41st Day of Easter, Friday May 22: Acts 22:30-23:11

Paul resumes his speech by asserting his lifelong clear conscience. He is not agonizing with a guilty conscience – but asserting that he always does the best with what he’s got. Struck, he says ‘God’ll get you for that’ – but when he learns he has insulted the high priest, he apologizes, respecting the office if not the man. There’s a guy with a clear conscience!

Paul’s next gambit is shrewd. He sizes up his crowd, sees Pharisees and
Sadducees, and chooses a wedge issue to split their unholy alliance as a lynch mob. He claims his Pharisaic affirmation of resurrection of the dead is what motivates Sadducees against him. The infighting takes over, and the tribune rescues Paul from the midst of the mob, into protective custody. Who looks foolish, and who looks righteous, in the scenario?