Tag Archives: Sanhedrin

ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE TIDE BEGINS TO TURN – 56

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“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ” The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!” As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, the commander ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and interrogated in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this. As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?” When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.” The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. Then the commander said, “I had to pay a lot of money for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. Those who were about to interrogate him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭22‬:‭21‬-‭29‬

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Well, what a turn of events! Again…assumption almost cost Paul a flogging. The Roman centurion has not asked questions. He has simply assumed something that was not true. 

Let’s pause for a moment and learn a lesson from Paul’s protest.  Jesus said something that we often take at face value without examining the context. 

Google AI provides an accurate interpretation of this instruction. 

“Turn the other cheek” is a teaching from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38–42), advising against violent retaliation when insulted or wronged. Rather than passive submission, it is interpreted as a proactive, nonviolent stance that breaks the cycle of vengeance, often turning the tables by refusing to engage in an aggressor’s game.”

Key Aspects of the Teaching:

  • Context: Found in Matthew 5:39, Jesus contrasts this with the old law of “an eye for an eye,” designed to limit vengeance, by introducing a new, creative way of dealing with injustice.
  • Nonviolent Resistance: It means not retaliating in kind. It is a way to assert dignity as an equal, refusing to be treated as an inferior, even after being struck or insulted.
  • Examples of Action: The passage also includes giving your cloak if sued for your coat, and going two miles if forced to go one, emphasizing generosity and radical grace over selfishness.
  • Love Your Enemies: This instruction is tied to the broader command to love enemies and pray for persecutors, acting as children of God.

Common Interpretations:

  • Refusing to Retaliate: Focusing on forgiving personal slights rather than fighting back.
  • Cultural Context: In that era, a backhand slap on the right cheek was often used to assert dominance; offering the other cheek forced the aggressor to treat the person as an equal.
  • Not Absolute Pacifism: Many interpretations suggest it is not a call to allow violent, dangerous abuse, but a refusal to repay evil with evil. 

This command is a hallmark of Christian ethics, urging followers to be “peacemakers” by responding to hatred with love and grace.”

This rather-long explanation gives us insight into the cultural context in which Jesus was speaking. Non-retaliation does not mean passive submission. 

Jesus never advocated a “doormat” attitude to unfair treatment. However, we must never retaliate. We must rather, in a respectful way, remind our aggressor of our right to dignity. 

So, we see that Paul simply appealed to his right as a Roman citizen as a factor in the mix. 

From that moment, when Paul appealed to his Roman citizenship, the centurion did everything in his power to protect Paul and to see that he was treated justly. 

“The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭22‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The centurion’s first move was to give Paul a fair hearing before his accusers. 

“Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “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!” Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!” Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Once again, Paul protested being bullied. One wonders whether his retort was really ignorance of the identity of the high priest who initiated it or whether his response to the rebuke was sarcasm?

“Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.) There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭23‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ NIV

Paul was also shrewd. He knew how to “play his cards right” in a dangerous situation. Rather than simply defending himself by telling his story, he aligned himself with the Pharisees by appealing to his status as a Pharisee and his belief in the resurrection. 

Paul knew exactly what the response would be. His defence turned into a riot when the Pharisees and Sadducees turned on each other.  Was this a signal to the Roman authorities that the charge against him had no weight? 

In the end, it was clear that this was a religious fight, a struggle between two philosophies. Paul, the erstwhile Pharisee, was aligned with one faction, but he was not one of them because he preached that Jesus, hated and hounded to death by the Pharisees, was alive and proved to be the Son of God by His resurrection. 

This was a hot potato, a battle outside the jurisdiction of Rome, and a problem that could not be solved by military intervention. Best the commander pass it on to the appropriate authorities. This would soon happen faster than he had planned. 

To be continued 

IT HAD TO BE!

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IT HAD TO BE!

“Therefore, many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.'” John 11:45-48 NIV

Wrong! The religious leaders were really being melodramatic! In what way would Jesus’ signs cause them to “lose” their temple and their nation?

Jesus’ miracles, up to this point, were in no way disturbing the Romans. What He was doing was evidence that the God who wanted them to worship Him was not the vengeful, demanding and legalistic god of the Pharisees but a loving Father who wanted them to submit to His way so that they would live in harmony with Him and with one another.

Like all the others, including Jesus’ disciples, it seems that the Jews” idea of the Messiah was one of a strong political ruler who would restore the Davidic kingdom to its former glory by getting rid of the Romans and setting up His own rule in Israel. Did they think that Jesus’ miracles were His way of getting the people on His side so that, when He made His move against Rome, they would rise up with Him?

Had the Jews only listened without the filter of their prejudice and envy, they would have heard something different from their twisted interpretation of His words and works. Their protests covered up a much more sinister and personal reason for hating Him. Jesus was not shy of showing them up for what they were — greedy and conniving opportunists who used their position to enrich themselves at the expense of the people whom they controlled through their religious demands in the name of God!

This latest challenge, the spectacular and unassailable act of raising Lazarus who had been putrefying in the grave for four days, was the last straw. The religious leaders had to exterminate Jesus because they did not know what He would do next. What they did not take into account was that nothing He had said or done up to this point, indicated that He had intentions of rising up against Rome and taking over. All they knew was that He had great power and they were afraid of Him.

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up. ‘You know nothing at all! You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.’ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So, from that day on they plotted to take His life.” John 11:49-52 NIV.

Caiaphas was high priest and spokesman for the Sanhedrin. Little did he know that what he had to say, out of his puny reasoning, was actually an accurate and profound prophetic statement of the truth. Caiaphas saw Jesus as the scapegoat for themselves and the people. It was either Jesus or them. However, he unwittingly verbalised God’s redemptive purpose for sending Jesus.

John was quick to pounce on his words and explain that Jesus’ death was indeed a substitute for the Jews in Israel and all God’s people everywhere. Were the words of Isaiah, which the prophet had spoken centuries before and which Caiaphas would have known so well, subconsciously emerging from his lips?

“Surely. He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we were healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 NIV.

Yes, Caiaphas, you were absolutely right! It had to be, but you were part of the plot to kill Him and you were guilty!

Acknowledgement

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – PILATE’S DILEMMA – THE INNOCENT FOR THE GUILTY?

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CHAPTER 15

PILATE’S DILEMMA – THE INNOCENT FOR THE GUILTY?

​1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. Mark 15:1-5

According to the Jewish religious leaders and the Sanhedrin, phase one of Jesus’ trial had been successfully concluded. They had found a charge that stuck, confessed by Jesus’ own mouth – blasphemy – and that was punishable by execution, according to their law.

The next step was to find a charge that would also be punishable by death according to Roman law. Again, from Jesus’ own mouth had come the confirmation of the charge that Rome would never tolerate – treason. When He was hauled before Pilate, this was the question that He was asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

What did Pilate think of this whole debacle? As an objective observer, he would have seen a most unusual prisoner, facing a remarkably undignified set of “lawyers” plus an unruly mob of supporters all trying to get his attention to enforce their demands. This was not about justice. This was about manipulation, intimidation and domination. What chance did Pilate have against the threatening mob? The situation was tense. The soldiers were on high alert. The crowd was shouting, demonstrating, chanting, “Crucify Him; crucify Him!” The noise was disorientating. He tried to release Jesus by offering Barabbas in exchange. It was like trying to get Mother Teresa released by offering a serial rapist and killer in exchange. But the crowd would have none of it. So bent were they on killing Jesus, egged on by the religious judges that they had completely lost all reason.

The noise of their chanting rose to a crescendo. Pilate panicked. If he didn’t do something now, a riot would break out and there was no knowing where it would all end. Jerusalem was packed with Jews from all over Israel and farther afield – and they hated the Romans! If he didn’t give in to this mob, blood would flow and he would be answerable to Caesar. He had to sacrifice one innocent man for the sake of peace! What an amazing scene – prophecy fulfilled before his eyes, and he didn’t know it.

THE BOOK OF ACTS – WILY AS A SNAKE

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WILY AS A SNAKE

“The aides were scandalised. ’How dare you talk to God’s Chief Priest like that!’

“Paul acted surprised. ’How was I to know he was Chief Priest? He doesn’t act like a Chief Priest. You’re right, the Scripture does say, “Don’t speak abusively to a ruler of the people.” Sorry.’

“Paul, knowing that some of the council was made up of Sadducees and others of Pharisees and how they hated each other, decided to exploit their antagonism: ‘Friends, I am a stalwart Pharisee from a long line of Pharisees. It’s because of my Pharisee convictions — the hope and resurrection from the dead — that I’ve been hauled into this court.'” Acts 23:4-6 (The Message).

Paul was in a critical situation — knowing that his life was on the line and that whatever he said would be taken up the wrong way and used against him. It was up to him now to get as much mileage out of the situation as he could, and to use it to his own advantage. He was a shrewd and quick thinker.

The bullying action of the High Priest was a good opportunity to show him up for what he was and Paul was quick to respond, pretending that he was unaware of the high priest’s position because of his behaviour and making him look like the bully he was in front of his peers.

Jesus counselled His followers to be as wise as serpents and as gentle as doves, especially when they were dragged before the High Council. Paul also knew of the deep divide between Pharisees and Sadducees down both religious and political lines. Pharisees were fully convinced of the supernatural and of the resurrection while Sadducees rejected both ideas. They were the more secular and political wing of the Sanhedrin.

All Paul had to do was to use his rhetorical skill to turn them against each other, and the heat would be off him, and that is exactly what he did. He used his background and training as a Pharisee to identify with the Pharisee section of the Sanhedrin, and they knew it because Paul had been a prominent Pharisee before his conversion, contending for the law to the extent of persecuting the church.

“The moment he said this, the council split right down the middle, Pharisees and Sadducees going at each other in heated argument. Sadducees had nothing to do with a resurrection or angels or even a spirit. If they can’t see it, they don’t believe it. Pharisees believe it all. And so a huge and noisy quarrel broke out. Then some of the religion scholars on the Pharisee side shouted down the others: ‘We don’t find anything wrong with this man! And what if a spirit has spoken to him! Or maybe an angel? What if it turns out we’re fighting against God?'” Acts 23:7-9 (The Message).

Paul got exactly what he wanted and the Roman captain got his answer as well. Now he could see that the whole furore over Paul was nothing more than an internal religious squabble and nothing to do with lawlessness or criminal activity. Paul’s shrew move had blown the whole thing open and forced a “not guilty” verdict from the mouths of at least half of the Sanhedrin.

“That was fuel on the fire. The quarrel flamed up and became so violent that the captain was afraid they would tear Paul apart, limb from limb. He ordered the soldiers to get him out of there and escort him back to the safety of the barracks.” Acts 23:10 (The Message).

Paul was in custody, not because he was guilty, but because he was in danger. It was up to the captain to decide what to do with him. If he released him, the Jews would attack him and start the whole process all over again. God was still in charge, slowly moving in Paul’s life to get him to Rome, where He wanted him to be.

They Didn’t Care

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THEY DIDN’T CARE

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate. ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate. ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied. The chief priests accused Him of many things. So again Pilate asked Him, ‘Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.’ But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. (Mark 15: 1-5)

From the beginning, this trial was a farce. The religious leaders had broken every rule in the book. O yes, they were careful to keep their own rules to make them look good, but God’s instructions?  They ignored them because it was not convenient to obey, and they didn’t care.

What would the Jews think up to accuse Jesus before Pilate? An ominous statement – they made their plans! What plans did they have to make? Jesus was either a lawbreaker or He wasn’t. He was either guilty of a crime, or He wasn’t. But, to them He was an enemy, not because He did anything outside of the law, but because He had offended them with His righteous life and His exposure of their hypocrisy and ungodly lives. How true were His words:

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. (John 3: 19-20)

The Jewish religious leaders hated Jesus because His life mirrored the nature of God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness. (Ex. 34: 6)

They were proud of their “righteous” lives as long as no one checked their motives or looked inside to see the rottenness of their hearts. Every act of compassion and mercy which Jesus did in response to people’s need, was an expression of the Father whom Jesus came to reveal. They hated Him for it because it drew attention to the phoniness of their own hard and callous hearts. And they didn’t care.  

And so, true to their real natures, they schemed to get rid of Jesus, guilty or not, so that they could continue as before without Him breathing down their necks. Unfortunately for them, life would never be the same again. Jesus had taken the time and trouble to tell them the truth. Once they had heard it from His lips and refused to believe Him, their guilt was plied on them; guilt because they had not accurately reflected the teachings of Torah in their own lives, and because they had oppressed the people by their endless and meaningless “interpretations” of Torah which suited them because keeping them made them look good.

In order to get their way, they didn’t care about doing the right thing or upholding the justice system of Torah. In spite of their claim to be “Abraham’s children”, they schemed and plotted to take Jesus’ life to get Him out of their hair. From their perspective, He was guilty of blasphemy because He claimed to be the Son of God. This was their accusation against Him, but how were they going to prove Him guilty?

Their witnesses were undoubtedly liars because they could not get their testimony to agree. They accused Him of threatening to destroy Herod’s temple and rebuild it in three days. What kind of accusation was that? Did they really believe that He would make a wild statement like that? The only way they could get a conviction was to ask Him outright whether He was the Son of God or not since He was obliged to answer. But that’s just where they deviated from Torah, as we noted yesterday. But they didn’t care. As long as they had it from His mouth, it was enough to convict Him.

But they had to have a valid indictment to put before Pilate. Blasphemy was an internal matter. Pilate would throw it out as of no consequence to Roman. Treason! That would make Pilate sit up and take notice! So their scheme was to change the charge to treason. That would not be difficult seeing that He had blatantly ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey the Sunday before, an action they interpreted as the fulfilment of the Messianic prophecy in Zechariah 9.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zech. 9: 9)

However, they did not see it as the fulfilment of a Messianic prophecy but as the action of an imposter. They refused to put all the evidence together and come up with the truth. They thought that Pilate would fall for that one because they would present Jesus as a threat to Rome. And they didn’t care that it was a trumped-up charge, devoid of evidence, as long as they could make it stick.

Everything changes when people don’t care! No rules apply; there are no boundaries, law and order collapse and society disintegrates into chaos.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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