.jpg)
THE RESURRECTION ON TRIAL (9 OF 9)
by Marion Clark
Scripture: Acts 23:1-19, Acts 23:21-23
This content is part of a series.
The Resurrection on Trial (9 of 9)
Series: Acts
Marion Clark
Acts 23:1-10; 24:10-21
Introduction: Have you ever been on trial? Have you ever appeared before a jury or judge having to give a defense of an accusation made against you? That is what lawyers are for-to give your defense. I would think it more unnerving to appear before a government panel in which I must speak and every word that I say will be scrutinized; even more unnerving to know that most of the questioners have already determined me guilty.
Jesus anticipated that his disciples would be placed in such a position, and so he encouraged them: ''And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say'' (Luke 12:11-12).
Paul will stand trial twice in our passages. Let's see what the Holy Spirit taught him to say in his hour of trial.
Text
Paul is appearing before the Sanhedrin, the highest judicial council of the Jews. It numbered seventy members with the high priest serving as president. It was mostly composed of top-level priests and lay elders of the Sadducee party. The Sadducees formed the aristocracy of Jewish society and had learned to work with the Roman occupation. They held the reigns of Jewish power politically and religious-wise. You could compare them with the corrupt papal and priestly powers in the period leading up to the Reformation. Power, wealth-these were the treasures hoarded by the Sadducean priests. And no priest was more arrogant in his position than this particular high priest, Ananias.
And looking intently at the council, Paul said, ''Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to 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 is going to strike you, you whitewashed wa ...
Series: Acts
Marion Clark
Acts 23:1-10; 24:10-21
Introduction: Have you ever been on trial? Have you ever appeared before a jury or judge having to give a defense of an accusation made against you? That is what lawyers are for-to give your defense. I would think it more unnerving to appear before a government panel in which I must speak and every word that I say will be scrutinized; even more unnerving to know that most of the questioners have already determined me guilty.
Jesus anticipated that his disciples would be placed in such a position, and so he encouraged them: ''And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say'' (Luke 12:11-12).
Paul will stand trial twice in our passages. Let's see what the Holy Spirit taught him to say in his hour of trial.
Text
Paul is appearing before the Sanhedrin, the highest judicial council of the Jews. It numbered seventy members with the high priest serving as president. It was mostly composed of top-level priests and lay elders of the Sadducee party. The Sadducees formed the aristocracy of Jewish society and had learned to work with the Roman occupation. They held the reigns of Jewish power politically and religious-wise. You could compare them with the corrupt papal and priestly powers in the period leading up to the Reformation. Power, wealth-these were the treasures hoarded by the Sadducean priests. And no priest was more arrogant in his position than this particular high priest, Ananias.
And looking intently at the council, Paul said, ''Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to 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 is going to strike you, you whitewashed wa ...
There are 16504 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
