Paul affirms his reverence for the word of God amidst condemning the leader of the Sanhedrin congress.

Acts 23:4-5

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“And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” 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.’” Acts 23:4-5

In the post on Acts 23:1-3, Paul was struck on the mouth for saying, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day…” The leader of the two-party congress of the Sanhedrin ordered him to be struck. The Sanhedrin consisted of the Sadducees and Pharisees. Striking Paul was a violation of Jewish law, so Paul said, “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?”

The members of the Sanhedrin said to Paul, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” The Sadducees and Pharisees were doing whatever they wanted to do, regardless of taking an oath to uphold the laws of the Old Testament. They were spiritually corrupt. This is like the members of the two-party system of the United States Congress who have sworn on the Bible to uphold the Christian values written into the United States Constitution, but they come against those who say they are a whitewashed wall not interested in the values of the Bible at all.

When the members of the Sanhedrin congress questioned Paul’s response to authority, 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.’” How could Paul possibly know that the one who ordered him to be struck, in violation of the law, was the leader of a congress sworn to uphold the law? Likewise, as Christians we do not even recognize the United States Congress as being a place where laws are upheld to defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though they are sworn in with their hand placed on the Bible, Christianity has no rights as the atheistic entity that gives people what to speak, do, think, and feel dominates the population of America. There is nothing more American than living for God through Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The law Paul quoted was, “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.” Exodus 22:28 The Holy Spirit speaks these words to us in this way, “…be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” Titus 3:1-2 Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us to, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Mark 12:17

In today’s atheistic culture, the governing authorities do not tolerate criticism of defendants, especially if it comes in the form of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They do not want to hear about their judgment being skewed because of the lack of the Holy Spirit in their life. Their judgment comes from the atheistic entity that gives them what to do, say, think, and feel. They govern for the collective community values not for the innocence nor justice of individuals who follow the way of Jesus Christ.

Today, anyone who is part of the community culture, living for the entity that gives them what to say, do, think, and feel are made superior to Christians. Any backtalk towards those community members results in negative consequences for the followers of Jesus Christ who live for the testimony of Jesus. The Gospel of Christ is that we are all sinners in need of reconciling to God by the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1