¹Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” ²The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. ³Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” ⁴But the bystanders said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” ⁵And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

With the Roman commander presiding, Paul and the Jewish council had the opportunity to talk the situation out. When Jesus sat before the synagogue officials in Nazareth to teach about his fulfillment of messianic prophecy, “the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him” (Luke 4:20). Here, Paul “looked intently at the Council,” using the same underlying Greek word. One can imagine the apostle confidently looking out over the crowd of learned, pious men with a pregnant pause, his eyes scanning the faces. The room quieted, but only for a moment as he assumed the floor.

Paul first asserted his clear conscience, for the benefit of both the council and the Roman commander presiding. But this assertion triggered the fury of the high priest, who took great offense—it was a clear affront to the prevailing thinking that Paul was a “turncoat” (BBC, s.v. Acts 23:2). Regardless of Paul’s past fidelity to the Law (see Phil. 3:6), the Jews considered him condemned for profaning the temple. How dare Paul proclaim a clear conscience in the presence of the high priest, who was supposed to be a guardian of the purity of the temple!

Ananias’ reaction to Paul fits with what Jewish historian Josephus wrote about him, that “he was wealthy, haughty, and unscrupulous. He was known for his collaboration with the Romans and for his severity and cruelty” (BEB, 1:85). The slap on the face is reminiscent of how the high priest treated Jesus (John 18:22). Ananias took the corruption of the priesthood to the highest level.

Paul lashed back at him equally severely, and rightly accused him of violating the law himself in ordering the slap. The bystanders rebuked him for speaking like that to the high priest. Paul’s apparent backtracking has consumed much debate among commentators—how could Paul not have known who the high priest was? The Law is clear about what Paul did, but rather than apologize, he feigned ignorance, possibly suggesting that Ananias was not acting as the rightful high priest. He was being wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.

Lord, help me be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove like Paul (Matt. 10:16).