30 The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them. 1 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. 3 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.’ ” 6 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 For 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.
Commentary (22:30-23-10)
The commander then having relented of his early decision to have Paul examined under scourging, but still not knowing why Paul’s own countrymen were so enraged at him, kept Paul bound till the next day until he could have the Jews chief priests and Sanhedrin council come and question Paul in his presence, so he could ascertain whether there were any charges that were to be laid against Paul. The next day then the commander brought Paul released of his bonds and set him before them so that Paul could make his defense (vs. 30). The Apostle Paul then to begin makes his defense by earnestly looking at all the chief priests and council members and declaring that he has lived his life in all good conscience before God. That is, he has always sought to live his life in accordance with all of the commandments of God (vs. 1). Now as soon as Paul made that declaration the high priest became enraged and commanded one of the Sanhedrin council’s security personal to strike him on the mouth (vs. 2). For they had already rejected the Testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, because he didn’t follow their doctrines and commandments of men, and so with great animosity and hatred they plotted His Crucifixion death to end His influence amongst the Jewish people. Therefore, how much more would they now hate those who were following Him and perpetuating His Name and doctrine amongst them, especially someone who used to be one of their own. For in their eyes to follow the Lord Jesus Christ meant one was no longer following them, and thus God. Now when the high priest commanded the Apostle Paul to be struck like that Paul immediately retorted back, “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?” (vs. 3) For Paul was a Pharisee, and Paul knew the Law, that when one sits in judgment of another one does assume another’s guilt, as the high priest had done in having Paul stricken like that. And so that infuriated Paul, since he was being most sincere in making his statement, while they were only manifesting the heights of injustice in seeking to condemn him, and not for crimes or wrong doing against God or man, but simply for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now when Paul said that those who stood by him said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” Vs. 4 To which Paul replied, “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.’ ” (vs. 5).
Now for whatever reasons Paul did not immediately recognize the high priest when he was struck and said that, and so in apologizing, Paul quotes (Exodus 22:28). Thus, showing himself as still being reverent towards God’s law and those who occupy the seats of authority and power within it. Now as the council once again began to settle down, Paul perceived that one part of the council were Sadducees and the other Pharisees he cried out in the council, saying, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” (vs. 6) Now by saying as much Paul knew he would immediately divide them. For the Sadducees denied the resurrection from the dead (even scoffed at the notion of it) but the Pharisees rightly held to it as a core of their beliefs. And so, by declaring himself a Pharisee who was only being tried for his belief in the resurrection of the dead, (which Jesus Himself taught and proved exists), the Apostle Paul knew the council would become divided. Because though both groups sat in the council for judgments from the Law, both groups held fundamentally different beliefs regarding this, and this was always a heated point of contention amongst them, especially since the Sadducees controlled the high priesthood and most of the Sanhedrin. Therefore, when Paul said this a dissension immediately arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. 8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. (vs. 7-8). So, heated then became the dissent amongst the council members that the Pharisees themselves now thinking that Paul was being tried for his being a Pharisee and holding to this, now arise from their seats and greatly protest Paul’s trial 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.” (vs. 9). Now when that occurred the council became so heated, so raucously divided, that the commander who was there observing these things, fearing lest Paul be pulled apart by them, now commands his soldiers to go and take Paul by force from amongst them and bring him into their barracks, thus ending the proceedings (vs. 10).
Scripture Quotations
New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.
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