Sunday School Lesson 18 (Acts 23)
~ Pastor Thuamminlian Guite
The Sanhedrin divided
In the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, the supreme council of the Jews, the high priest Ananias who presided over the trials of Paul ordered those standing to strike Paul on the mouth when he claimed to lived in all good conscience before God until that day. However, Paul, like Jesus, used the metaphor of whitewash for hypocrisy against the high priest.
When the trial seemed to go unwise, Paul, in his remedy drew the case of a divided doctrinal between the Jews of Pharisees and Sadducees when he confronted the attendees by speaking himself of being a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees and that he was on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead while the Sadducees rejected it.
The Plot against Paul
The words of the Lord assured Paul to be of good cheer and be a further witness at Rome as he was in Jerusalem. More than 40 people took oath not to eat anything until they killed Paul. They plotted to kill him on the way when the chief priest and elders summoned Paul in the pretense of further inquiries the next day. However, Paul's sister's son overheard the ambush and revealed to the commander as requested by Paul.
Sent to Felix
When Paul was brought to Caesarea by the soldiers, Felix the governor of Romans was handed a letter from the Roman commander who had sent Paul there. Stated in the letter, the commander having learned that Paul was a Roman citizenship by birth, was intent on Paul having a fair trial that was due on Roman citizens. That, the fair trial was met unduly by a plot to kill him, Paul was thus brought here.
The Governor having learned that Paul was from Cilicia, delayed his hearing for Paul’s accusers to present their case.
Takeaways:
- Like Paul, we have to make God our priority. We must be able to depend on God in every situation. And, as God's promises were true to Paul, so will they be, to us.
- God can even use a non-believer to fulfill His plans for us.
- Our visions are limited. Our perception can be totally off the mark as warned in Proverbs 14:12. Even in the case of finding your life partner, it is imperative to ask God first and be led by Him.
