After Paul appeared before the Roman authorities in Jerusalem and found not guilty of violating Roman law, the Roman commander allows the Sanhedrin to convene and subject Paul to inquisition. Paul gets to the heart of the hatred against him, Peter, Stephen and Messiah Yeshua Himself. Without resurrection of the dead — only possible by God’s power — all our efforts at being pious are “pitiful.” The differences between Pharisees and Sadducees are reviewed.
Thought Questions
What did the Roman commander think of Paul’s situation?
Why didn’t Paul know who the High Priest was?
Was Paul telling the truth when he called the High Priest a “whitewashed wall”?
Why did Paul repent of making that remark even though it was truthful?
How does this tell us that Paul was not teaching against Torah?
How did the Zealots try to push God’s hand?
How was this trial similar to the trials the Sanhedrin conducted against Yeshua, Stephen and Peter?
Was it a “diversion”?
Who were the Pharisees?
What are some of their basic beliefs?
Who were the Sadducees?
What were some of their basic beliefs?
What did Paul see as the real reason for the Sanhedrin’s antipathy towards him?
What is the “sin that leads to death”? (Gen. 9:5; 1 John 5)?
What did Paul consider himself (Phil. 3:2-11)?
Was Paul pandering to the Jews when he called himself a Pharisee in the present tense?
What does it mean that Paul was a Pharisee and yet a believer in Yeshua?
What did Yeshua tell Paul?
How was Paul saved from the plot against his life?
Reader: Bill Kastrinos. Speaker: Jeff.