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JULY 22
7 Both the singers and the players on 6 But when Paul perceived that one part
instruments say, were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he
“All my springs are in you.” cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I
am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concern-
Proverbs 21:19–20
ing the hope and resurrection of the dead I am
19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, being judged!”
Than with a contentious and angry 7 And when he had said this, a dissension
woman. arose between the Pharisees and the
Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.
20 There is desirable treasure, 8
For Sadducees say that there is no resurrec-
And oil in the dwelling of the wise, tion—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees
But a foolish man squanders it.
confess both. Then there arose a loud outcry.
9
Acts 23:1–15 And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose
and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this
Then Paul, looking earnestly at the
23 council, said, “Men and brethren, I man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to
him, let us not fight against God.”
have lived in all good conscience before God
2
until this day.” And the high priest Ananias com-
manded those who stood by him to strike him
on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will
3
strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to
judge me according to the law, and do you com- 23:7 a dissension arose. There were major
social, political, and theological differences
mand me to be struck contrary to the law?”
between the Sadducees and Pharisees. By
raising the issue of the resurrection, Paul
appealed to the Pharisees for support on per-
haps the most important theological differ-
ence. Since the resurrection of Jesus Christ is
23:2 high priest Ananias.Not the Annas of the
Gospels, this man was one of Israel’s cruelest also the central theme of Christianity, this was
and most corrupt high priests. His pro-Roman no cynical ploy on Paul’s part to divide the
policies alienated him from the Jewish people, Sanhedrin over a trivial point of theology.
who murdered him at the outset of the revolt
against Rome (A.D. 66). commanded…to
strike him. An illegal act in keeping with 10 Now when there arose a great dissension,
Ananias’s brutal character.The verb translated the commander, fearing lest Paul might be
“strike” is used of the mob’s beating of Paul
(21:32) and the Roman soldiers’ beating of pulled to pieces by them, commanded the
Jesus (Matt. 27:30). It was no mere slap on the soldiers to go down and take him by force
face, but a vicious blow. from among them, and bring him into the
barracks.
11
23:3 whitewashed wall. Ezekiel 13:10–16; But the following night the Lord stood by
Matthew 23:27. contrary to the law. him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as
Outraged by the high priest’s flagrant viola- you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you
tion of Jewish law, Paul flared up in anger. must also bear witness at Rome.”
When Jesus was similarly struck in violation of 12 And when it was day, some of the Jews
the law, He reacted by calmly asking the rea- banded together and bound themselves
son for the blow (John 18:23). Paul’s reaction under an oath, saying that they would nei-
was wrong, as he would shortly admit (v. 5). ther eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
Although an evil man,Ananias still held a God- 13 Now there were more than forty who had
ordained office and was to be granted the formed this conspiracy. They came to the
14
respect that position demanded.
chief priests and elders, and said, “We have
bound ourselves under a great oath that we
will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.
4
And those who stood by said, “Do you 15 Now you, therefore, together with the
revile God’s high priest?” council, suggest to the commander that he
5 Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, be brought down to you tomorrow, as
that he was the high priest; for it is written, though you were going to make further
‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your inquiries concerning him; but we are ready
people.’ ” to kill him before he comes near.”

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