October 29
Bible Reading: Acts 23:6-10
Acts 23:6, “Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’”
Metaphorically speaking, he was in the Lion’s den. These lions were not tame and had the evil smarts to do him much harm. He’s got no lawyer to defend him, no friend in the council to intervene. The council had long been working to rid the earth of his message. They plotted against Jesus until they successfully put Him on that cross. In the beginnings of the church, they’d done all they could to silence Peter and John. Paul had previously worked with the council, gaining from them letters with which he could imprison Christians (Acts 22:5). But now he is a traitor to their cause, and on the front lines of another. He was God’s man enjoined in a good fight. His cause was the gospel. His Lord was the Risen Savior! He was led and empowered by the Spirit, who gave him insight in what to say and do.
The council was made up of men from two different religious sects. The Sadducees were the aristocrats, the party of the rich and high priestly families. They held charge over the temple and its services. Materialistic in their outlook, they did not believe in life after death or any reward or punishment beyond this life. They were politicians, wanting nothing to threaten their position or wealth, hence their opposition to Jesus and His followers. The Pharisees exercised greater control over the general population via the synagogues. They believed the way to God was through obedience to the law. And that’s what they taught and held over the population. They had little interest in politics. They differed from the Sadducees in that they did believe in the supernatural and the resurrection. They opposed Jesus and his followers because they refused to be bound by their teachings.
The one thing that worked to unite these two divergent groups was their common hatred for Jesus. However, they weren’t truly united because their underlying beliefs were so contrary. Paul used that to his advantage. He had a message. That message was and is the great message of hope for us all. It’s the message that the church preached from its beginning. It’s the message Paul had taken to faraway places in his three missionary journeys. It was his trump card, and he pulled it out. “It is with respect and the resurrection of the dead that I’m on trial” (Acts 23:6). In that, he lofted a spiritual bomb into the room. For the Pharisees believed in the resurrection, but the Sadducees did not. And an eruption of dissension arose between the two groups. The dissension escalated into violence until the tribune had to take Paul by force away to the barracks. The trial ended with no conviction, and Paul lived on to fight his good fight. Truth be told, he was on trial for his refusal to abandon that very same gospel message he chose to proclaim to the council. But his cause was just and even the gates of hell could not and will not prevail against the Lord’s promise (Matthew 16:18).
Amidst the chaos found in this world, the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead endures as the preeminent message of hope for those who believe.
FAITH IS THE VICTORY
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
Chorus:
Faith is the victory! (Faith is the victory!)
Faith is the victory! (Faith is the victory!)
Oh, glorious victory
That overcomes the world.
His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith they, like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er ev’ry field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield. [Chorus]
To him who overcomes the foe
White raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in heav’n.
Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame;
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night
In Jesus’ conq’ring name. [Chorus]
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