Acts 23:1-5: a reflection

Standing before the council, Paul begins by declaring that he has lived in all good conscience before God. At this, the high priest orders him struck on the mouth, and Paul, stung by the injustice, responds sharply: God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me by the law, and yet order me struck contrary to the law? But when those nearby tell him that the man he has rebuked is the high priest, Paul at once draws back: I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.

Notice how quickly Paul corrects himself. He had spoken sharply, and perhaps not without cause, for he had been struck unjustly. But when he learns that he has spoken against the high priest in a way that Scripture forbids, he does not defend himself or justify his words; he immediately acknowledges the Scripture and retracts. Even in the heat of the moment, even when he had been wronged, Paul was ready to admit fault and submit to God's word the instant he saw he had crossed it.

That is a humility worth imitating. It is hard, especially when we have been wronged and our words had some justification, to admit that we spoke wrongly. But Paul, shown that he had spoken against what Scripture commands, corrected himself at once, without excuse. When you are shown that you have spoken or acted wrongly, even in a situation where you were wronged, be quick to acknowledge it, as Paul was. Do not cling to your words or justify yourself when God's word convicts you; admit the fault and submit to Scripture, even in the heat of the moment. A readiness to correct ourselves the instant we see we are wrong is a mark of a humble heart submitted to God's word.