Day 284: Acts 23:2–10

“God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You are sitting there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law are you ordering me to be struck?” (v. 3).

During his stay in Jerusalem, Paul had no need to make a living. God had already booked him a room in the city jail. God did not allow the apostle to be jailed to his harm but to provide a means of safety for him while allowing him to share his testimony in the highest courts, as in the case of Acts 23 and his appearance before the Sanhedrin and Ananias, the high priest.

Why was Ananias so insulted at Paul’s confession about living before God “in all good conscience” (Acts 23:1)—insulted enough to have Paul struck in the mouth? Was it because Paul referred to them as “brothers”? Or could it have been because Paul was indirectly suggesting a conscience check for everyone listening?

Unfortunately we don’t have the benefit of hearing Paul’s voice inflection. But his response instantly following the slap suggests he might have been ready for an altercation. “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!” (v. 3). I’m quite sure the temperature in the room rose dramatically. After Paul called Ananias a name, those standing close to him said, “Do you dare revile God’s high priest?” (v. 4 hcsb). Don’t miss Paul’s response. “I did not know, brothers, that it was the high priest” (v. 5 hcsb).

If we could have heard Paul’s voice, I believe his inflection might have contained a little sarcasm. No doubt Paul knew he was insulting the high priest. He was far too knowledgeable not to have recognized Ananias’s robes and obvious position of honor. I believe he knew he was insulting the high priest and probably offended him further by saying, in effect, “Sorry, but I never would have recognized this guy as a high priest.”

I’m suggesting Paul may have been in an interesting mood, and if I may be so bold, even a touch of an insolent mood. I mean absolutely no disrespect to the apostle, but I believe he sometimes struggled with a temper. And when dealing with a foe like Ananias, whom history records as a very insolent, hot-tempered man, the sight of his false piety and that of the other religious leaders probably made Paul’s stomach turn—especially because he had been one of them. Sometimes the ugliest picture we see of ourselves is the one we see in others. And even a great man like Paul can find it to be more than he can take.