Study From the Book of Acts,23

Study From the Book of Acts,23

Today we study the twenty-third chapter of the Book of Acts and we choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

Whitewash is thin paint used to make soothing dirty look clean. Ananias deserved this rebuke. The fact that Ananias had some one else “do this dirty work” did not absolve him from ordering the act. Paul did not defend his behaviour, but rather repented of it. There are several possible reasons why Paul did not know Ananias was the high priest. It could be that Paul’s eyesight was poor, and he did not see Ananias clearly. Or perhaps this was not a normal assembly of the Sanhedrin, the high priest was not wearing his normal robes or sitting in his usual place.

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, miracles, life after death, or the existence of angels. On the other hand, the pharisees believed in the supernatural and affirmed the very things the Sadducees denied.

Warned by friends not to go to Jerusalem, Paul may have begun to doubt his decision. So, the Lord encouraged Paul not to be afraid because he was under the sovereign care of God.

The willingness of the Jewish council to cooperate with the assassination plot against Paul shows how conscious they were of their weak case against him.

Paul was to be escorted out of the city under cover of darkness surrounded by hundreds of soldiers. Apparently, the commander though the threat of assassination was serious enough to commit almost half of the entire garrison at the Fortress of Antonia to escorting Paul at least part of the way to Rome.

Roman law required a subordinate officer to send a written statement of the case with a prisoner when he referred the case to his superior. The foot soldiers returned to Jerusalem, leaving the seventy horsemen to escort Paul the remaining distance to Caesarea, the capital of Judea. The hand of God over Paul’s life can be seen in the provision of such extraordinary protection.

The governor Antonius Felix was known for indulging in every kind of lust. After reading the letter from Jerusalem, Felix wanted to know Paul’s home province. When he learned it was Cilicia he decided to hear the case, because the political status of Cilicia did not require its natives to be sent back there for trial.

Structure:

Verses 1-10: the Sanhedrin divided.

Verses 11-22: the plot against Paul.

Verses:23-34: accused of sedition.

Principle 45: verse 23: 6----"But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisees, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged”.”

Lesson 45: Paul heeded the Lord’s counsel to be wise as serpents Mtt.10:16. When he saw that he could exploit the theological differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees, he did so.

Principle 46 verse 23:16:” So, when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.”

Lesson 46: We must never imagine that God must work in a certain way. Here He rescued Paul. Not through a miracle, but through the sharp ears of his nephew. God works in ways we cannot anticipate. (20/7/2025).