Post by Lee on May 7, 2015 1:55:58 GMT
(Acts 23.).—The next day all the Council (usually understood to mean the Sanhedrin) was called together. Paul could truthfully affirm that he had lived a conscientious life (as he elsewhere writes, “I know nothing against myself”), as living in the sight of God till that day. This stung the guilty Ananias, the cruel and unjust high priest, and he commanded Paul to be smitten on the mouth. Paul warned Ananias that God would smite him. This took place at the beginning of the war with the Romans. We read in Josephus (Wars of the Jews, Book II., chapter 17., paragraphs 6 and 9) that the Sicarii, of whom we spoke last month, burned down the house of Ananias and the palaces of Agrippa and Bernice, that Ananias fled with the king’s soldiers to the upper palace and shut the gate. Afterwards (apparently two days) he was caught in an aqueduct and slain, together with his brother.
Why did not Paul know he was the high priest? Many explanations are offered, but none quite satisfactory. Some think Paul’s eyes were weak, that he saw the white garments, but could not distinguish the high priest. We are bound to believe when he says, I knew (wist) not. Once more rescued by the Romans, Paul was strengthened by the Lord—he needed it. To one who had once persecuted the brethren, what happiness the Lord’s words must have brought (see Acts 9:5: 22:17, 18; 18:9). We only know of two allusions to Paul’s relatives in the New Testament, his kinsmen (Rom. 16:7, 8), and his sister’s son (verse 16). The forty Jews anathematised themselves in vain—probably they obtained absolution—we do not suppose they starved. Concerning Lysias: Lysias is Greek, Claudius is Roman; he is supposed to have adopted the latter name when he purchased Roman citizenship. Caesarea was 68 miles from Jerusalem by road. He took all the credit and none of the blame.
(1913). The Christadelphian, 50(electronic ed.), 48.
Why did not Paul know he was the high priest? Many explanations are offered, but none quite satisfactory. Some think Paul’s eyes were weak, that he saw the white garments, but could not distinguish the high priest. We are bound to believe when he says, I knew (wist) not. Once more rescued by the Romans, Paul was strengthened by the Lord—he needed it. To one who had once persecuted the brethren, what happiness the Lord’s words must have brought (see Acts 9:5: 22:17, 18; 18:9). We only know of two allusions to Paul’s relatives in the New Testament, his kinsmen (Rom. 16:7, 8), and his sister’s son (verse 16). The forty Jews anathematised themselves in vain—probably they obtained absolution—we do not suppose they starved. Concerning Lysias: Lysias is Greek, Claudius is Roman; he is supposed to have adopted the latter name when he purchased Roman citizenship. Caesarea was 68 miles from Jerusalem by road. He took all the credit and none of the blame.
(1913). The Christadelphian, 50(electronic ed.), 48.