October 28
Bible Reading: Acts 23:1-5
Acts 23:1, “And looking intently at the council, Paul said, ‘Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day’.”
Trouble continuously confronted Paul during his visit to Jerusalem. The meeting with the elders led to the failed attempt to pacify Paul’s opponents. As soon as his opponents saw him leaving the temple, they stirred up the crowd and laid hands on him. Then the Roman soldiers took hold of him, bound him, and carried him away. His defense before the angry mob was interrupted at his mention of the word “Gentiles.” Hearing that, they deemed him not worthy of life and sought to stone him (Acts 22:23). What a day! If that wasn’t enough, the next day brought him before the council to give an account.
It’s helpful to know something about the high priest who led the council. Appointed by Herod Agrippa II in approximately AD 48, this Ananias (several are mentioned in the Bible) was known for his cruelty and was especially hated by the Jews because of his ruthlessness and corruption.
The council that was not unfamiliar to Paul for he had formerly contracted with them before his conversion, to get letters for the arrest of believers (Acts 22:5). The council was made up of religious leaders from the sects of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
God’s man, the Apostle Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, was brought before the devil’s man, Ananias, and other religious leaders who had been, to this point, opposing Jesus and his church for decades. Paul was not afraid and looked intently at the council. He defended his actions in that he lived his life before God in good conscience. In response, contrary to the laws of the court, the high priest had Paul struck in the mouth. Paul responded by calling attention to this violation and called the high priest a whitewashed wall (a hypocrite—which he was). But when Paul was called out for reviling the high priest, he cited his ignorance of that fact (Exodus 22:28).
What do we find here in this account? Paul is confident before the council, but not by his own doing. His courage was rooted in his faith in the Lord Jesus, and in his gospel message, and in the Scriptures. They were out to get Paul. But Paul had the Risen Jesus on his side! And the Lord Jesus would see him through this ordeal.
“I shall not fear the battle. If Thou art by my side.”–John E. Bode
O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED
O Jesus, I have promised
to serve Thee to the end;
be Thou forever near me,
my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
if Thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if Thou wilt be my Guide.
O let me feel Thee near me,
the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.
O let me hear Thee speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control!
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul!
O Jesus, Thou hast promised
to all who follow Thee
that where Thou art in glory
there shall Thy servant be;
and, Jesus, I have promised
to serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my Friend!
LookingtoJesus 