The Pharisees Versus The Sadducees

The Pharisees Versus The Sadducees

Knowing his adversary helped him control the situation.

YESTERDAY we learned that Paul caused a riot in Jerusalem on June 2, A.D. 57, when he defended himself against false charges brought by the Jews by telling how he met the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. The Roman army commander saved Paul from the mob and held him in custody to determine why he had been accused by the Jews (Acts 21:27–22:29).

Then on June 3, A.D. 57, the Roman commander decided to clarify the situation by having Paul appear before the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of Judaism (Acts 22:30). Paul began his defense by saying, “Brothers, I have always lived before God in all good conscience!” Then, just as Jesus had been struck in the face in his trial before the high priest (John 18:22), so now Ananias the high priest, known for his overbearing, insolent manner, ordered that Paul be struck in the mouth. And just as Jesus had challenged his attack (John 18:23), Paul retorted to the high priest, “God will slap you, you whitewashed wall! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?” (Acts 23:1-3).

Then, with that as a warm-up, Paul went on the offensive. Knowing that the Sanhedrin was composed of both Pharisees who believed vigorously in resurrection and Sadducees who just as vigorously did not, Paul set them up with, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were all my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!” (23:6). Then Paul stood back and let them have at each other!

A dispute over the resurrection immediately broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees. The shouting escalated and the two opposing sides kept grabbing Paul away from the other. They got so aggressive that the Roman commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart, so he ordered his soldiers to take him back to the fortress (23:9-10).

Paul had feared such a reception in Jerusalem (21:13), and that night as he was being held in the Roman barracks in the fortress of Antonia, he felt that his worst fears might be realized. He no doubt wondered whether he would ever achieve his goal of going to Rome (Romans 15:23-29).

Suddenly, at Paul’s lowest moment, the Lord himself stood before him and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have told the people about me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome” (Acts 23:11). The Lord was not only giving his approval of Paul’s testimony in Jerusalem, but also the assurance that he would testify in Rome.

To the Pharisees and Sadducees the doctrine of the resurrection was merely a hotly contested theological issue—something to fight about. But to Paul, the resurrection of Christ was what changed his life, and now the appearance of his resurrected Lord on this day sealed once again the verity of his faith.

Reflection

What does Christ’s resurrection mean to you? Is it just another Christian doctrine, or is it your living hope? Regardless of the tumult in Paul’s life, he never questioned the reality of the Lord’s resurrection because he had seen him personally after he had risen. His first-hand knowledge of the Resurrection gave him courage.

We know that the same God who raised our Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself.

2 Corinthians 4:14