Wishing to determine the truth
about why Paul was being accused by the Jews,
the commander freed him
and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene.
Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.
Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees,
so he called out before the Sanhedrin,
“My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees;
I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
When he said this,
a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees,
and the group became divided. (Acts 22:30; 23:6-8)
Paul was consummately clever.
He knew that the Sanhedrin wanted to rid themselves of him.
He also knew that the Sanhedrin was divided among its own members. Some of them believed in resurrection; some did not.
He capitalized upon that division.
The fighting became so intense that the Romans had to protect Paul, removing him from the room and delaying for a time any questioning.
We have to be clever when dealing with people in this world.
The people in this world are sharply divided.
Why?
Because most of the people steeped in this world are in it for themselves. Because of that, there is no unity. There is no caring for others. There is only building up of self.
What we need to do is to find a way to speak to the people of this world and to let them know that there is a better way.
Embracing Jesus and His will is the way.
If we show — by word and deed — that we have something good to offer, we might be able to turn others around: to turn them to the Lord.
FAITH ACTION: Pray for those who have lost their way, who have abandoned themselves to the world, that they may have the grace to embrace God’s will.