The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 23:1-3, “And Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, ‘Brethren,

I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.’

2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike

him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, ‘God is going to strike you, you

whitewashed wall! And do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation

of the Law order me to be struck?’”

Wow! Sometimes those who are in authority need to be reminded of the law!

What Paul said seem perfectly in order. But the Sanhedrin’s high priest didn’t

like it and ordered Paul to be struck on the mouth. Paul focused on the high

priest when he said, “God is going to strike you.” Then he called the high priest

a “whitewashed wall,” ( ?????? koniao, meaning “on who was plastered over”).

In a way, that expression strikes me as funny. It reminds me of our Robby,

who said, “Ah, that guy don’t even brush his teeth.” But Paul was serious.

The high priest wore the garments and insignia of the one in charge, but he

was violating the very Law he was charged with enforcing! Such happens

today as well. Sometimes pastors violate the Scriptures by being immoral.

Sometimes pastors violate the theology of Scripture. Their position says

they are in charge; their actions say they are merely “plastered over.” They

are not on the inside what they appear and pretend to be. Should we

call them out when they do wrong? Yes, but with care that what we are

saying is for the support of the Gospel and not merely to show that we

are right. Instead of just condemning them, we need to pull them aside

and carefully instruct them, as Priscilla and Aquila did to Apollos (Acts 18:26).

What they do then is between them and the LORD. He will handle it all.

May the LORD lead and bless you all this day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas