…(the Tribune) unbound him (Paul) and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.
Acts 22:30-23:11
After Paul’s encounter with the Tribune, the next day, Paul was brought in front of a “council” made up of Romans and the chief priests of the Jews. The Tribune was still trying to find out why there was such rioting the day before. Upon Paul’s opening statement, the high priest commanded those who stood near him to hit Paul’s mouth. This caused Paul to react angrily and that evoked the bystanders’ response, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” Paul, realizing that he was reacting to an official of the Jews, apologized by quoting Scripture regarding not speaking evil of the ruler of “your people.” Paul understands that God is sovereign over His creation and that God raises up leaders, no matter how evil they may be, and He takes down those leaders, holding them accountable, at judgment, for their leading in their earthly capacity. Now, at this point, Luke writes that Paul “perceived” the theological differences between two groups at the hearing, Sadducees and Pharisees who believe differently regarding the resurrection of the dead. So, Paul announces his Pharisaical belief in the resurrection and an argument ensues among the religious leaders present, taking the attention away from Paul. The tribune had Paul removed from the scene when he perceived that Paul was about to be harmed. The following night, Jesus appeared to Paul to encourage him by saying, “as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Christians, it seems so simple, in Paul’s day, that there may have been only two theological interpretations of the resurrection while, today, there are myriads of theological positions concerning the afterlife. Satan is currently the ruler of this world, though he knows his time is running very short. He seeks nothing less than the destruction of anything and everything that has to do with God. He will not succeed for our Sovereign God will send His Son into this space-time creation, in judgment and power, to destroy this creation and imprison all evil beings and humans who have rejected His sovereign rule. Christians will then live eternally in God’s presence with new heavens and new earth as our home. The Bible says it and it will occur! Source: S C Ball August 6, 2023
Leave a Reply