Thou Whited Wall

In reading the account of Paul’s appearance before the ” higher powers “, we must keep in mind the commands and promise of Christ to his Apostles on such occasions (Luke xxi. 14, 15), that when brought before kings and rulers for his name’s sake, they were

” not to meditate before what ye shall answer; For Iwill give you a mouth and wisdom “. Of Paul, Jesus expressly stated : ”

he is a chosen vessel unto me, tobear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and thechildren of Israel ” (Acts ix. 15).

Clearly, therefore, the authority of Jesus was as manifest through the ” mouth ” of Paul in calling this unrighteous ” High Priest ” a ” whited wall ” (Acts xxiii. 3) as when he himself denounced the Scribes and Pharisees as ” whited sepulchres ” (Matt, xxiii. 27).

Evidence also shows that Ananias was not the legitimate High Priest, which explains Paul’s words in Acts xxiii. 5.
It is interesting to note that Josephus says that Ananias met with a violent death, showing that Paul’s prophecy:

” God shall smite thee ” (Acts xxiii. 8),

was duly fulfilled (” Wars ” ii. xviii. 9).