“Acts 23: Paul Before the Sanhedrin”

Monday, January 23, 2017

Chapter 23 continues with Paul’s explanation of his change from Judaism to Christianity as he tells them that he has acted with a completely clear conscience at all times. Realizing that some of his listeners are Sadducees and some are Pharisees, Paul mentions “hope and resurrection of the dead” as the basis for their criticism of him. This has the immediate effect of dividing the Jews with the Pharisees not wanting to “fight against God.”

Verses 8-9 provide a brief explanation of one of the major differences between Pharisees and Sadducees. The Sadducees did not believe in an afterlife, including resurrection, angels and spirits. They believed that this life was all there is. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were convinced that there is an entire spiritual realm, another level of existence beyond the physical, that includes our immortal souls, the part of man created in the image of God, that will live forever.

The Pharisees’ belief in the spiritual realm (what the book of Ephesians calls, “the heavenly places”) and the Sadducees’ disbelief is what causes “a loud outcry” and a “great dissension.”

The commander is afraid that Paul might be pulled to pieces by the two groups and takes him back into the barracks again for his protection.

The Lord assures Paul that he will bear witness of Him at Rome, just as he has in Jerusalem. We then learn of a conspiracy against Paul by more than forty Jews who agree together not to eat or drink until Paul is dead. When Paul’s nephew hears about the plot, he informs the commander who subsequently has Paul safely transported to Caesarea.

This is another example of how God can use unknown, otherwise insignificant people to accomplish His will. Maybe that means that He can even use you and me.

--Roger Hillis

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