Acts 23:12-15

Summary retelling of Acts 23:12-15

               

The next day, over 40 Jews made an oath to neither eat nor drink until Paul is dead.  They went to the Sanhedrin and told them about the oath.  They make a plan with the leaders of the Sanhedrin to request Paul’s presence again in order to examine him more closely.  The people who had taken an oath plan to kill him as he is transported from the barracks to the Sanhedrin.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Those poor people who make an unfortunate oath.  We know that God’s plan is for Paul to appear in Rome, so clearly the plan will fail.  It will be years before Paul dies.  I have to wonder.  Did they keep their oath and die from dehydration?  Or did they break their oath and show that they are really more devoted to saving their own skin and not honoring their word?  As we can see from a simple analysis of this text, this is precisely why Jesus teaches us to not swear oaths.  We should let our “yes” be our “yes” and our “no” be our “no.”  When we make oaths, we potentially set ourselves up against God’s will.

Why do you think human beings feel the need to make oaths?  Why can we not trust a person’s agreement or disagreement to do something? 

Second Thought:

Shame on the Sanhedrin for participating in the plotting of a murder.  Granted, they totally already did this with Jesus and Stephen.  Yes, I acknowledge that they thought they were genuinely responding faithfully to the threat of blasphemy.  But as with Jesus, there is deception involved.  They have to create a situation “in their favor” in order to accomplish their own desires.  They aren’t willing to look at the whole of life – they are only interested in forcing reality to bend to their will.  We can see the Sanhedrin as a body of people who desire to make religion into their own image rather than a people who genuinely want to be open to God.

Why do people feel the need to go to such extreme lengths to make religion fit their mold?  Why do people have such a difficult time trusting God?

Third Thought:

This story also shows an incredible lack of respect for life.  Certainly, this shows a lack of respect for Paul’s life.  But if the ambush were to happen it will put dozens of soldiers’ lives in danger – not to mention the lives of the Jews who are planning it.  Furthermore, if Paul were to be killed, any soldiers who were charged with Paul’s life could also be killed for not being able to do their duty and protect Paul!  The Sanhedrin and the group planning this act completely and totally fail to respect any life at all.

Why do human beings not respect life as much as we really should?  How can we learn to respect life more and respect the desires of our hearts a little less?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 23:16-22