156
Sketches from the Life of Paul
hypocrisy of the Jews. The judgment pronounced by the apostle was
terribly fulfilled when the iniquitous and hypocritical high priest was
murdered by assassins in the Jewish war. But the bystanders regarded
the words of Paul as profane, and exclaimed with horror, “Revilest
thou God’s high priest?” Paul answered, with his usual courtesy, “I
wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, Thou
shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.”
Paul was convinced that he could not hope for a fair trial and just
decision at this tribunal. And his natural penetration and shrewdness
enabled him to take advantage of the circumstances. The Sanhedrim
council was made up of Pharisees and Sadducees, who had long been
at variance upon the doctrine of the resurrection. Knowing this, the
apostle cried out, in clear, decided tones, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee,
the son of a Pharisee; of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am
called in question.”
These words, appealing to the sympathies of those who agreed
[223]
with him in regard to the resurrection, brought a change in the council.
The two parties began to dispute among themselves, and thus the
strength of their opposition against Paul was broken; for however well
united they were in warring against the gospel, they were divided
by an insurmountable barrier in other matters of religious faith. The
Pharisees flattered themselves that they had found in Paul a champion
against their powerful rivals; and their hatred against the Sadducees
was even greater than their hatred against Christ and his apostles. With
great vehemence they now began to vindicate Paul, using nearly the
same language that Gamaliel had used many years before: “We find
no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let
us not fight against God.”
The sentence was hardly completed before the judgment hall be-
came a scene of the wildest confusion. The Sadducees were eagerly
trying to get possession of the apostle, that they might put him to
death, and the Pharisees were as eagerly trying to protect him. Again
it seemed that he would be torn in pieces by the angry combatants.
Lysias, being informed of what was taking place, immediately gave
orders to his soldiers to bring the prisoner without delay back to the
fortress.
Thus closed the scenes of this eventful day. Evening found Paul
still in the Roman barrack, the rude soldiery his sole companions, their