And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Acts 23:2

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Chapter 23 began with Paul telling the council that he had citizened in all good conscience before God, even until that day. With that, a violent reaction occurs. What Luke records begins with, “And the high priest Ananias.”

This Ananias would have been the son of Nebedæus. He had been suspended from his office during the reign of Emperor Claudius for an offense. At that time, he was sent to Rome (Josephus Ant. xx. 6, 2).

The Pulpit Commentary says, “He was a violent, haughty, gluttonous, and rapacious man, and yet looked up to by the Jews.”

Vincent’s Word Studies says, “He is described as a revengeful and rapacious tyrant. We are told that he reduced the inferior priests almost to starvation by defrauding them of their tithes, and sent his creatures to the threshing-floors with bludgeons to seize the tithes by force.”

This repugnant man then “commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.”

The words more exactingly read, “to strike his mouth.” It is referring to Paul’s mouth. He was brought before the council to state his case. With his opening words, this violent reaction from the vile high priest of Israel was to strike the place from which his words uttered.

The conduct of the high priest bears out that he was at least a law-breaker and a violent man. Paul had done nothing wrong, and he had not been convicted of any wrongdoing. And yet, he was punished in violation of the law. There was first to be a conviction before any punishment could be meted out.

Life application: In once Christ-honoring countries of the world, the radical and violent left, just like Ananias, has taken over to the point that laws are flippantly disobeyed. Those who commit horrendous crimes are given little or no sentences at all, and those who defend themselves and their families are counted as criminals.

Violence in the left-leaning cities is completely out of control, the citizens live in fear, and God is mocked at every meeting of the city councils. Nations are becoming ripe for judgment because of these ungodly people. And what is worse is that they are only getting worse with each passing day. They have lost any sense of moral reason and have become like those described by Jude –

“But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.” Jude 1:10

Various translations say, “unreasoning animals,” “irrational animals,” “unthinking animals,” “wild animals,” “creatures without reason,” etc. The point is that they have devolved in their thinking to the point where they no longer carry any sense of human cognition, morality, care for others, etc.

And more, these people have moved into the pulpit and the classroom. They are rearing a generation of people just like them, spiritually dead and morally without care or cognition. This cannot end well.

It is incumbent on all to do their utmost to stand against this unholy tide of violence and perversion, even if it means being ostracized or labeled in a manner that is untrue concerning the faith they possess. We cannot remain silent about our convictions or in our votes without being guilty of allowing these things to devolve further.

O God, help us to be strong in our resolve as we stand against the moral perverseness of those who have taken over much of our societies in the world today. If we must pay a cost for our speech, may it be to Your honor and glory that we do so. Help us to be fixed and firm in our doctrine, standing on Your word as we conduct our lives before You. Amen.