Courage and Hope November 5th, 2023
Lord God, as we listen to the Scriptures this day, send your Holy Spirit so we encounter the words as your Living Word. It has been a difficult time for our church family, give us courage and hope. Open our hearts to respond in love and service for Christ’s sake. Amen.
In our reading this morning from the book of Acts we heard how the Apostle Paul handled one of the more difficult trials of his life, and in this case, he literally was on trial. Paul had been falsely accused of causing a riot in Jerusalem and was now forced to defend himself in front of the ruling Jewish religious council of elders, known as the Sanhedrin. What we’re going to see is how Paul conducts himself when he is falsely accused, and more importantly, the support he gets from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, when things are at a low for him. But for us today, what can we learn from this passage? Well, we can learn how to deal with things when our lives are not going well. We all go through trials and challenges in our lives, some easier than others, but many can be life changing. From this scripture reading, we can better understand that Jesus is with us at all times, and he can give us courage and hope in all situations.
First of all, from our reading, we can see that Paul was faithful to his calling and his conscience. We’re told by Luke, the author of the book of Acts, that when Paul stood in front of that council of elders, he looked them straight in the eye and said, “Brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day." So, Paul didn’t compromise or back down from proclaiming the gospel, even when he faced hostility and violence. He was confident that he was doing what God wanted him to do, and he didn’t let fear or guilt stop him.
But what was their reaction? Luke says, “Then the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth.”
Paul had made a bold statement when he said he had lived with a clean conscience, a comment which enraged the high priest. He ordered that Paul be slapped in the mouth for his boldness. Now, at that time, to strike an unconvicted person was illegal, as both Paul and the high priest knew. Jewish law considered a person innocent until proven guilty, but Ananias had punished Paul before he had even been charged, much less tried, and found guilty.
Have you ever been there before, where someone is accusing you of something and no matter what you say, they’ve already decided you’re wrong? If so, you can probably relate to Paul’s reaction, which was to say to Ananias, “‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!’” Paul calls him a “whitewashed wall.” It was another way of calling someone a hypocrite. It was a description of a wall of a tomb that has been made to look clean but was actually unclean. In that day they would paint ashes on it to warn people that it was unclean despite its appearance. Paul was saying, “How dare you accuse me of breaking the law and then you break the law yourself.”
The expression, “whitewashed wall” comes from the Old Testament book of Ezekiel where God gave this command to the prophet, Ezekiel, “My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations; … Because, in truth, because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace’, when there is no peace; and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear whitewash on it. Say to those who smear whitewash on it that it shall fall. There will be a deluge of rain, great hailstones will fall, and a stormy wind will break out... Thus, I will spend my wrath upon the wall, and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash; and I will say to you, the wall is no more, nor those who smeared it— the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for it, when there was no peace, says the Lord God. (Ezekiel 13:9-11,15-16) In the same way Paul was accusing the high priest Ananias of being like the false prophets of old, appearing to be something other than he was.
But when he was told by those standing by that Ananias was the high priest he immediately apologizes, saying, “‘I did not realize, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, “You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.”’ This was a quote from the laws of the book of Exodus. It’s important to note that Paul is apologizing to the position of high priest, not to Ananias, the man. The position is to be respected even when the man holding it cannot be.
Paul understood a truth that would ring all through the Old Testament and the New Testament. When God appoints someone as a leader, we are supposed to respect them, not because of who they are but because of who he is. God is in control, they didn’t always deserve it, but God commanded that we respect them because he knows what he is doing and that who they are today, who they were yesterday, may not be who they end up being tomorrow, because God is at work in them.
Later on in his life, Paul, while writing to the members of the church in Rome, would give them this advice, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement.” (Romans 13:1-2)
So immediately, Paul admits that he made a mistake by insulting the high priest and apologizes. And that’s a good point for us all to remember, we’re going to make mistakes and when we do it’s best to admit to it, deal with it, and accept the total responsibility for it and go from there.
At this point, Paul took note that within the council there were two different factions of the Jewish faith, one being Sadducees, the other Pharisees. The major difference in their beliefs was that the Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the body, and in angels, while the Sadducees didn’t. A good trick to remember the difference between the two is to remember that the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection, that’s why they’re so sad, you see.
So, Paul spoke up and said, “‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead.’” And that was wise on the part of Paul. After all, one of the things he was preaching to people was the resurrection of the dead, the resurrection that we all await because of our faith in Jesus Christ. When Paul realized that the trial was a sham, when he realized that his life was in danger, he didn’t panic, he merely turned to an issue that he knew would distract them. You see that was another part of his character, grace under pressure. When the going got tough Paul was still able to respond in appropriate and intelligent ways.
No doubt Paul would have been told by the disciples that Jesus had done something similar when confronted by the Pharisees and Sadducees. Here’s how the Apostle Matthew described that scene, “The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses said, “If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.” Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman herself died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.’ Jesus answered them, ‘You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is God not of the dead, but of the living.’” (Matthew 22:23-32) With that Jesus was both able to confirm that there will be a resurrection of the dead and the fact that angels do exist.
And this was the reaction of the council to Paul’s promise of the resurrection, “Then a great clamour arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees’ group stood up and contended, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?’ When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks.”
So, Paul’s plan got him out of the situation but not without a cost. Luke says that the riot that broke out was so violent that the soldiers intervened because they were afraid Paul would be torn to pieces. Paul was in the middle of that riot, and it probably wasn’t the safest place to be. But Paul remained faithful to God. The soldiers rescued him, placed him in their barracks and there he sat. No doubt he was feeling defeated. His mission appeared to be a failure. After the events of the last two days in Paul’s life it is not difficult to understand that he would feel dejected and discouraged.
Paul must have been asking himself just when was this all going to end? Why was his innocence not obvious to all? Why was he not free to go about the ministry he had up to this point? Paul must have been downtrodden as he sat in confinement, pondering his life. And it is at this low point – perhaps the lowest point since he had come to faith in Jesus – that our Lord appeared to him.
The apostle Luke tells us, “That night the Lord stood near him and said, ‘Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.’” Just when Paul needed it, the Lord came and spoke these words of encouragement. This gave him strength and assurance that he was not alone and that he had a mission to fulfill. It put a new hope into the apostle, and he took courage as the Lord commanded him. If ever he had needed reassurance, it must have been now, and Jesus met that need. All things would indeed work together for good. He was called according to God’s purpose. He was still in the centre of God’s will.
Now the Lord also promised Paul that his ministry was not over, “for as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." God had a job for Paul to do and no one or no thing could stop God’s plans. These words greatly encouraged Paul, so much so that he never again wavered in spite of all the perils that are yet to come in his life. The Lord’s promise that he had more ministry to do, helped Paul to keep on faithfully serving him. He trusted that God was with him and had a plan for him. He was full of courage and hope.
So, what can we apply from this passage to our lives? I think we can learn from Paul's example of faithfulness, courage, and hope. We can be faithful to our calling and our conscience, knowing that we are doing what God wants us to do. We can be courageous and hopeful in our situation, trusting that God is with us and has a plan for us. And we can take courage from the Lord's words to Paul, knowing that he has a purpose for us and that he will use us to testify about him wherever we go. As Paul would later write to the members of the church in Rome, “God works all things together for good, to those who love him, to those who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Let us Pray:
Heavenly Father, we come to you today with humble hearts and grateful spirits. We thank you for all the blessings you have given us, and we ask you to grant us hope and courage in every tough situation we face. Give us wisdom and help us to understand your will and to follow your guidance. Give us strength to overcome our fears and to act with faith and love. Teach us to be compassionate and generous with others,