Acts 23:1-11 | CourageÀpẹrẹ

Courage to Tell the Truth

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day” (Acts 23:1, NIV).

That might surprise us to hear – from Paul, who emphasizes in his letters how all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

It might also surprise us that this is the first thing Paul says before the Sanhedrin. Well, maybe not surprising, given that the very reason the mob formed and he was there was because of the implied accusation that he was not fulfilling one’s duty before God, that he was a lawbreaker, and that his conscience shouldn’t feel good about any of this. But like Job before his friends in the sight of God, he knew he did nothing wrong. He knew the reason he was here was because of obedience – obedience to Jesus, obedience to God.

It’s a bold statement before an accuser. And the result? They hit him on the mouth.

Because in their ears, that was nothing short of blasphemy.

Not that any of this should be taken to mean that Paul had never done anything wrong. But that, “Whenever I have done anything wrong I have immediately done whatever was necessary to put it right, including, as here… a sin of ignorance” (NT Wright, Acts for Everyone, 168). That, after all, is what the Mosaic sacrificial system was all about. It’s almost as if Paul is saying, “You have me here because you accuse me of breaking the Mosaic law, but in denouncing me as a lawbreaker, you yourselves are striking a man for blasphemy who’s both innocent and speaking the truth!”

So, quoting Ezekiel, he fires back, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!” (Acts 23:3, NIV; quoting Ezekiel 13).

Like the prophets of old, applying the Torah to the very ones who are supposed to be prophets of God. Like the prophets of old, speaking with courage even when it costs you.

It takes courage to stand in front of a hostile audience and speak truthfully about Jesus, what you believe, and your integrity. It takes courage to speak the truth before those who hold your fate in the balance. Courage often starts when we don’t fear the truth being told.

Paul found courage to speak, courage to tell the truth. How about you?

Today

Ask God to help you live in such a way that you can declare, “I have lived with a clear conscience before God.” Where you can’t, confess it, make amends, and start anew.