Good Wednesday May thirteenth as we grow our faith by studying God’s holy word.
Operation dividing accusers-
Paul because he told the commander he was a Roman citizen, was unchained and brought before the Sanhedrin which would be as our Supreme Court in the land. The relationship between the heads of the Jews and Rome was a very thin line, Rome allowed the Jews to oversee matters according to their religious customs and laws but only by Roman authority could one be sentenced to death. So Paul stands before the Sanhedrin and the commander sits silent as they hold Paul on trial. What was interesting was that Ananias was the sitting high priest, now Paul being a Pharisee would know the high priest because the high priest would stand out because he’d be dressed in priestly apparel distinguishing him from the others. Obviously this day he may have been surprised that the commander called this meeting, and maybe because he thought I can get rid of Paul he just went in his ordinary clothes and Paul did not know he was the high priest. Vs 5 “5 Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ” Let’s read together from Acts 23:6-10 “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 Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.” Paul looks at all in attendance and sees a line himself, a belief line. Being a Pharisee he knew Pharisees believed in a resurrection, an afterlife, in things super natural, and that the Sadducees did not, so Paul divides the ground and says I am a Pharisee and believe in the resurrection, which caused the Pharisees to agree and say “the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” The fight was an internal fight of beliefs which was the core of religious beliefs even today. Paul we believe has heard from an angel from God he is innocent was the cry for half this group, while the anger exploded between these two divisions Paul is whisked away by the commander who sees religion as nothing more than opinions and prejudices. James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” If it looks and acts like the world it is, truth is love joy and peace is what causes ones to come. The commander leaves the Chaos and takes Paul out. Have you come to the peace in Christ? Remnant
