not in the business of merely “making the best of a bad situation.”

God’s best is every situation He places His people into.

The way of the cross is His way.

What the eye of the flesh considers the worst things that can happen, the eye of faith understands as the best.

His hand does not just hold the future.

God’s hand has shaped our past, and is in absolute control of our present.

Complete outline:

I. The Prosecution Presented by Tertullus for the Jews (24:1-9)

1. The Occasion for the Prosecution (24:1)

2. The Presentation of the Charges (24:2-8)

1) The Flattery of Felix (24:2-4)

2) The First Charge — Sedition, a violation of Roman Law (24:5)

3) The Second Charge — Desecration, a violation of Jewish Law (24:6)

4) The Complication — Prosecution in the proper venue prevented by Lysias (24:7-8)

3. The Affirmation of the Accusations (24:9)

II. Paul’s Self-Defense (24:10-21)

1. Paul’s Readiness to Speak to Felix in His Own Defense (24:10)

2. Paul’s Response to the First Charge (24:11-13)

1) The Time Period Involved in the Charge Insufficient (24:11)

2) The Absence of Activity Anywhere to Substantiate the Charge (24:12)

3) The Absence of any Proof of the Charges (24:13)

3. Paul’s Response to the Second Charge (24:14-21)

1) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence According to the Scriptures (24:14-16)

2) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence Regarding the Charge of Desecration (24:17-19)

3) Paul’s Declaration of Innocence Before the Jewish Council (24:20-21)

[Sermon preached 22 MAR 2015 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Appendix 1 — Resources on Acts

G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.

Paul Barnett, The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years, After Jesus, Vol. 1 (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005).

Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).

F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).

Dennis E. Johnson, The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 1997).

I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).

John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).

W. C. van Unnik, “The ‘Book of Acts’ the Confirmation of the Gospel,” in Novum Testamentum 4:1 (OCT 1960), pp. 26-59; reprinted in The Composition of Luke’s Gospel: Selected Studies from Novum Testamentum, compiled by David E. Orton, Vol. 1 of Brill’s Readers in Biblical Studies (Leiden: Brill, 1999), pp. 184-218.

William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).

Appendix 2 — Resources on Paul

Kenneth E. Bailey, Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes: Cultural Studies in 1 Corinthians (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011).

F. F. Bruce, Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1977).

D. A. Carson, The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), pp. 496-501.

W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life, Times and Travels of St. Paul, 2 vols. in 1, unabridged American ed. (New York: E. B. Treat U Co., 1869); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=Bn1CAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Adolf Deissmann, Paul: A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson (New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).

F. W. Farrar, The Life and Work of St. Paul (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1889); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=RB2KeCSM6KsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Bruce N. Fisk, “Paul: Life and Letters”, in The Face of New Testament Studies: A Survey of Recent Research, ed. Scot McKnight and Grant R. Osborne (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004), pp. 283-325.

Richard B.Gaffin, Jr., "Acts and Paul", 46 lectures (MP3 format), WTS Resources Media Center on Westminster Theological Seminary at http://wts.edu/resources/media.html?paramType=audio&filterTopic=5&filterSpeaker=10&filterYear=2005 [accessed 20 MAR 2013].

Frank J. Goodwin, A Harmony of the Life of the St. Paul According to the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Epistles (New York: American Tract Society, 1895); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=YgpEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 12 FEB 2013].

Richard N. Longenecker, The Ministry And Message Of Paul (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971).

Richard N. Longenecker, Paul, Apostle Of Liberty (New York: Harper & Row, 1964).

Richard N. Longenecker, ed., The Road From Damascus : The Impact Of Paul's Conversion On His Life, Thought, And Ministry (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).

Richard N. Longenecker, Studies In Paul, Exegetical And Theological (Sheffield : Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2004).

J. Gresham Machen, The Origin of Paul's Religion: The James Sprunt Lectures Delivered at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1925).

Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1955).

John Pollock, The Apostle: A Life of Paul, 3rd ed. (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 1969, 2012); also published as The Man Who Shook the World (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1972; originally The Apostle: A Life of Paul, New York: Doubleday, 1969).

Stanley E. Porter, Paul in Acts, in Library of Pauline Studies, gen. ed. Stanley E. Porter (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1999; 2001 reprint of The Paul of Acts: Essays in Literary Criticism, Rhetoric and Theology, in Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 115, by Mohr Siebeck, Tubingen).

W. M. Ramsay, The Cities of St. Paul: Their Influence on his Life and Thought (New York: A. C. Armstrong and Son; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1908); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=JryEbmKool0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, Pauline and Other Studies in Early Christian History (New York: A. C. Armstrong and Son, 1906); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ZJAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveler and the Roman Citizen, 10th ed. (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1907); on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ramsay/paul_roman.html [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

W. M. Ramsay, The Teaching of Paul in terms of The Present Day: The Deems Lectures in New York University (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914); on Internet Archive at http://ia600404.us.archive.org/2/items/teachingofpaulin00rams/teachingofpaulin00rams.pdf [accessed 13 FEB 2013].

A. T. Robertson, Epochs in the Life of Paul: A Study of Development in Paul's Character (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1974).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Paul The Missionary: Realities, Strategies And Methods (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008).

Udo Schnelle, Apostle Paul: His Life and Theology, trans. M. Eugene Boring (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003; trans. from Paulus: Leben und Denken, Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co., n.d.).

Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ: A Pauline Theology (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2001).

James Stalker, The Life of St. Paul, (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885; rev. ed. 2010 by Kessinger Publishing from 1912 ed.); on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=vT0HAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 7 FEB 2013].

James Ironside Still, St. Paul on Trial (London: Student Christian Movement, 1923).

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Paul Before the Council (Acts 23:1-10), Part 1: Paul’s First Statement Before the Council, and the Reaction of the High Priest (23:1-5)

Paul Before the Council

Acts 23:1-10

Part 1: Paul’s First Statement Before the Council,

and the Reaction of the High Priest (23:1-5)

¹And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. ²And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. ³Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? ⁴And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? ⁵Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. ⁶But when Paul perceived that the 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: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. ⁷And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. ⁸For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. ⁹And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. ¹⁰And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.

[no audio file due to recorder battery failure]

Outline:

I. Paul’s First Statement Before the Council, and the Reaction of the High Priest (23:1-5)

1. The Statement by Paul (23:1)

2. The Striking of Paul (23:2)

3. The Question from Paul (23:3)

4. The Question to Paul (23:4)

5. The Answer of Paul (23:5)

II. Paul’s Second Statement Before the Council, and the Division of the Council (23:6-10)

1. The Second Statement by Paul to the Council (23:6)

2. The Reason for the Dissension in the Council (23:7-8)

3. The Conclusion of Part of the Council (23:9)

4. The Rescue of Paul From the Council (23:10)

1. The Statement by Paul (23:1)

And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

Job 27:5-6 - 5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. 6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

2. The Striking of Paul (23:2)

And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.

the high priest Ananias

This is the same Ananias in 24:1, but not in 5:1ff., or in 9:10ff. - the son of Nedebaeus, high

priest from AD 47-58

notorious for greed

killed by Zealots AD 66 for his pro-Roman sympathies[1]

A Saducee with great wealth and prestige

Made high priest by Herod of Chalcis in AD 47

Josephus, Antiquities XX:v.2, vi.ii.3, ix.ii.3, x; War II:xvii.9

Sent to Rome by Quadratus, Governor of Syria, to answer charges concerning his oppression of the Samaritans

Released by Claudius Caesar

Deposed later by Felix

Assasinated by Sicarii or Zealots AD 59[2]

Came to Caesarea to accuse Paul before Felix personally[3]

smite him on the mouth

“For a Jew to order a Jew to be struck on the cheek was peculiarly offensive. “He that strikes the cheek of an Israelite strikes, as it were, the cheek of the Shechinah,” for it is said (Prov. xx. 25), “He that strikes a man” (i.e., an Israelite who alone deserves the name; Rashi quotes Babha Metsia, f. 114, col. 2), strikes the Holy One.”[4]

1 Ki. 22:24 - But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

Jer. 20:1-2 - 1 Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things. 2 Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

Lam. 3:30 - He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

Mic. 5:1 - Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

3. The Question from Paul (23:3)

Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?[5]

God shall smite thee

Dt. 28:22 - The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

Dt. 28:28 - The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:

Is. 30:13 - The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:

Jn. 18:19-24 - 19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. 21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. 22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? 23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? 24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.

thou whited wall

Mt. 23:27 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Ezek. 13:8-16 - 8 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD. 9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. 10 Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: 11 Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. 12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. 14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it; 16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

Lev. 19:15 - Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

Dt. 25:1-2 - 1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked. 2 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

4. The Question to Paul (23:4)

And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?

Jn. 18:22 - And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?

1 Sam. 2:28 - And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?

5. The Answer of Paul (23:5)

Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest

“Out of actual service neither the priests nor even the high-priest wore a distinctive dress…”[6]

for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people

Ex. 22:28 - Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Lev. 5:14-19 - 14 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: 16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. 17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. 18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him. 19 It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.

Eccl. 10:20 - Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.

“Paul may have said this with a mild tone of irony: “He didn’t act like a high priest should; how could I recognize him as such when he was so totally out of character?” Now that the focus was on the role, Paul made clear that he respected the office. He even quoted Exod 22:28 to underscore that he did respect God’s representatives in accordance with the Torah. He was a law-abiding Jew in every respect.”[7]

Perhaps it needs to be asked, and I have yet to find anyone doing so:

1) Who is “God’s high priest” (23:4) in reality, and in Paul’s mind?

2) Who is “the ruler” of God’s people (23:5) in reality, and in Paul’s mind?

3) Who is reviling God’s true High Priest in this incident?

4) Who is speaking evil of the true Ruler of God’s people in this incident?

5) What would Paul have understood from the Lord’s question and response to him on the Damascus road in Acts 9:4-5 about the significance of someone slapping him in the face for bearing witness to the Resurrected Christ?

6) Is the issue here merely between Paul and Ananias, or is it between Ananias and Christ, with Paul, the witness for Christ, understanding this?

Complete outline:

I. Paul’s First Statement Before the Council, and the Reaction of the High Priest (23:1-5)

1. The Statement by Paul (23:1)

2. The Striking of Paul (23:2)

3. The Question from Paul (23:3)

4. The Question to Paul (23:4)

5. The Answer of Paul (23:5)

[Sermon preached 1 MAR 2015 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Appendix 1 — Resources cited in Notes

Augustine, Letter 138 (to Marcellinus, A.D. 412), Ch. 2, §13, in The Confessions And Letters Of St. Augustin, With A Sketch Of His Life And Work, Vol. 1 in A Select Library Of The Nicene And Post-Nicene Fathers Of The Christian Church, ed. Philip Schaff, Series 1 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark; Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, n.d.), pg. 485; on Christian Classics Ethereal Library at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf101.vii.1.CXXXVIII.html [accessed 21 FEB 2015].

G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).

Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).

F. F. Bruce, “Ananias,” in The New Bible Dictionary, eds. J. D. Douglas, F. F. Bruce, R. V. G. Tasker, J. I. Packer, D. J. Wiseman (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1962), pg. 35.

John Calvin, Acts, Calvin’s Commentaries, electronic ed. (Albany, OR: Ages Software, (1998).

R. Cassidy, Society and Politics in the Acts of the Apostles (Maryknoll: Orbis, 1987).

M. M. Culy and M. C. Parsons, Acts: A Handbook on the Greek Text (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2003).

Adolf Deissmann, Paul: A Study in Social and Religious History, 2nd ed., trans. William E. Wilson (New York: Harper Torchbooks, n.d.).

James C. De Young, “Ananias,” in The Classic Bible Dictionary, ed. Jay P. Green, Sr. (Lafayette, IN: Sovereign Grace Trust Fund, 1988), pg. 64.

Alfred Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life In the Days of Christ (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d.; 1979 reprint); on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edersheim/sketches.html [accessed 28 FEB 2015].

Alfred Edersheim, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services As They Were at the Time of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d.); on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edersheim/temple.html [accessed 28 FEB 2015].

F. W. Farrar, The Life and Work of St. Paul, 2 vols. (New York: E. P. Dutton and Co., 1880); on Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/lifeworkofstpaul802farr [accessed 28 FEB 2015].

L. T. Johnson The Acts of the Apostles, Vol. 5, Sacra Pagina (Collegeville: Liturgical, 1992).

R. J. Knowling, “The Acts of the Apostles”, in The Expositor’s Greek New Testament, ed. W. Robertson Nicoll (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d.).

I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, in The Pillar New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).

John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26, The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).

Emmet Russell, “Ananias,” in The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, gen. ed. Merrill C. Tenney (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1967), pg. 38.

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).

John A. Selbie, “Ananias,” in A Dictionary of the Bible Dealing with its Language, Literature, and Contents Including the Biblical Theology, ed. James Hastings (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, n.d.; 1988 reprint from 1988 original by T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh), 1:91.

F. S. Spencer Acts (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1997).

D. J. Williams, Acts, Vol. 5, New International Biblical Commentary (Peabody, MA: Hendricksen, 1990).

Appendix 2 — Resources on Acts