Acts 22:30-23:5 

^22:30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them. ^23:1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” ² At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. ³ Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!” ⁴ Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!” ⁵ Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

Introduction

What is the biblical way of choosing church leaders? There’s no specific biblical command on how church leaders are selected. Selection of church leaders depends on the governance or polity of a local church. For congregational churches, election by church members is practiced. For pastoral churches, the pastor would appoint church leaders. Whether church leaders are elected or appointed, God has given spiritual gift to individual believers whom He called as church leaders. How can we identify believers called by God to be church leaders?

In Acts 6:3-4, ³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴ and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

The apostles were not involved the selection of the seven church leaders. The selection process was made by the congregation. Election of leaders has advantages and disadvantages but God has good purposes for both elected and appointed leaders.

In Titus 1:5, ⁵ The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

It was probably more appropriate for Titus to appoint church leaders because of the culture in Crete. It says in Titus 1:12, ¹²One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” Some Bible scholars assume that most members in the congregation in Crete were new in the faith. Election is not advantageous in the selection of elders, if that’s the case. Whichever process is used to choose leaders, they ought to fulfill their assigned duty and responsibility.

1. Fulfill

^22:30 The commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews. So the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the members of the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them.

The Lord is at work even in a non-believer’s life. The curiosity of the commander about Paul is a good example of a non-believer as God’s instrument for His purposes. The commander had the authority to gather and order even the high priest and all members of the Sanhedrin. He was God’s instrument to guarantee Paul’s safety. Can you now appreciate what Paul wrote about authorities? In Romans 13:4-5, ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience…

The commander fulfilled his duty to keep peace and order. When he ordered the Sanhedrin to gather, God utilized it for Paul’s safety and opportunity to testify before the Sanhedrin. ^23:1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”

That is a very bold claim! When believers are called to testify, the Lord will sustain them with courage. Is it ordinary incident for Christians to claim that they have fulfilled their duty? The Spirit of God must have been very active in the life of Paul that he had that courage to testify before the Sanhedrin and religious leaders of Israel.

CBWC Dinner

Last May 19, 2015, we hosted a CBWC Dinner here in our Sanctuary. To those who attended that dinner, did you feel some kind of intimidation in the presence of religious leaders? Were you relaxed, uneasy, anxious, or just another dinner experience? How do you normally behave when seated among big time religious leaders?

Paul testified with boldness before religious leaders was a manifestation of God’s grace at work in his life. Actually, Paul was a timid person. In 2 Corinthians 10:1, ¹By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! In 2 Timothy 1:7, ⁷For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Timidity is a display of human limitation. No one should be forced to take leadership role. Church leaders are God-called. If one is not God-called, he is surely bound to fail.

2.  Fail

²At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. ³ Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”

 ⁴ Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!” ⁵ Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

Paul knew that it is proper to respect the leaders of the people. At that time, he was not insulting the high priest. He was actually had high regard when trying to warn the high priest of his failure to perform his duty. Paul wanted the high priest to fulfill his duty so that God will reward him. Yet Paul’s warning was presumed as insult.

With political connection, a high priest was chosen, and he may not be the most spiritual person. When one is not in-tune with God, spiritual warnings will be considered derogatory, insult, or disrespect. But to those who are seeking the will of God, they are prepared to change their ways when confronted or charged even at point blank or bluntly.

Saul vs. David

When Saul disobeyed the Lord, Samuel confronted him. In 1 Samuel 15:24-25, ²⁴ Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.  ²⁵ Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”

In 1 Samuel 15:30, ³⁰ Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.”

Let’s compare Saul’s response to David’s response when Nathan confronted him of his sin. In 2 Samuel 12:13, ¹³ Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Try to identify the similarities and differences of Saul and David’s response when they were confronted by God’s messenger.

Saul admitted that he sinned but he had some conditions. David admitted that he sinned, period. In Saul’s statements, he added the phrase “so that I may worship the Lord” which signifies some condition. Saul did not totally surrender to God. He had conditions before worshipping the Lord. He was scared of the people. He wanted to save his reputation. But David never thought of saving his reputation.

Remember when David was escaping from his son Absalom. Shimei, a man from the clan of King Saul pelted stones, curses, and insults at David. David did not retaliate. In 2 Samuel 16:11-12, ¹¹ David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. ¹² It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

David acknowledged that only God can save his reputation. There is only one Savior. We do not need to save our reputation if we acknowledge that Christ the Lord is our Savior. He can easily restore any damaged reputation.

Leaders who think they can save the church or their reputation are like Saul. They may be politically chosen like the high priest and not necessarily called by God to be church leader. We cannot stop politics, but we have Christ our Savior.

Pray that God would raise leaders like David in our church. Pray that the Lord would discourage those who are aspiring for leadership who are afraid of the people, and who have condition before serving the Lord like King Saul.

When a person is called by the Lord, serving His with gladness overwhelms any hesitation or possible reason not to obey. When faith in God is active, there’s no reluctance. God’s grace is sufficient, no matter what consequences may come.

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