Testimonies in trouble

Acts 23:1-10; 5/12/2024; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

Because of Paul’s Roman citizenship, God gave Paul the opportunity to witness for the Lord one after another, and he was given the opportunity to witness for the Lord in difficult situations. Let’s look at the first point:

 The persecution of the high priest  

 Paul, who received the opportunity to testify, began to observe the situation around him.  He finally decided to face it bravely no matter what, and to fulfill the mission given to him by God with faith.  First, the high priest’s self-defense. Paul’s opening statement was a very ordinary statement.  He said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”  After Paul believed in the Lord, he still called his compatriots brothers.  This is also a guideline for us, that is, everyone who believes in the Lord should regard his compatriots as brothers, as family members, and as people we love. But when Paul was expressing his love, the high priest felt something was wrong.  The high priest thought to himself, if you, Paul, follow your conscience before God, doesn’t that mean that I, the high priest, have no conscience?  Isn’t this a blatant provocation?  When a person’s sense of security is broken, the self-defense mechanism will be activated.

 Secondly, the authority of the high priest was abused. Paul said that he acted according to his conscience, which was indeed questioning the soul of the high priest.    Ever since the ancestors of mankind committed crimes, their conscience has been in a state of “disconnection.”  When the human heart is separated from God, the conscience loses its accuracy and direction.  What is conscience?  Conscience is a system of identification that God has put into people’s lives.   It is a real existence that is invisible to the human eye, but known to the soul, and cannot be denied by consciousness.  At this time, Paul’s conscience was more advanced than that of the high priest.  Due to the restoration of the Holy Spirit, he was already sensitive to sin and had other abilities.  Therefore, the high priest felt pressured, felt inferior, and could not bear it, so he activated his authority.   When applied to Paul, it appears to be an abuse.       

 

Finally, the high priest’s persecution was limited.  When the high priest Ananias ordered others to slap Paul on the mouth, he had already been defeated at the moral level, psychological defense line, and the commanding heights of faith. When a person with authority needs to hit others to express his authority, it means that the authority he possesses has become a whitewashed wall!  A whitewashed wall means that the wall is not actually a wall. It is just a curtain used to put on a face and deceive the people.   Yes, the high priest has authority in his hands, and this authority also comes from God.    However, the basis of authority is the law. Anyone who disobeys the law will surely provoke God’s wrath and strike.  From this point of view, these higher authorities who persecute the church actually have a guilty conscience and limited energy.  Let’s look at the second point:

  Litigation in disputes

 By being baptized by John, even Christ fulfilled all rites or righteousness, let alone Paul,  let alone you and me?  As children of God, we experience many things in this world, and we must always do the right thing and never be rude.  First of all, treat the situation, not the person. When Paul did not know that the man before him was the high priest, his expression was not directed at anyone.  What Paul is saying is that no matter who you are, you should keep the rules according to the law.  Don’t you know the consequences of breaking the law?  Could it be that as an Israelite, we have been struck by God’s hand less often?  Aren’t you afraid of being struck by the hand of God?  However, it was clear to onlookers that Paul must not have known that the person standing in front of him was the high priest!   They thought that they usually treat the high priest with respect, but it is really embarrassing for you, Paul, to be so blunt and confrontational!   Paul could have defended himself, but he chose to accept it quietly.

Second, spiritual insight.  Paul’s choice to be quiet was based on “You shall not speak evil of the rulers of your people” in Exodus 22:28.  Once Paul chooses to explain, the high priest has ten thousand ways and a thousand reasons to make most people believe that Paul has “reviled God’s high priest.”  At this moment, Paul chose to be quiet because of his insight.  His spiritual penetration determines the priorities of life.  Take some losses and pass by sideways.  Because Paul’s purpose was not to prove himself right or wrong, but to seize the opportunity to preach the gospel and bear witness for the Lord.  Such insights are closely linked to the core values ​​he holds.

Finally, the use of background.  Paul’s Roman citizenship is also closely related to his past background.  The vision God gave Paul enabled him  “Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees,”  The Pharisees originated from the trend of returning from captivity, usually with the Second Temple as the driving force, characterized by keeping the law and caring about God’s word, and began as a group in the Maccabean Rebellion in 165 BC.  In the minds of the Jews, the Pharisees were respected.  In particular, Paul very wisely connected the resurrection of Jesus Christ with the Pharisees’ view of resurrection.  He not only preached the gospel but also won the support of some people.  This is a rare example of the use of wisdom.  Let’s look at the third point:

Protection in crisis

There is a soul-crushing test here, that is, scheming, or the gospel of Christ alone.  First of all, it is not to start a fight.   I estimate that when we Chinese readers read this passage, they will quickly wonder whether Paul instigated the two factions to fight in order to protect himself.    Some people may say, so what if we use some means to spread the gospel?  This is also true of the so-called “white lies” we often encounter.  The question is, how can lies be kind?  The Bible says it is Satan the Devil who lies, and he has lied from the beginning.  The same goes for playing scheming.  No matter how good your purpose is, it betrays your original intention. God’s children can have thoughts, but they don’t have to play tricks and scheming.  God is not pleased!   Isn’t life just about living a magnanimous life?  If there is no magnanimity in life, how can one meet the Lord and give an account to Him?

Second, truth is not afraid of debate.  What’s more, what we preach is the truth, so we don’t need to be afraid of debate.  I believe this is also due to God’s wisdom, which is to allow the Sadducees and Pharisees to fully express their opinions and explain their different views in front of the tribune, the high priest, and Paul.  This in itself is a method of preaching the gospel,   benefiting everyone who hears it.  We don’t know how many people have twisted their minds after this debate, or even started to believe?  At least some of the Pharisees began to change after some squabbling.  The bible says, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?”

Finally, Paul entered the barracks again.  Of course, arguments can easily get out of hand.  Especially when people’s emotions are high or even in power, the devil comes out.  This is why I often advise everyone not to make decisions based on emotions.  The Bible’s description of the emotional out-of-control situation at this time says:  “And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.”  This was the second time Paul was brought into the barracks, which showed how full the Lord’s grace is and how deep His love is.  Probably none of us would have thought that God would even use the barracks of the Antichrist to protect Paul.  Therefore, when we encounter hardships and setbacks, don’t rush to a despairing conclusion.  Remember, Jesus Christ is always with us, just as he was with Paul.

 Conclusion

Well, thank the Lord!  No matter what kind of difficulties we find ourselves in, we must preach the gospel and bear witness to the Lord.  Because this is the Lord’s commission, do you agree?  If we preach the gospel, we will be rewarded.  If we don’t preach, the mission has been given to us.  May I ask, what is your decision?

Let us pray……

 

Acts 23:1-10

1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to 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 is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” 

4 Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” 

5 And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” 

7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 

8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 

9 Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” 

10 And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks.