God gives Paul great strength as he faces the Sanhedrin. Listen as to how God can help you in the midst of trials and hardships.
To view scriptures and outline used in this sermon click the word "Read More" below
To view scriptures and outline used in this sermon click the word "Read More" below
Acts 22:30-23:10
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.
Acts 23 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.
1. Paul went back to a hard place but it was the right place.
Paul went back to a place where he would be spiritually, mentally and physically tested but he was compelled by the Spirit of God.
13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:13–14, ESV)
As it was, all this prepared Paul for what was ahead and allowed him to demonstrate his courage and conviction to the believers
Acts 23:1-2 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day”. And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
2. How do we respond when we are attacked? (physically, verbally, or other).
The third way of Jesus Christ.
Non-violent and non-aggressive active protest and resistance.
The Greek word translated “resist” in Matt. 5:39 is antistenai, meaning literally to stand (stenai) against (anti).
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand [antistenai] on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm istenai].”
Vs 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!”
3. Pauls uses wisdom and scriptures when responding to physical and verbal attacks.
4. God uses our upbringing, our background and our life lessons to prepare us for His work
5. In our dark times the Lord stands near us
Acts 23:11 But 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.
2 Cor 11:23-28 NLT
23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness”
6. God will not put on our shoulders more than we can bare.
In our weakness He is made strong.
VS 12 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.
7. If God has called us, He will prepare a way and prepare the resources to accomplish what He has called us to do.
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.
Acts 23 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.
1. Paul went back to a hard place but it was the right place.
Paul went back to a place where he would be spiritually, mentally and physically tested but he was compelled by the Spirit of God.
13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:13–14, ESV)
As it was, all this prepared Paul for what was ahead and allowed him to demonstrate his courage and conviction to the believers
Acts 23:1-2 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day”. And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
2. How do we respond when we are attacked? (physically, verbally, or other).
The third way of Jesus Christ.
Non-violent and non-aggressive active protest and resistance.
The Greek word translated “resist” in Matt. 5:39 is antistenai, meaning literally to stand (stenai) against (anti).
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand [antistenai] on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm istenai].”
Vs 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!”
3. Pauls uses wisdom and scriptures when responding to physical and verbal attacks.
4. God uses our upbringing, our background and our life lessons to prepare us for His work
5. In our dark times the Lord stands near us
Acts 23:11 But 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.
2 Cor 11:23-28 NLT
23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness”
6. God will not put on our shoulders more than we can bare.
In our weakness He is made strong.
VS 12 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.
7. If God has called us, He will prepare a way and prepare the resources to accomplish what He has called us to do.