In this chapter, we learn that Paul is clever (wise?).
6 Then when Paul noticed that part of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, he shouted out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead!” 7 When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
Acts 23:6-8 NET
In this chapter, we also experience a brilliant rescue in the middle of the night.
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night. 32 The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to the barracks. 33 When the horsemen came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
Acts 23:31-33 NET
Even from a strictly worldly point of view, this is good stuff.
What say you?
Can you imagine? An escort of 470 soldiers at 9:00pm. That’s nuts. Roman citizenship was certainly nothing to mess with! And in the same chapter Paul refers to the obligation people have to their rulers, yet the Jews are ready to break Roman law and commit murder. It really shows how illegitimate they considered Roman rule. I’m curious how that theology was figured – surely God didn’t lose control of governments?! How do they justify this?
My take on their theology … we’re the chosen people, we can do anything.
Yes, they surely considered Roman rule completely illegitimate.
Have we found the balance between following Jesus, and submitting to the authorities?
Yikes! Balance between following Jesus and submitting to authorities…. Could be tricky sometimes!