Luke the beloved physician wrote when the chief captain and the men who examined Paul discovered he was a Roman, they “loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them. And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite you, you whited wall: for sit you to judge me after the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, revile you God's high priest? Then said Paul, I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, you shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse six of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees” where we read:
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
The verse begins, “But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, ...” Luke began with the words, “but when Paul perceived” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover at the time and moment Paul, whose name means small or little, learned, understood and had knowledge” “that the one part were Sadducees” or “that a certain portion of the men in the Sanhedrin were Sadducees whose name means the righteous and was a religious party at the time of Christ among the Jews, who denied that the oral law was a revelation of God to the Israelites, and who deemed the written law alone to be obligatory on the nation, as the divine authority”, “and the other Pharisees” which means “and the other portion of the men in the Sanhedrin were Pharisees who belonged to a sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”. Luke shared how “Paul” noticed that the “Sanhedrin” was divided between the “Sadducees and Pharisees”.
The verse continues, “... he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee:” Luke added the words, “he cried out in the council” which means “Paul shouted aloud and vociferated within the Sanhedrin which was the great council at Jerusalem that consisted of the seventy one members including scribes, elders, prominent members of the high priestly families and the high priest who was the president of the assembly”, “men and brethren” or “male human beings and fellow countrymen and associates”, “I am a Pharisee” which means “I, Paul, exist as a part of the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile”, “the son of a Pharisee” or “the male offspring and progenitor belonging to the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile”. Luke shared how “Paul” addressed the entire group of the “Sanhedrin” as he told them he was born into and belonged to the “Pharisee” sect.
Finally the verse says, “of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” Luke concluded this verse with the words, “of the hope” or “pertaining to the expectation of good and in anticipation of pleasure” “and resurrection of the dead” which means “and the raising up from the non-living, lifeless and without breath” “I am called into question” or “I, Paul, exist as separated, put asunder, picked out, selected and chosen to be investigated, judged and summoned”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the “Sanhedrin” the reason he was being investigated was because he “believed” in the “hope of a resurrection from the dead”. This was in direct conflict with the beliefs of the “Sadducees” who did not believe in the “resurrection”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” knew recognizing a difference between the “Sadducees and Pharisees” would cause a division in the “Sanhedrin”, and we shall see how they respond in our next verse. For now let us admire the wisdom of “Paul”, and be observant as God rescues His servant “Paul” from this situation. God loves people, and He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. When they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life, and those who understand these things shall surrender.
Next time Luke shares how, “there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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