Paul's Defense Before The Sanhedrin: Take Comfort The Lord Has Plans For You

Acts 22:30 “But on the next day, wishing to know for certain why he had been accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Council to assemble, and brought Paul down and set him before them.”

The commander, Claudius Lysias, had wrongly bound Paul after discovering he was a Roman citizen, but he still wanted to find out why the Jews were accusing Paul and seeking his death. Commander Claudius was responsible for maintaining peace in Jerusalem. Therefore, he summoned Paul for release and ordered the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin—a group that served as the judicial authority for the Jews—to gather and bring Paul before them. This was to determine the cause of the disturbance between the Jews and Paul. If the Sanhedrin found that Paul violated some religious law, the Romans would leave it to them, and they could try him. However, if they concluded that Paul committed a civil crime, he would be turned over to the Roman governor to be tried.

Paul begins his defense

Acts 23:1–2“Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth.”

In Paul’s view, he had lived with a clear conscience before God up to that day. This statement by Paul wasn’t a reflection of his past actions as a persecutor of Christians, but rather because of his conversion to Christ, he had done nothing contrary to God’s will, he hadn’t violated any Jewish customs, and had lived as a good citizen before God until then. This was meant to establish his innocence before the chief priests and the Sanhedrin.

But when the high priest Ananias heard what Paul said, he didn’t believe that Paul had a good conscience before God. Instead of refuting his claims, he ordered a soldier to strike Paul on the mouth. The historian Josephus wrote that Ananias was arrogant and quick-tempered, stole tithes meant for common priests, and would beat anyone who tried to resist. He was appointed by Herod Agrippa II and served for twelve years from AD 48 to 59 during the reigns of Emperor Claudius and Nero. He was notorious for his cruelty and harshness, known for collaborating with the Romans—something Jews hated him for—and his severe treatment of others.

Acts 23:3“Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?””

After being struck, Paul tells Ananias that “God is going to strike you.” As it turns out, this was a prophetic statement since Jewish freedom fighters killed Ananias at the outbreak of the Jewish revolt of AD 66–73. Paul also called Ananias a whitewashed wall. This was a strong rebuke, for the whitewashed wall was used in those days to cover dirt and filth, and it was a metaphor for hypocrisy: something that looked impressive on the outside but corrupt on the inside. Jesus used the same metaphor against the Pharisees, Matthew 23:27:“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”

Paul explains Ananias’ hypocrisy, “Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” Ananias tries to portray himself as someone who defends the Jewish law, but by having Paul struck, he violates the Jewish law, which states that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Now some have questioned how Paul could lose his temper, and the answer is that things happen in the heat of the moment. Paul, like all of us, sins and falls short. I appreciate that the Bible doesn’t hide the flaws of the champions of the faith, and we can learn what to do and what not to do.

Acts 23:4–5“But the bystanders said,  “Do you revile God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’

Those who stood nearby were surprised by Paul’s insults toward the high priest. Paul replied that he was not aware that Ananias was the high priest, citing the scripture, "You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people." Some suggest that Paul didn’t recognize the high priest because of poor eyesight (Gal 4:15; 6:11); other commentators claim that Paul, who had been away from Jerusalem on his missionary journeys, didn’t know who the current high priest was. Still, others argue that Paul made a sarcastic remark, implying he didn’t recognize the high priest because he wasn’t acting like one, and by quoting Exodus 22:28, "You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people,” he was expressing respect for the office of the high priest but not for this hypocrite.

Paul’s discernment

Acts 23:6–10“But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.”

Paul understood that he wouldn’t get a fair trial from the Sanhedrin, especially after criticizing the high priest. He also knows that the Sanhedrin was made up of Sadducees and Pharisees, so he decided to create a diversion between the two groups. He draws their attention by crying out to the Sanhedrin, announcing that he is a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees, and that he was on trial because of his belief in the hope and resurrection of the dead. This was a clever move on Paul’s part because it caused dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the Sanhedrin was divided because the Sadducees didn’t believe in resurrection, angels, or spirits, while the Pharisees did. Soon, a great uproar erupts between the two groups, and the Pharisees take Paul’s side, standing up and arguing in his favor. They say they find nothing wrong with him and, in fact, challenge the Sadducees’ disbelief in spirits and angels, asking, “what if a spirit or an angel has spoken to Paul?” As the argument intensifies, the commander fears they will tear Paul to pieces, so he immediately orders the troops to come down, take Paul from them by force, and bring him into the barracks. Paul’s clever diversion works! This occurred because Paul used discernment and was saved from a court trial that wouldn’t have been in his favor. This is a valuable lesson in using discernment when you find yourself in heated arguments while defending your faith or in any chaotic situation.

The Lord’s comfort

Acts 23:11“But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.””

The following night, while Paul was sitting in the barracks, the Lord stood right beside him and told him to take courage. He also let him know that just as he had testified about Him to others in Jerusalem, he must also testify in Rome. Paul had been beaten by an angry mob, threatened with death, thrown into the barracks several times, ordered to face a trial before the Sanhedrin, struck in the face by a high priest, and thrown into the barracks again. But the Lord came to comfort Paul during the darkest time of his life and told him that He still had plans for him—that his goal of reaching Rome with the gospel would be fulfilled. There might be someone listening to me today who is going through the darkest time of your life, and I want you to know that the Lord is standing right by your side to comfort you. He will see you through no matter what you're facing take comfort because the Lord has plans for you.