Paul came to Jerusalem against his fellow disciple’s advice. In every town he was warned about what awaited him there. In Caesarea the prophet Agabus took his belt tied his hands and feet and said: “this is what will happen to the person who owns this belt.” Compelled by the Spirit. Acts 21:13 For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Paul had been falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple, Beaten and almost killed, rescued and arrested by the romans, double chained. Requested to speak to the people. They listened (TESTIMONY) until he said: GO, I’LL SEND YOU TO THE GENTILES. They-throw off their cloaks and throw dirt into the air, shout he’s not fit to live. Roman orders Paul to be flogged, but Paul is a roman citizen and the roman lets him go. We left him last week standing before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the Jewish congress or parliament. Paul was once a member of.
ACTS 23:1-5 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” 2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!” 4 Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!” 5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.”
Clearly, Paul’s claim of a good conscience offended the high priest. Someone accused of such serious crimes should never claim a clear conscience.
Paul didn’t mean that he was sinless or perfect or that his conscience had never told him he was wrong. What Paul was saying is that he had responded to his conscience when he had done wrong and had set things right as far as fulfilling his duty to God.
Conscience is a part of the human psyche that induces either mental anguish and feelings of guilt when we violate it, or feelings of pleasure and well-being when our actions, thoughts and words conform to our personal value systems.
The Greek word translated “conscience” in all New Testament references means “moral awareness” or “moral consciousness.” So as Christians our conscience reacts when our actions, thoughts, and words conform to, or are contrary to, our understanding of right and wrong as presented in God’s word.
Romans 9:1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—
As Christians, we are to keep our consciences clear by obeying God and keeping our relationship with Him in good standing. We do this by the application of His Word in our lives, offering our bodies as a living sacrifice and renewing our minds continually. We do this by making sure our lives line up with the expectations Jesus has for us.
The world says, “let your conscience be your guide.” But that’s not always a good idea,…because conscience doesn’t set the standard of right and wrong, our conscience only applies the KNOWLEDGE that we’ve received or been taught.
These men of this council were supposed to be an example of the Law of Moses. The command to have Paul struck was in fact contrary to the letter of the law. Deuteronomy 25:1-2 says only a man found guilty can be beaten, and Paul had not yet been found guilty of anything.
That’s why Paul said, ““God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!” because by punching Paul in the face these “Godly men” were in violation of the very law in which they represented.
Whitewashed wall; term applied to a hypocrite who conceals his malice under an outward assumption of piety; a white veneer of purity covering over obvious corruption.
God will strike you: “Paul’s words, here, were more prophetic than I think he realized. Ananias’ final days — because of his corruption— were lived out as a hunted animal and his life ended at the hands of his own people.”
So, Paul gets punched in the mouth, then tells them exactly what they were; but when he found out that he was speaking to the high priest, he apologized. Why? Paul knew that God’s Word said to not speak evil about a leader, and he did; (Exodus 22:28) so, that’s why he apologized.
So, here in this exchange Paul shows us how to keep a clear conscience.
Acts 23:6-10 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.) 9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
The commander had to be certain that these Jews were crazy in their endless and violent disputes. Previously, they rioted over the one word “Gentiles,” now the distinguished men of the council fought over the one word “resurrection.”
Paul is again rescued, taken back to barracks: Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
This is not the first time in the Book of Acts that the Lord appears to Paul to encourage him. Acts 18:9-10 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”
Whenever Paul was struggling or feeling overwhelmed, the Lord Himself stood by him. The Lord promises His presence to comfort us when we’re going through problems.
Near the end of Paul’s life, he wrote these words from prison in 2 Timothy 4:17 “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me…”
The phrase, “take courage”, “to take heart; be of good cheer”, is a command. Remember what God said to Joshua in: Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Jesus spoke the same thing to His disciples when they were distressed and discouraged: John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5 “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU”
George Muller: “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”
The Lord of heaven and earth made a personal visit to Paul to encourage him to keep going. Paul was commended for testifying about the facts of Jesus in Jerusalem and was commissioned by Jesus to do the same in Rome.
These words of comfort, commendation, and commission gave Paul the courage he needed to press on. He would need to remember this because things were about to get dicey for him. (BULLETPROOF)
Final 23-no prayer- no mention, God Jesus HS. Promise kept. ACTS 23:12-35
Paul is outnumbered by his enemies and is about to be assassinated; but Paul’s nephew just happens to be in the right place at the right time and overhears their plan. He goes and tells Paul and Paul sends him to tell the commander the situation. So, In the middle of the night, Paul was transferred to Caesarea and handed over to Governor Felix.
Do you think it was a coincidence that Paul’s nephew was there.
What we see here is an amazing illustration of the doctrine of God’s providence.
Because the truth is: God, with all wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe.
TITLE: CONSCIENCE-COMFORT CONTROL
Isaiah 46:9-11 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.
What appears to some as random chance, is in fact overseen and orchestrated by a omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent sovereign God.
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