Strength Through Weakness

Strength Through Weakness

Intro:

When is the last time you found yourself in a situation where you thought: How can I be useful here?

We doubt ourselves often because of our weaknesses.

We try to hide our weaknesses.

To overcome these weaknesses, we naturally think in terms of our capabilities and resources so we can portray our strengths, and so others won’t see our weaknesses.

God accomplishes His will and is glorified through our times of weakness.

Main Idea: He is with us and for us as we do His will

Acts 22:22–23:11 ESV

Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” And as they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him. But on the next day, desiring to know the real reason why he was being accused by the Jews, he unbound him and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them. And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?” Those who stood by said, “Would you revile God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ” Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

1. Intolerance and Injustice (V.22-24)

Paul has just been accused of teaching against Jewish customs and breaking Jewish Law by bringing a Gentile into the wrong court of the Temple. We know Paul’s background as a Pharisee and we walked through his teaching a couple weeks ago regarding these things, so we know thsee to be false accusations.

At the beginning of Acts 22, Paul begins his defense to the crowd in Hebrew, drawing their attention and temporarily quieting their uproar. What did Paul say in his defense

I am a Jew, raised and educated in the Law, and are zealous for God.

I used to persecute what I now teach, to imprisonment and death.

Paul recounts his encounter with Jesus and his conversion story.

While in Jerusalem, Paul’s life is threatened.

The Lord says He will send Paul to the Gentiles (V.21)

How does the crowd respond?

Until verse 22, everything was fine. They were listening and engaged until Paul claimed God himself sent him to the Gentiles. This provoked an angered, intolerant response.

Such claims were largely unacceptable in Judaism! After all, there was something special about Israel, right???

Application:

Just like this crowd was intolerant, unaccepting of the fact that God sent Paul to the Gentiles, the world has always been and will always be opposed to the truth of the gospel. The world is hostile towards God.

Jesus speaking with Nicodemus

John 3:19–20 ESV

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

In our nature, we all hate God. The scriptures are foolishness to them just like these use to be foolishness to us.

Their response to truth was not shocking to Paul, for the Spirit had warned Paul what awaited him (Acts 20:22-24). We also should not be surprised at rejection.

The crowds claim Paul has no right to live for such a statement. The crowd is again hostile, and Paul is removed by the tribune to be examined by flogging to find out why the crowds are so enraged.

What is flogging?

Cruel punishment that consisted of a beating across the raw flesh with leather straps that included pieces of bone or metal. Not uncommon for a person to die from this

This was a much more severe manner of beating than that of the rods which Paul and Silas underwent at Philippi (Acts 16:22, 37).

Paul was condemned to be flogged by the Romans and has not even been given the opportunity to address the accusations of the Jews the resulted in his beating.

Application

Paul is physically weakened, but the Lord’s ability to accomplish His will through Paul has never faltered.

The Lord has directed Paul each step of the way since His conversion. He has always been faithful to His Word and His promises. Paul has no reason to doubt the Lord now.

Does discomfort or struggle in our attempts to make much of Christ in an intolerant world cause us to throw in the towel? Or do we press on knowing our great God is in no way limited by us in accomplishing His will?

Knowing injustice will come our way as well, how will we respond? With praise?

2. Paul’s Appeal to Law (V.25-29)

Paul was already beaten down by the crowd, and then heads to be examined by the tribune’s soldiers. Right before his flogging begins, Paul asks the Roman centurion standing close by: Is this lawful?

Acts 22:25 (ESV)

But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”

This stops everyone. Surely this cannot be true! The centurion knows the danger of breaking Roman law, so he goes to the tribune to deliver the news. the tribune comes to investigate Paul’s claims.

The tribune had bought his way into Roman citizenship for a large sum of money, but he find out that Paul is citizen by birth (V.28). The background of Paul’s citizenship is not fully known, but it proves to be significant for what happened next in this narrative.

Why is this a big deal?

Paul knew that it was illegal to flog a Roman citizen prior to allowing him a formal trial or sentencing. This was not the first time this occurred to Paul!

Paul and Silas beat and imprisoned in Philippi

Acts 16:22–23 (ESV)

The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.

Acts 16:36–37 (ESV)

And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”

The tribune became fearful just like the magistrates from Acts 16 because he had detained and condemned Paul unlawfully. Not only that, he still does not have his answer of who Paul is and why the Jews were so angry with him.

Application

Paul expected the governing authority to exercise its authority rightly. What happened to Paul was unjust according to Roman law and Paul calls them on it. Paul is abiding by the Roman law, not subverting it in some way.

Paul teaches in Romans 13 for believers to submit to governing authorities as God has placed them in those roles to administer justice.

Exalting Christ in Acts, Commentary

“This suggests there’s a difference between humbly suffering for Christ and being a victim of injustice. We live in a land of laws, and if the laws protect us, then we should appeal to them. If these laws prevent us from following Jesus, then it’s better to obey God than man (Acts 5:29).”

3. Quick to Speak (V.22:30 - 23:5)

The tribune was still trying to figure out why Paul was being accused by the Jews, so he assembled the chief priests and the entire council (Sanhedrin). Paul was unbound and brought before them.

Who were the Sanhedrin?

The ruling body in Jerusalem, somewhat like a Supreme Court.

Included primarily the Chief Priests (Sadducees) which controlled operations in the temple and a smaller number of scribes (Pharisees) which were the “experts” the Law and tradition.

Paul opens his address with “My brothers”, which was a very respectful, formal address to his Jewish brothers. Paul then looks directly at the council and finally gets to continue his defense that began with the Jews prior to his “almost” flogging. Paul opens with:

Acts 23:1 ESV

And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

Paul claimed a clear conscience in his ministry up to that day, which primarily was to the Gentiles! Paul is defending his character and his actions as upright. He is also NOT claiming perfection, nor did he when making similar comments regarding his conscience in other letters.

Paul speaking to the Ministry of the Apostles

1 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

Paul before Felix at Caesarea

Acts 24:16 ESV

So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

Exalting Jesus in Acts

“In what he said, Paul didn’t mean that he was sinless but that he lived above reproach and that he had done nothing to provoke the riot (see Acts 25:8). This claim sounded absurd to Ananias so he lost his temper”

Just like this angered the crowds, this angers the High Priest.

The High Priest (Ananias) ordered Paul to be struck on the mouth. This was unlawful and unacceptable! The very people seeking to judge Paul and his teachings against Jewish customs and the Law order Paul struck for such a comment in verse 1. What hypocrisy!

Moses speaks to the people of Israel

Leviticus 19:15 ESV

“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.

Following this outrage, Paul is Quick to Speak back to the council and to the High Priest. He is irate at how could the priest violate the Law while sitting as judge over one who supposedly had transgressed the Law!

Jewish Law safeguarded the rights of defendents and presumed them innocent until proven guilty.

Paul pronounces future judgement on the one (Ananias, the High Priest) calling him a “whitewashed wall”.

What did Paul mean by this?

Paul spoke quickly an insult in passion and emotion. Jesus’ words to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 shed some light on this meaning here.

Matthew 23:27 (ESV)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

Paul meant: you present yourselves well, but within your heart you are corrupt and hypocrites of the Law you so cling to.

Application:

Was Paul correct in what He said? Certainly! We must speak out against injustice, but we must do so with respect and restraint.

Someone I know and love dearly often takes the approach of “If I am right in the situation, it does not matter how I am speaking to people.”

Paul was correct in his assessment of the hypocrisy, but was out of line in the manner of his response.

Be Hearers AND Doers of the Word

James 1:19–22 ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Paul knew this! Paul was mentally weak here in the manner in which he responded.

Speak truth in love. Praise God our Lord is gracious with us as He was with Paul before the council.

Following Paul being corrected in verse 4 that he was speaking to the High Preist, he responds that he did not know Ananias was the high priest. But Paul know the law from Exodus 22 and cites in here.

Exodus 22:28 ESV

“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

There are many speculations to why Paul did not recognize Ananias as the High Priest. Seeing Paul’s response in verse 5, in is unlikely Paul responded in this manner to the office of the High Priest purposefully.

Some say this was not a formal meeting, but called by the tribune so Ananias may not have been in official attire.

Some say the meeting was chaotic, and Paul did not know where the comment came from.

Some claim Paul’s eyesight was poor.

some claim Paul did not know Ananias as the High Priest.

Paul’s weaknesses are showing, but the Lord is still at work through him before this council. Amen!

Paul admits his wrongs immediately. May that be true of us as well!

4. Council Division (V.6-10)

Paul sees that the council was made up of both the Sadducees (being the chief priests) and the Pharisees (being the scribes and lawyers).

Who were these two groups?

Chief Priests

They were the temple hierarchy made up of mostly Sadducees, which were known for their denial of things supernatural like the resurrection of the dead (Matthew 22:23) and the existence of angels (Acts 23:8). The accepted only the Pentateuch (Gen - Duet) as authoritative and rejected human tradition and legalism. Political in nature and compromising. Very little in common with the Pharisees.

Scribes

Mostly made up of the Pharisees, experts in the Law and traditions. Authorities on Jewish law and professional scholars in application of the law. Legalistic and ritualistic in nature. Believed fully in the resurrection and angels.

Seeing this, Paul finally declares the reason he is on trial in verse 6.

Acts 23:6 (ESV)

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”

The hope of salvation through Christ and belief in the resurrection.

In speaking to the angry mob in Acts 22, they were calm until Paul says the Lord appeared to him (Christ is alive) and sent him to the Gentiles.

Why does the resurrection matter?

Everything about the Christian faith stands or falls based on the resurrection of Jesus.

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Paul makes a similar statement.

1 Corinthians 15:16–19 (ESV)

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Paul’s statement of truth creates such division among the council, and the Pharisees actually come to Paul’s defense. The dissension becomes violent!

Paul is rescued from the council by the Romans and brought back to the barracks.

5. Much Needed Encouragement (V.11)

Paul definitely physically weak and likely emotionally weak as well. He is a prisoner because of the truth he is constantly speaking about Christ. He could be thinking: Is this the end? Am I ever going to make it to Rome? To Spain?

Paul is in need of encouragement, and our Lord provides.

Acts 23:11 ESV

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

In Paul’s ministry, our Lord visited him 5 times and all were in times of crisis.

TAKE COURAGE

Be encouraged! Jesus brings comfort to Paul in his time of discouragement and weakness. Let’s not forget Paul was human just like us! Paul spoke of such encouragement to the church at Corinth.

The God of All Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3–7 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Paul Speaking of His Joy

2 Corinthians 7:4–7 (ESV)

I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

Our Lord provides Paul with the encouragement he needs and the assurance he desired of is coming time in Rome.

Application

Do you feel weak today? Physically, spiritually, or emotionally.

Our Lord is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He desires to comfort you and sanctify you through your afflictions and through your weakness in order to bring you into greater love for him and for His Glory.

2 Corinthians 4:7–11 (ESV)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Amidst our weaknesses as believers in the life, we have a Great High priest who loves His people and will accomplish his Will through them. When we are weak, He is strong. He is with us and for us, till the end of the age.

Hebrews 4:15–16 ESV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.