Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 22
Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”
2 Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. 3 But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”
4 Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”
5 “I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’”
Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”
2 Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. 3 But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”
4 Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”
5 “I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’”
Commentary:
23:3 Paul, like Jesus, used the metaphor of whitewash for hypocrisy (see Matt. 23:27). Ananias was a particularly bad high priest. For the illegality of Ananias’s action, see Lev. 19:15.
23:5 It is quite possible that Paul did not know the high priest, since he had been absent from Jerusalem for many years. Other options for understanding this verse include appeals to poor eyesight for Paul, or that he did not realize the act came at the high priest’s command.
23:5 It is quite possible that Paul did not know the high priest, since he had been absent from Jerusalem for many years. Other options for understanding this verse include appeals to poor eyesight for Paul, or that he did not realize the act came at the high priest’s command.
Questions:
- In Acts 22, Paul finds himself before the Jewish high counsel. Paul calls the high priest a "whitewashed wall," which is similar to Jesus' criticism of the Pharisees when he referred to them as "whitewashed tombs." What Paul means by this is that they look good on the outside, but they are dead and weak on the inside. The whitewashed wall suggests a feeble and unstable wall in weak condition that has a fresh coat of paint. Although someone might appear religious, there is no depth to them. They are good at keeping up appearances and doing all the right religious things, but really there is no evidence from the fruit of their lives that Jesus has their heart. Have you ever known Christians that could be described in this way? Could this have described you at any point in your life?
- Sometimes, like these religious leaders, we can pretend like we have it all together. We go to church and smile and pretend that everything in our life is perfect when we might be struggling on the inside. What are the dangers of living this kind of double life? What are the benefits of living life honestly in community with other believers? Is this something you have in your life?
Pray:
- That God's work in your life would be evident to everyone around you.
- That He would help you build a community of Jesus followers that will help you grow.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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