PROCLAMATION
“Then Paul,
knowing that some of them were Sadducees and 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.’”
Acts 23:6 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
These words
were written by Luke, the physician and traveling companion of the apostle
Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God. Luke recorded that
when Paul addressed the Sanhedrin council, he knew that some of them were
Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or spirits, and
some of them were Pharisees, who believed in all these things. (Acts
23:7-8) This created a great disturbance among the Sanhedrin which
spilled over into the city. Some of the Jews took an oath not to eat or
drink until they had killed Paul. (Acts 23:9-15) But the commander of the
Roman army found out about the plot and had Paul taken out of town at night
under heavy guard. (Acts 23:16-24)
APPLICATION
The
Christian faith is based upon belief in the birth, life, death, burial, and
resurrection of Jesus, The Christ. There are many people in this world
who do not believe in these things and they hate those who do believe in them.
Some people even want to kill all Christian because of their religious
beliefs. Jesus said that the world would hate believers because the world
hated Him. (John 15:18) Not everybody believes that Jesus is The Christ
and the promised Messiah. However
unpopular it may be, as believers we need to stand by our beliefs. Jesus
said if we deny Him before men, He will deny us before His Heavenly Father.
(Matthew 10:33)
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