Acts 22:30 — 23:11 preached by Pastor Jon Needham

Big Ideas

1. Living in all good conscience
Paul narrowly escaped an unlawful beating, but he was far from being out of trouble. Wanting to know more about the accusations that were brought against Paul, the Roman tribune called together a meeting with the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Paul begins his address by declaring that he had lived his “life before God in all good conscience up to this day” (Acts 23:1). While Paul’s good conscience did not protect him from false accusations and brutal treatment, it did give him the confidence to trust that, whatever man may say about him, he was innocent before God.

2. Paul’s apology
Like Jesus when he was unlawfully arrested, Paul was punched in the mouth. This act of aggression violated the law, and Paul called it out. Paul apparently did not know that the High Priest had ordered that punch. Speaking against the High Priest was a violation of the Law, and, when it was brought to Paul’s attention, he owned his mistake. This humble action powerfully demonstrated that Paul was not opposed to the Law of Moses, but deeply committed to it (Exodus 22:28)!

3. A little diversion
The Pharisees and Sadducees both opposed Jesus, but for different reasons. The same was true about their view of Paul. But Paul knew that these groups disagreed vehemently over the issue of resurrection. The Pharisees believed in it, while the Sadducees did not. In what appears to be a stroke of brilliance, Paul ignites a heated debate between these two groups, making their disagreement the focus. As a result, Paul once again escapes.

Study Questions

1. Dealing with false accusations can be devastating. However, a good, clean conscience before God is a blessing that can anchor us when we are falsely accused. How is your conscience before God? Are there any areas of unconfessed or unrepented sin in your life? What would need to happen for you to have a clean conscience?

2. Apologizing to someone can be the most difficult and humiliating experience, especially when that person has hurt you, as was the case with Paul. Yet, being hurt or offended does not negate our responsibility to apologize when we have sinned against someone else. Are there any people in your life to whom you need to apologize?

3. Jesus told us that, among wolves, we must be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). Many people find this instruction to be confusing, but, in this text, Paul becomes an example of this for us. What can you learn from the way Paul evaded trouble in this text? How was he wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove?