These people had listened intently to Paul, but the word “Gentiles” brought out their anger and exposed their pride and true motives. They were supposed to be a light to the Gentiles, telling them about the one true God, but they had renounced that mission by becoming separatist and exclusive.Irritated at Paul for having created such a ruckus, and eager to force some sort of confession, the Roman commander ordered the apostle flogged. Paul, ever the shrewd servant of the Lord, resorted to his civic privilege. By law, a Roman citizen could not be punished without first having a trial, nor could a Roman citizen be interrogated by beating or torture. Paul knew the law. He knew the answer to that question. It was most certainly not legal. There had been no trial, hearing, or formal charges presented.
With clear, solid words Paul said to the assembled Jewish religious leaders were, “I have always lived before God in all good conscience!” Two times in Acts and twenty-one times in his letters, Paul referred to his clear conscience. He wanted his audience to know that he was committed to his spiritual and moral choices that had resulted in his trial before them. He was ready to stand before God and be accountable for his choices and actions. Inherent in Paul’s statement, of course, was the challenge: were they ready?
Almost as soon as Paul began speaking, he was slapped on the mouth. Obviously, Paul had already offended Ananias the high priest, his accuser! Ananias became high priest in a.d. 48, and he reigned through a.d. 58 or 59. Josephus, a respected first-century historian, described Ananias as profane, greedy, and hot-tempered. He was hated by many of his Jewish contemporaries because of his pro-Roman policies.
Paul’s outburst came as a result of the illegal command that Ananias had given. Ananias had violated Jewish law by assuming that Paul was guilty without a trial and by ordering his punishment. Paul had not yet been charged with a crime, much less tried or found guilty.
Paul’s used the term "whitewashed wall" in referring to Ananias. This amounted to calling Ananias a hypocrite. This created a clean and positive appearance for what contained death and corruption.
Paul’s sudden insight that the council was a mixture of Sadducees and Pharisees is an example of the power that Jesus promised to believers. God will help his people when they are under fire for their faith. Like Paul, believers should always be ready to present their testimony. The Holy Spirit will give them power to speak boldly.
The council was divided. Finally the disagreement became so heated that the Roman commander had to step in. Evidently, Paul was in the middle of it all and had to be removed by the Roman troops. From there he was safely brought back to the fortress. Just as had been Paul’s experience for the last decade of ministry, he was once again attacked by the Jews and treated kindly by the Gentiles—locked in a Roman prison in order to protect him from the high court of the Jews!
When night came, the Lord appeared to Paul, telling him to be encouraged. He praised Paul for faithfully telling the people about me here in Jerusalem. Then he gave Paul a word of promise—you must preach the Good News in Rome. God, in essence, promised Paul safe passage to another field of ministry.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
What causes the kind of hatred that the Jews, the Pharisees and particularly Ananias had displayed? What causes a heart to be hardened to the people of God and the things of God and to God himself? Listen to Hebrews 3:13 (NIV);
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."
An unchecked lifestyle can cause us to develop a hardened heart. When we live lives in isolation, where there is no accountability- sin has free reign. In our own eyes, we think we are doing right, but the realty is much different. Read the verses below if you don't believe me.
"In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 21:25 (ASV)
"The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel." Proverbs 12:15 (ASV)
"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits." Proverbs 16:2 (ASV)
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts." Proverbs 21:2 (ASV)
We need accountability. We need people in our lives who love us enough to speak the truth to us. Socrates said an unexamined life is not worth living. Let me ask you today, who in your life have you given the right to examine you? Who holds you accountable? Who has the freedom to wound you with the truth? If you don't have that person, when will you seek them out?
Lord, none of us wants to waste our lives. Lord, don't let us waste our lives. Lord, give us each at least one friend who has our permission to speak the truth to us - when necessary, to wound us with the truth. Lord, protect us from developing hard hearts in any area of our life. Lord, show us today if there is any part of our life that is displeasing to you.
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