OPEN BOOK – HINTS FROM THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS: PAUL FRONTS THE SANHEDRIN

BRUCE C WEARNE continues with his commentary on Acts, focusing here on what happened when Paul was brought before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem…

And so Paul found himself face-to-face speaking with the council. “Brothers,” he said, “I have lived before God in all good conscience right up to this day.” At this point the High Priest Ananias commanded those standing close by to strike him a blow across the mouth. To which Paul said, “God shall strike you, you whitewashed tomb! Are you sitting there to judge me by the law, yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those standing there [feigned shock and] said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” Paul said, ” I could not have known, brothers, that he was the High Priest and it is indeed written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people'”. But, having realised he was to address a council one part of which were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul cried, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; and it is with respect to the hope about the resurrection of those dead and buried that I am on trial.” And in saying this he provoked the discord that was between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. The Sadducees say there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but Pharisees acknowledge them all. And so it was complete mayhem with some scribes of the Pharisee party arguing, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” The dissension became violent, and that was when the commander, afraid that Paul might be torn to pieces, ordered his soldiers to go down into the meeting to pluck him out of their midst by force and bring him back to the barracks. – Acts 23: 1-10/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne

BEFORE THE COUNCIL: An image of the Sanhedrin taken from a 19th century encyclopedia. PICTURE: Wikimedia Commons

IN A NUTSHELL
Paul appeared before the council. The High Priest ordered he be struck and by the time Paul acknowledged this man’s position before God, he had effectively told him to repent. He then divided the council by identifying himself as a Pharisee. 

Previously, addressing the mob, Paul had told them of Ananias of Damascus, a respected Jew who would back up his story. Many other Jews also believed. When James suggested that Paul take action to short-circuit the false reports about his teaching, he added that there are thousands among the Jews who believe. Paul, was a well-attested teacher, a guide of many dispersed Jewish people and in times past he had been an active Pharisee. His leadership was well-known.

Now he confronted another Ananias, the High Priest who ordered that he be assaulted in front of the council. Paul stood his ground, condemned the action as hypocritical, and gave reasons. He knew the law: “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people” (Exodus 22:28). The defenders of the High Priest suggested that by calling the High Priest a hypocrite, Paul had reviled God Himself. Paul had already explained his riposte. “You sit there judging me by the law, but you have violated the law by having me struck.”

Their mock horror carried no weight in that council, and the one presiding had been effectively chastised by an appeal to the Torah. One writer suggests Paul apologised to the office, not the man. But his reply meant “I did not think that a man who acted so illegally could possibly be the High Priest” and was hardly an apology. It was an “in your face” call to repentance to the President of Israel’s Supreme Court.

Paul acted with clear purpose, knowing his message. He knew it could divide the council because the Sadducees could not accept his message of Jesus’ resurrection. Formerly, as a rampaging Pharisee, he had fiercely resisted this message. Now the opponents of his former sect are put on the spot. Some Pharisees decided in Paul’s favour but the hearing became confused. The tribune judged it time to intervene once more.