Unstoppable! 'Arrogant Authority' — Acts 23:1-3

Paul could honestly say that he had lived with a good conscience before God. That didn't mean he was always correct. He had viciously persecuted Christians because he had passion without proper understanding.* The high priest of Israel, however, took offense and had Paul slapped in the mouth. Paul reacted immediately and spoke back to the person in charge — he did not realize that the person who ordered him slapped was the high priest (Acts 23:4-5). Two observations are worth noting:

1. When we compare the high priest's actions with those of the Roman commander in charge of Paul, the high priest is revealed as unfair, uninformed, and overly harsh.**
2. While Paul's words to the high priest are true, they do not reflect Paul's desired approach with critics (1 Corinthians 9:19-23), especially when he realized that this was the high priest he was addressing with these harsh words.

I don't know about you, but both observations convict me. I need to be fairer with others and let them properly explain themselves when we are in disagreement. I also need to not be too self-condemning when I fail to meet my desired behavior standards. Instead, I need to genuinely apologize and make sure I show respect to those in authority, whether they deserve that respect or not. In our fractured and divided world today, both commitments are important for me. How about you?

* See the first set of Related Scripture Readings for references about Paul and others who did not have proper understanding and yesterday's "Unstoppable" devotional.
** See our second set of Related Scripture Readings