Turning The World Upside Down: Don't Give Up! Acts 22:30-23:35

I. Paul’s Error: 22:30-23:10

A. How many of us, can truly say that we have lived with a perfectly good conscience as Paul did? Not many. We should be living in such a way, that we have no regrets.

B. In the law it was illegal to strike another Israelite. Ananias was a thug. He ruled more like the head of a mafia family, than a high priest.

C. Paul angrily lashes out at Ananias, but corrects himself immediately. Paul had been beaten badly. His eyes were probably blackened and perhaps swollen shut, or barely opened. Hence why he didn’t recognize Ananias.

D. Paul plays the 2 sides against one another. Paul would regret this because he didn’t trust God to protect him, and he missed the perfect opportunity to witness to his countrymen, and he didn’t do it. Acts 24:20-21

Acts 24:20–21 NASB95

“Or else let these men themselves tell what misdeed they found when I stood before the Council, other than for this one statement which I shouted out while standing among them, ‘For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today.’ ”

II. Paul’s Encouragement vs. 11

A. Paul was hurting physically from the beating he had taken the day before, and tonight he was beating himself up mentally and spiritually.

B. Jesus stands by us, and encourages us. Isa. 43:1-2

Isaiah 43:1–2 NASB95

But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

C. Jesus encourages us when we need it the most, and that word from God can be what carries us through our darkest days and change our life.

III. Paul’s Escape vs. 12-35

A. God miraculously comes through.

B. I wonder what ever happened to those would be assassins. Did they starve to death? Or did they live their lives like failures?

C. Paul’s nephew was probably a preteen or teenager. A little child couldn’t have spoken that well.

D. Paul starts on the first leg of his journey to Rome, under the cover of night, and by a guarded escort.