Things were getting tough for Paul. His case is brought before two notorious men.
First there's Ananias who has a reputation for being a glutton, thief and a robber. When he sees that Paul has some attitude he orders that he be struck, which was a violation of the Mosaic Law. (basically anyone who hit an Israelite-strikes the glory of God). Paul strikes back verbally by calling him a white washed wall. It was an ancient custom to white wash tombs so that Israelites wouldn't accidental touch a dead body making themselves ceremonially unclean. Paul obviously knew that Ananias was the high priest. But he retorts with essentially "I never knew a man could act like you and still be a high priest of Israel."
Paul was next brought before the Roman governor Felix. Felix started life as a slave. His brother, Pallas was a favorite of Nero. Pallas had used his influence to have Felix freed and then appointed governor. In fact he was the first slave in history to become a governor of a Roman province. Felix had been married three times. His third and current wife was Drusilla, the daughter of Herod Agrippa the First. Felix was completely unscrupulous and capable of hiring thugs to murder his closest supports.
No comments:
Post a Comment