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Paul Before
The Divided Sanhedrin
– Acts Twenty-Three –
Paul was an honest
man who served "in all good conscience before God." (Acts 23:1) He
did the best he knew how to live right and to be an honor to God. His claim to
a good conscience caused Ananias to tell someone to strike him on the mouth. In
Acts 23:3 Paul told the High Priest, "God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to
judge me after the law, and commandest me to be
smitten contrary to the law?" He did not know that this man was High Priest.
He certainly was not acting like a High Priest should act. Paul would never
have spoken to Ananias as he did if he had known he was High Priest. Paul knew
that the law of God requires respect for authority. (Exodus 22:28, Ecclesiastes
10:20)
The Sanhedrin was
divided. Some members of the court were Sadducees and others were Pharisees.
Paul said that he was being judged "concerning the hope and resurrection
of the dead." The Sadducees had
neither hope nor dread of the future. "For the Sadducees say that there is
no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess
both." (Acts 23:8)
About forty Jews
bound themselves under an oath that they would neither eat
nor drink until they had killed Paul. They would ask the chief priest
and elders to bring him down that they might ambush him and kill him. Paul's
nephew heard of their wicked plot and told Paul. He sent him to tell the
commander about their plan. The commander sent Paul to
Paul's
defense before the Sanhedrin – Acts 23:1-5: Paul appeared before the
Sanhedrin to try to resolve the charge of profaning the
The High Priest
commanded the people to strike Paul in the mouth. They were gathered to learn
the truth, but sadly the High Priest had no interest in truth. Paul called
Ananias a "whitewashed wall." He was beautiful on the outside and
rotten on the inside. He pretended to be religious, but it did not show in his
life. Paul could not tell by his actions that Ananias was High Priest. Paul had
too much respect for God to knowingly speak against His authority!
Paul
was assured that he would go to
This must have been
a discouraging time for Paul. But, "the night following the Lord stood by
him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in
The
Jews conspired to kill Paul – Acts 23:12-24: There was so much hatred
toward Paul that more than forty Jewish men vowed that they would not eat nor
drink until they had killed
him. They even asked the chief priest and other to join them in
their godless plot. They wanted then to request the commander to bring Paul
down that they might kill him from ambush.
Paul's nephew
somehow heard about the plot. He told Paul who then asked an officer to take
him to the commander. He told the commander that some men would ask him to
bring Paul before the Jewish council tomorrow. They would pretend to desire to
question Paul more. However, more than forty men were going to attack Paul.
They had made a vow not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him.
The commander charged the young man not to tell anyone what he had told him. If
they knew that their plot had been made known they might have devised a new
scheme before Paul could be spared.
At about
Claudius
Lysias's letter to Felix -- Acts 23:25-35:
Claudius Lysias wrote a letter in which he sent
greetings to Felix and somewhat explained Paul's situation. He explained how
that Paul was taken by the Jews in the temple, dragged out and beaten by them.
He said he saved Paul's life when he found out he was a Roman. But he did not
know that until he had bound him with two chains, and ordered him to be
examined by scourging. He made it seem that it was his great concern for a
Roman citizen that caused him to take such care.
Claudius Lysias said that he wanted to find out what the Jews had
against Paul. He explained how that he brought him before their council and learned
that the charges concern only religious laws. He said Paul was not guilty of
anything for which he should die or even be put in prison. He explained about
the plot against Paul's life and how that he had quickly sent Paul and his
accusers to Felix's court. Felix promised to hear Paul's case when his accusers
came. Felix desired to hear both sides of the matter before he passed his
judgment, even though the chief captain's letter had said that Paul was
innocent. Paul was kept in Herod’s judgment hall. This provided an open door
for much work in the kingdom.
To become a
Christian you must hear the gospel (Romans
- - - -
Charles Box
News
& Notes
1. Prayer List: In Need Of Prayers:
Joan Barr (test), Nikki Bennett, Dannie Box, Janice Box, Gary Bozeman
(surgery), Emily Cain, Paul Cottrell (grandfather of Donna Owens), Roy Goodwin,
Ramona Gravely, Ron Green, Montine Hardin, Betty Ann
Harrell, Evan Hartsell, Abbie,
Austin, and Andrew Herring, Ann Jackson, Frank Johnson, Mary Lawrence, Joyce
Massey, Mary Powell, Meg Sellers (mother of Stacie Davis), Roger Strange, Doris
Taylor, Winston Temple, Mary Lou Terrell (test), Corrine Till (following
surgery), Gladys Warren, and Austin Wright. Crowne
Health Care: Laura Ellis, Kathy Johnson, Myrtle Perdue, Bertha Phelps,
and Iva Lou Wright.
2. Please Pray For:
(a) Alan Jackson as he serves in
3. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and
sympathy is expressed to: (a) Kimberly Hittell and
her family in the death of her grandfather, Jimmy Luckie.
Mr. Luckie is also the cousin of LeRoy
Boutwell. (b) The family of Brother Ed Bargainer.
4. Birthdays: Celebrating birthdays
this week are: October 4th Brenda Herring, October 5th Virginia
Lowery, and October 7th Kathy Bozeman and McArthur Taylor.
5. Secret Pal Program: Ladies
participating in the Secret Pal Program will meet at Nell Daughtry
on October 1st at
6. Youth Activities: (a) The Walnut Street Church of Christ
will host the Area Wide Youth Devo on October 8th.
Please bring finger foods. See Darrell for what you can do to help. (b) October 6-8 – “Final Fall Fling” at
Backwoods Christian Camp. Cost $30.00 plus $5.00 canteen. See Darrell for
details.
7. Organized Visitation: An organized visitation
program meets on Tuesday nights at
8. Triplets New Home: All three of the
Herring triplets are now home and doing well. Remember the food list and also
keep filling the box in the foyer with needed supplies. The item for this week
is baby wipes.
9. Young Adult Fellowship: Thanks to
Thomas & Pam Till for hosting our young adult fellowship. Your new house is
beautiful!
10. Thank You: Dear Church Family, I
have been truly blessed to be loved and cared for by so many of you. Thank you
for all the food, calls, cards, and especially your prayers on my behalf. I
love you all! Betty Ann Harrell
11. Ladies Bible Class: All ladies are
invited and encouraged to attend Ladies Bible Class which meets Wednesday
morning at
12. Tablecloths Needed: If anyone can
help with the money to purchase tablecloths for the fellowship hall, please see
Margaret Phillips or Barbara Walker.
13. Kitchen Sign Out Sheet:
There is a sign out sheet in the kitchen for all kitchen and all-purpose room
items. Please help us keep up with things.
14. Area Events: (a) October 1-3 – Fall Revival – North Lowndes Church of Christ –
David Phillips – weeknights at
Where
Will You Be When the World Stops Turning?
As it did with the majority of Americans, this past September 11th
took my mind back to the events of 2001. The following dates back to the time
directly after that day:
Jamie, and I were riding in the car together when Allan
Jackson’s song, Where Were you When the
World Stopped Turning, began to play. Of Course, this song refers to the
September 11th attacks, and how the world seemed to stop turning in a
sense. I commented that I really liked the song, and that it seemed so true. But
Jamie said, “But the world didn’t stop turning.” She continued to explain that
no matter what evil man decides to commit, the world continues to turn, and
God’s plan for mankind is unaffected. Having been enlightened, I began to think about a day when the world will stop turning.
We
have been given the Bible. The Bible is the written, inspired word of God. (II
Timothy 3:16.) By the words written in the inspired word of God, we will be
judged. (John 12:48.) Therefore, it is
imperative that every man obeys what the Bible says. Jesus said that some people
who thought they were being obedient will be lost. (Matthew 7:21-23.) But, if
you are sincerely searching for the truth,
then you should not be afraid, for Jesus also said, “You will know the truth
and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32.) So we must carefully study the
word, and honestly obey it to the best of our ability.
We
must know and obey the word of God because there will be a day of judgment. In
that day, Jesus will come and divide all men as a shepherd divides the sheep
from the goats. (Matthew 25:32.) To the
sheep on His right He will say, “Come…inherit the kingdom prepared for you,”
and to the goats on His left He will declare, “Depart from me…into everlasting
fire. (Matthew 25:34,
41.) It is only upon this judgment that the world will stop turning once
and for all. (II Peter 3:10.) So ask yourself this one question today… “Where
will you be when the world stops turning?”
-
- - - Darrell
Powell
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Been taken for granted? Imagine how God feels.
Don’t just own a Bible;
read it!
(334-382-3001)