The Word This Week
Acts 23:1…
Paul had the massive crowd assembled below him as he spoke to them from the steps of the Antonia Fortress in quiet attention until he spoke the word Jesus had shared with him – that he, (Paul,) was to be sent to, “the Gentiles.”
When the crowd heard that one word ‘Gentiles,’ they flipped out again – as they had when the Jews from Asia, (modern day Turkey,) recognized Paul in the courts of the Temple.
Their response had been to attempt to tear Paul apart, only thwarted by the Roman soldiers who immediately saw what was taking place and rushed to Paul’s rescue.
As Paul was being ushered up the steps of the Antonia Fortress for his own protection, he made a request of the commander of the guard he be allowed to speak. Since the commander desired to know why the Jews wanted to kill Paul, he allowed Paul to address the crowd.
But once Paul uttered the word “Gentiles,” all hope of him continuing was lost, and the commander had no idea why they hated Paul so, and why he was thought worthy of death by the Jews.
Since the commander had discovered Paul was a Roman citizen, he understood according to Roman law Paul could not be held unless a legal charge was brought against him.
And so the first order of business for commander Claudius Lysias was to determine what charge Paul to level against Paul.
He thought if Paul could be brought before the Sanhedrin of the Jews, he may have a better idea of exactly what crime Paul was guilty of.
So the next day he had Paul brought before the Sanhedrin, the very council Paul had been a voting member of prior to his conversion.
Paul, in his brilliance, knew exactly what to say to break this meeting up. He employed the old and obvious tactic of ‘divide and conquer.’ Paul recognized the Sanhedrin that day remained comprised of both Sadducees and Pharisees, as it had been in his day – which by now was 20-25 years ago. (It is possible none of the present members had been members of the Sanhedrin when Paul had been.)
Since Paul knew the Sadducees did not believe in the supernatural realm, angels, spirits, and the afterlife – and the Pharisees, (which Paul had been,) did – Paul knew exactly how to divide the crowd seated before him to judge him. It proved a very successful tactic.
Pastor Bill
Paul had the massive crowd assembled below him as he spoke to them from the steps of the Antonia Fortress in quiet attention until he spoke the word Jesus had shared with him – that he, (Paul,) was to be sent to, “the Gentiles.”
When the crowd heard that one word ‘Gentiles,’ they flipped out again – as they had when the Jews from Asia, (modern day Turkey,) recognized Paul in the courts of the Temple.
Their response had been to attempt to tear Paul apart, only thwarted by the Roman soldiers who immediately saw what was taking place and rushed to Paul’s rescue.
As Paul was being ushered up the steps of the Antonia Fortress for his own protection, he made a request of the commander of the guard he be allowed to speak. Since the commander desired to know why the Jews wanted to kill Paul, he allowed Paul to address the crowd.
But once Paul uttered the word “Gentiles,” all hope of him continuing was lost, and the commander had no idea why they hated Paul so, and why he was thought worthy of death by the Jews.
Since the commander had discovered Paul was a Roman citizen, he understood according to Roman law Paul could not be held unless a legal charge was brought against him.
And so the first order of business for commander Claudius Lysias was to determine what charge Paul to level against Paul.
He thought if Paul could be brought before the Sanhedrin of the Jews, he may have a better idea of exactly what crime Paul was guilty of.
So the next day he had Paul brought before the Sanhedrin, the very council Paul had been a voting member of prior to his conversion.
Paul, in his brilliance, knew exactly what to say to break this meeting up. He employed the old and obvious tactic of ‘divide and conquer.’ Paul recognized the Sanhedrin that day remained comprised of both Sadducees and Pharisees, as it had been in his day – which by now was 20-25 years ago. (It is possible none of the present members had been members of the Sanhedrin when Paul had been.)
Since Paul knew the Sadducees did not believe in the supernatural realm, angels, spirits, and the afterlife – and the Pharisees, (which Paul had been,) did – Paul knew exactly how to divide the crowd seated before him to judge him. It proved a very successful tactic.
Pastor Bill