ACTS 23
Act 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and
brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day.
How could Paul say that when he was before a murderer and a persecutor of
Christians? How could Paul say that he has lived in all good conscience before
God unto this day?
Because when sins are forgiven and cleansed by the shed blood of Jesus Christ is
makes us justified which means just as if we had never sinned. Think about it.
It means that when we come to Christ repenting of sin, we are cleansed and we
are no longer sinners. We were once sinners who have been saved by grace but we
are no longer sinners saved by grace. We are saints who were saved by grace.
One note here is that before Paul's conversion, he did think that he was serving
the will of God in all good conscience but he did discover that he was wrong in
what he thought was right.
After Jesus came into the world any true religion will not persecute and kill
opponents. Those that instigated the Crusades did not know God nor Jesus Christ.
Our commission is to preach the gospel, not kill and destroy. We are never given
permission to persecute dissenters or those who believe different than what we
think is truth. The law of the land has a right given by God to punish evil
doers if they steal, kill and break the law that doesn't contradict God's law
but the church has no right to take another life or persecute a person for the
sake of their conscience or faith.
We have a right to forbid false teaching and cast out troublemakers but we have
no right to physically harm them.
Act 23:2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to
smite him on the mouth.
Here is an example of a religious person who thought he represented God
commanding that someone smite Paul on the mouth to shut up his testimony. This
person did not know God. He had fallen from the truth. If this man was of God,
he would have known who Jesus was.
Act 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?
Act 23:4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
Act 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.
This is sometimes hard for us to grasp but we are not to speak evil of our
rulers. If they become evil, we must pray for them. If they do not repent, we
can ask God to remove them. We are to obey the law of the land except if it
opposes God's laws. It really doesn't do much good to speak evil of a person. It
never changes their character. Instead start out with prayer and allow the Holy
Spirit to lead us in what to do about ungodly rulers whether it be in our land
or in our churches. I'm sure this commandment does not mean that we blindly
follow any church or religious leader without question. We follow God and if
they do not follow God we still follow God but with meekness and respect, not in
defiance.
Act 23:6 But 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.
Act 23:7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees
and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.
Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor
spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
Paul was smart here and gained a little time to speak further of what he was
called of God to speak. I'm sure Paul didn't do this to save himself any
physical harm.
Act 23:9 And 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.
Act 23:10 And 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.
Act 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good
cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear
witness also at Rome.
Actually God was sending Paul to Rome to preach to the Gentiles as he told Paul
before. All this delay and persecution of Paul was actually bringing it about.
He would be sent to Rome and along the way bear much witness to the gospel of
Jesus Christ.
Act 23:12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound
themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they
had killed Paul.
Act 23:13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
Conspiracies do not work on those called of God according to His purpose unless
it is their time to be with the Lord.
Act 23:14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have
bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have
slain Paul.
Act 23:15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he
bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though ye would inquire something more
perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
Act 23:16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and
entered into the castle, and told Paul.
It is nice to have faithful relatives about town.
Act 23:17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring
this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.
Act 23:18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul
the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto
thee, who hath something to say unto thee.
Act 23:19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside
privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?
Act 23:20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest
bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat
of him more perfectly.
Act 23:21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them
more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will
neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking
for a promise from thee.
Act 23:22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him,
See thou tell no man that thou hast showed these things to me.
Act 23:23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred
soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two
hundred, at the third hour of the night;
Act 23:24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe
unto Felix the governor.
Act 23:25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
Act 23:26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth
greeting.
Act 23:27 This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them:
then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a
Roman.
Act 23:28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I
brought him forth into their council:
Act 23:29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have
nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
Act 23:30 And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I
sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say
before thee what they had against him. Farewell.
Act 23:31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought
him by night to Antipatris.
Act 23:32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to
the castle:
Act 23:33 Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the
governor, presented Paul also before him.
Act 23:34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province
he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;
Act 23:35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he
commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.
Usually secular rulers are not overly concerned about crimes over religious
reasons unless it affects their own political power by pleasing the people that
are in arms against the accused. Just as Pilate knew Jesus was not guilty of any
crime worthy of death, these rulers knew Paul was innocent of any civil crimes.
In the United States as of this date, we have always had freedom of religion at
least in our constitution. There have always been individuals and groups that
have tried to persecute those they considered in error but the government itself
allows freedom of religion. It is hard for us that have been used to this
freedom to understand the persecution of certain sects. Our thinking is, "Why
not let everyone believe how they choose?" It blows our mind to read of history
and of people being killed for believing in something when they were innocent in
other matters such as stealing, murder, or other capital offenses. Yet it
happened even by the so-called church at certain times. Most people who
persecute actually think they are doing God a service except in the case of the
Communists and other atheistic governments.
We in the USA sometimes are mistaken in thinking that the days of religious
persecution is over. It is not. In many countries in the Middle East and other
regions persecution of people that are of a different faith than those in power
is happening even as I write.
I don't know how long God will allow us in the US to live in peace seeing as we
have turned our backs on Him and have kicked Him out of our schools, government
and even some churches. We have ignored His laws and commandments and take
lightly the bible and warnings of judgment. I really don't know how much time we
have left but we really need to pray for our country and pray that we return to
the fear of God and acknowledge Him again as our protector because if He removes
His hand of protection, we have no protection. No matter how great our navy,
army, air force and marines are, without God's hand of protection, they are
nothing. We need God folks. There is no way around that fact.
Our beloved brother Paul suffered for His convictions and faith in Jesus.
He could have enjoyed his salvation, bought a house, married a wife and lived in
comfort believing in Christ but
keeping it to himself. He couldn't do that because that would mean so many
others would be lost and on their way to hell. He couldn't do that because
it would mean disobeying the heavenly commandment of Jesus Himself in calling
Paul to preach to the Gentiles. He couldn't do that because Paul wanted to
preach the gospel even if it meant endangering his own live. Tradition tells us
that Paul did die a martyr's death. It is now over 2000 years after the
time of Paul and he is in a better place with Jesus. The words of Paul we
can remember is, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."
Paul is with Jesus as is the other apostles. Because of their
faithfulness, we can believe. We must not forget those overseas that are
suffering as Paul and the apostles did for believing and preaching the gospel of
Jesus.
