Keep Up Your Courage!

 

Chapter 23

The saga in Jerusalem continues into a third chapter. At the end of Chapter 22, the tribune has just learned that Paul is a Roman citizen and has taken him to the Jewish council (Sanhedrin) to be further examined.

Paul begins to speak and immediately offends the high priest, Ananias. It’s hard to know just what about his words were offensive; perhaps he seemed arrogant and Ananias wanted to put him in his place. It didn’t work, though. Paul responded sarcastically, “I did not realize … that he was high priest,” indicating clearly that he did not find Ananias worthy of his position.

In the next moments Paul sizes up the crowd and takes in the fact that there are some Sadducees and some Pharisees. He then introduces himself as a Pharisee, as a son of Pharisees, and declares that the matter he is being tried for is the hope of the resurrection of the dead.

I will take a moment here and share that it seems odd for Paul to be telling his inquisitors what the charges are against him. It seems like they should be telling him. But none of them correct him, because Paul has uttered the words that will trigger a bigger argument between these two groups – Pharisees and Sadducees. A major point of contention between these two groups is the belief in the resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees believe in it. The Sadducees do not.

The mention of this topic, and Paul’s indication that he shares common ground with the Pharisees, sets off a ruckus. The old proverb, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” comes to mind. In the argument between these two leadership factions, Paul has taken a side with the Pharisees and they have, apparently, taken him in. At least for the moment.

But the argument turned violent and concerns for Paul’s life impelled the tribune to remove him. The next day, Luke tells us, “the Jews” formed a plan to kill Paul. Which Jews were these? We are not told. They numbered more than 40 who took an oath to see the plan through. The scheme is related in detailed, dramatic fashion. It takes up most of the chapter and reads like an espionage tale.

Some of the thoughts we may take away from this chapter include:

1.    Paul continues to find himself in danger, as he has throughout his travels. When he was first called (Chapter 9), the disciple Ananias (not the same Ananias we meet in this chapter) is told by the Lord that he has chosen Paul as his instrument and that he will suffer greatly for the sake of Christ’s name. That statement has been borne out. The sufferings of Paul have been a necessary part of his ministry. It is not because he has done wrong; it is because the gospel is challenging and frightening to many people he encounters.

2.    Paul finds support and protection from the Roman authorities. This is a clear thread through the book of Acts. Luke may have intentionally made this emphasis as a conciliatory gesture toward the Empire. By the time the book was written, the church had experienced some persecution at the hand of the Empire. They were misunderstood and mistrusted in Rome. In his writing, Luke might have been concerned with promoting good relations between the Church and the Empire.

3.    In contrast to the favorable portrayal of the Romans, Acts frequently puts the Jews in a negative light. But we should be careful about hearing these words as condemnation of all Jews. Luke was writing at a time of high tension in Palestine. Friction, spilling into open hostility, between the followers of Jesus and the Jewish establishment was a significant part of the overall tension. But at the same time, we read that Paul never stops identifying with the Jews, and never stops loving his fellow Jews. It cannot be emphasized too much that Paul does not condemn the Jews, nor does he suggest that God has abandoned them.

One last thought on this chapter comes from verse 11. While Paul is in Roman custody as their prisoner, he is visited by the Lord Jesus, who encourages him. We might notice that, unlike previous imprisonments we read about in Acts, there is no dramatic prison break. No earthquakes or angels appear to loose Paul from his chains. In this, we may find much reassurance for ourselves.

God does not usually lift us out of our hardships in some miraculous fashion. This story illustrates how God will accompany us, console us, strengthen and encourage us, through our difficulties.

Questions for Reflection:

·        When have you felt the presence of Christ in a time of suffering? Did he remove the affliction or did he walk with you through the affliction?

·        The New Testament scriptures sometimes paint “the Jews” with a broad, negative brush. How has your reading of these scriptures affected your own feelings and thoughts about Judaism? Have you struggled with prejudices as a result of the church’s teaching?

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