Acts 23
Devotional:
“I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’” (Acts 23:5)
When the high priest Ananias commanded Paul to be struck, Paul angrily stated that Ananias would be struck by God and then called him a whitewashed tomb. Both men were guilty of violating Jewish law, as Ananias should have not commanded for his fellow Jew to be struck and Paul should not have spoken evil of the Jewish leader. Paul immediately said he was wrong but we never see that from Ananias. In fact, Paul’s words came true as Ananias, who often sided with the Romans, was killed by his own people at the start of the first Jewish-Roman War; it was God, not Paul, who would be the one to judge him. Respecting the government authority is a biblical mandate to Christians (Romans 13:1-7). How prepared are we to respect this in the face of unjust persecution, giving all glory to God and His Word and entrusting Him as the ultimate authority over this world?
“I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’” (Acts 23:5)
When the high priest Ananias commanded Paul to be struck, Paul angrily stated that Ananias would be struck by God and then called him a whitewashed tomb. Both men were guilty of violating Jewish law, as Ananias should have not commanded for his fellow Jew to be struck and Paul should not have spoken evil of the Jewish leader. Paul immediately said he was wrong but we never see that from Ananias. In fact, Paul’s words came true as Ananias, who often sided with the Romans, was killed by his own people at the start of the first Jewish-Roman War; it was God, not Paul, who would be the one to judge him. Respecting the government authority is a biblical mandate to Christians (Romans 13:1-7). How prepared are we to respect this in the face of unjust persecution, giving all glory to God and His Word and entrusting Him as the ultimate authority over this world?
Pray it:
Father, help me not to respond to those who treat me unjustly with words of anger or through actions of revenge, but rather to trust in you, my defender and the one who will ultimately judge others.
Father, help me not to respond to those who treat me unjustly with words of anger or through actions of revenge, but rather to trust in you, my defender and the one who will ultimately judge others.
Share it:
Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with?
Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with?
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