A Study of the Book of Acts
Sermon # 38
“Take Courage”
Acts 23: 1-35
by Dr. John R. Hamby
Let me set the stage the year is 57 A.D. and Paul is at the end of his third missionary journey. He has gone through the churches collecting relief funds for the church at Jerusalem which he intended to deliver himself. When he arrived he met with James and the elders of the church at Jerusalem and then went on to the temple in order to demonstrate that he was not against the Jews and the law.
Paul had been worshipping in the temple, when he was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile inside the temple (21:27-29). A riot followed (21:30-31) on which the angry crowd intent to kill him and they would have killed him on the spot had he not been rescued by the Roman soldiers who were garrisoned in the tower of Antonio which overlooked the temple grounds.
The captain of the Roman guard broke up the riot, and bound Paul with chains (21: 34). Paul asked the captain for an opportunity to speak up (21: 39-40). Paul then gave his personal testimony (22:1-15). When we left off last time in Acts 22, the Apostle Paul had testified before those gathered in the Temple, they again became enraged and attempted to kill him. The Romans now intended to interrogate Paul (interrogation was by scourging) until that is they discovered that he was a Roman citizen (22:24-29).
Finally the officer in charge decides to have Paul’s case decided by the Sanhedrin, but unfortunately every time Paul comes into the presence of these Jews, it like putting steel to a grinder sparks begin to fly. It will be no different this time for we read in verse one, “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." (2) And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.”
Paul made a bold statement when he said he had lived with a clean conscience, a comment which enraged the high priest. He ordered that Paul be slapped in the mouth for his impudence and impertinence. That was an unusually degrading form of insult to an Israelite. And in fact we Gentiles don’t like it very much either. To strike an unconvicted person was illegal, as both Paul and the high priest knew.
Apparently, however, Ananias, the high priest is not acting out of character. This man had already attained a reputation as a violent and untrustworthy man. A man who was easily bribed and who often confiscated for himself the tithes given to support the Temple.
While Ananias was acting as we would expect a lost man to act, Paul seemingly loses his temper and apparently acts out of character, by rebuking the chief priest. Verse three says,
“Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?" (4) And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God’s high priest?" (5) Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, "You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people."’
Paul’s anger flashes out as he replies. His is a very caustic remark in which he says, “God will strike you, you barefaced hypocrite.”
We know this act was out of character because once Paul was informed that the man to whom he has spoken was the high priest he immediately apologizes. Citing Exodus 22:28, Paul acknowledges that it is wrong to speak evil of the ruler of the people. Paul is acknowledging his submission to the very law that he was so wrongly accused of flaunting and disregarding.
I would like to point out something that certainly has application for today, Paul is apologizing to the position of high priest not to Ananias, the man. The position is to be respected even when the man holding it cannot!
The question for us this evening is, “How could Paul speak this way to the high priest?” Paul acknowledged that he was wrong in doing so, but claimed that he did it out of ignorance saying, “I did not know that he was the high priest.”
We cannot know conclusively why Paul did not recognize the high priest. But there are several possible reasons, (1) Paul had not been in Jerusalem in some time, why would he know what the high priest looked like. There were no newspaper or magazine to splash his photo around. (2) Because this seems to be a hastily called meeting, it may have been that the high priest was not dressed in his high priestly garments. (3) It is alleged my some that Paul has remarkable poor eyesight and thus did not know who he was talking too. (4) It may well be that Paul knew who Ananias was, and thus his reputation, but did not know that he was now the high priest.
Paul continued to present his case to the Sanhedrin in verse six, “But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"(7) And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. (8) Sadducees say that there is no resurrection--and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. (9) Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, "We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God." (10) Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.”
After the events of the last two days in Paul’s life it is not difficult to understand that Paul may have felt dejected and discouraged. Now Paul is back in a cell – utterly humiliated, defeated and all of his dreams of being a testimony to the Jews in ashes around his feet. It also seems that no help could be expected from the church at Jerusalem. But God in his grace did not leave Paul on his own in verse 11, Luke tells that, “…. the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
Christ greeted Paul with one word (through it is translated in English as two). Literally, what the Lord Jesus said when he appeared to him was, “Be of good cheer. Cheer up Paul.”
“Only Christ uses this word in the New Testament and all five instances brought wonderful comfort. He called to the bedridden paralytic, “take heart (courage) son; your sins are forgiven (Matt 9:1-8 ) To the woman with the twelve year hemorrhage he said “Take heart (courage), daughter, your faith has healed you (Matt 9:22). To his frightened disciples as he walked to them across the water he said. “Take courage, It is I. Do not be afraid” (Matt. 14:27). In the Upper Room on the night of his betrayal he said, “Take heart (courage_ I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). This is Christ unique word for all who are trying to serve Him, however feebly.” [R. Kent Hughes. Acts: The Church Afire. (Wheaton: Illinois: Crossway Books, 1996) pp. 305-306.]
In fact the Lord has shown up previously when Paul was in a period of hardship and discouragement. While he was at Corinth the Lord appeared to him (Acts 18:9-11) and said, “..Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not kept silent; (10) for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”
Now the Lord also promised Paul that his ministry was not over, “for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." God had a job for Paul to do and no one or no thing is could stop God’s plans. These words greatly encouraged Paul, so much so that he never again wavered again in spite of all the perils that are yet to come in his life. The Lord’s promise that he had more ministry to do, helped Paul to keep on faithfully serving Him.
According to verses 12-15 some forty men banded together vowing not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
“And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. (13) Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. (14) They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. (15) Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near."
According to verse sixteen God intervened in Paul’s behalf by taking a previously unidentified nephew and placing in just the right place at the right time to overhear the details of this murderous plot. “So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. (17) Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him." (18) So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you." (19) Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?" (20) And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. (21) But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you." (22) So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, "Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me."
The Roman commander see that can be no further doubt that Paul cannot remain in Jerusalem. He therefore, according to verse twenty-three makes preparation to sent him to Caesarea. “And he called for two centurions, saying, "Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; (24) and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor."
The commander had committed two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, four hundred seventy armed men to protected one Christian. In so doing he committed nearly one half of the strength of the garrison in Jerusalem to guarantee Paul’s safety in case the conspirators learn of Paul’s transfer to Caesarea.
The Roman commander also sent along with Paul a letter attempting to explain or at least put as favorable a light on the situation as possible. Verse 26, “Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. (27) This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. (28) And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. (29) I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. (30) And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell. (31) Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. (32) The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. (33) When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. (34) And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, (35) He said, "I will hear you when your accusers also have come." And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.”
Principles for Application
Although we have the promise that Christ is always with us and that he never forsakes us there are those moments when we feel as if the Lord is literally standing beside us to encourage us. It is then that he is whispering in our ears, “Don’t Stop, Don’t Quit, Don’t Give Up.”
From tonight’s passage I want to point out four abiding principles.
1. Even the most faithful and spiritual servants of God can suffer from discouragement and despair.
2. Encouragement is often being reminded of truth we already know.
3. Encouragement is not based on personal success, but rather of personal faithfulness.
4. There is encouragement in know that God has a task to be accomplished and that we are to be used in fulfilling it.
