Thursday, May 22, 2014

Acts 23: The Midnight Ride of Paul of Tarsus

Acts 23 is a great chapter, bursting with behind-the-scenes action, courtroom drama, and a thrilling flight to safety.

The passage begins with Paul on trial before the Sanhedrin (where Jesus and Peter and John had all appeared previously).  As soon as Paul begins to make his defense, the high priest Ananias orders that he be struck on the mouth.  Realizing that he was not about to get a fair trial, Paul lobs a verbal hand grenade into the proceedings.  Because the Sanhedrin was divided between the parties of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Paul proclaims that his legal troubles are a result of his belief in resurrection.  A brilliant maneuver, this causes Paul's attackers to turn on themselves.  The Pharisees believe in resurrection, and spirits and angels, while the Sadducees deny them (vs. 8).  Today, this would be akin to a Tea Party activist getting hauled before Congress for questioning, and then announcing that he is on trial because of his advocacy of limited government!  It would change the issue and pit Republicans and Democrats against each other.

Frustrated at Paul's repeated ability to slip out of their noose, the Jews (more than 40 of them) hatch a plot to attack him while he's en route to the Sanhedrin and assassinate him.  They vow to fast from food and drink until Paul is killed.  Fortunately, word of this conspiracy is overheard by Paul's nephew, who brings it to Paul and the Roman commander.

Thus begins an exciting mission where Paul, accompanied by nearly 500 Roman soldiers, is spirited out of Jerusalem to save his neck.  (Sure is handy that he was a Roman citizen!)  He is taken in the middle of the night to Caesarea for the trial to resume there.  This "change of venue" is a legal tactic that is still practiced today when one cannot get a fair trial in a certain town.  (No word on whatever happened to Paul's very hungry and thirsty would-be assassins!)

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