Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 229

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222 LIFE OF PAUL , innocence offended his accusers, and when he fearlesslyaddressedthem," Men and brethren, Ihave livedinallgoodconsciencebeforeGod until thisday, theirhatredwas kindledafresh,and the high priestorderedhim tobe smittenuponthe mouth . At this inhuman command , Paul exclaimed, " God shallsmite thee, thou whited wall,forsittestthouto judge me afterthe law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law ?" These words were not an outburst of passion. Under theinfluenceoftheHoly Spirit, Pauluttereda propheticdenunciationsimilartothatwhich Christhad utteredin rebukingthe hypocrisyof the Jews. The judgment pronounced by the apostlewas terriblyfulfilled when theiniquitousand hypocriticalhighpriest was murdered by assassinsin the Jewish war. But thebystandersregardedthewords of Paul as profane, and exclaimedwith horror, vilestthouGod's high priest?" Paul answered, with his usual courtesy, " I wist not, brethren, thathe was the high priest; for it is written,Thou shaltnot speak evilof the rulerof thy people." " RePaul was convincedthat he could not hope for a fair trialand just decisionat this tribunal, And his naturalpenetrationand shrewdness enabledhim totake advantage ofthecircumstances. The Sanhedrim councilwas made up of Phariscesand Sadducees,who had long been at variance upon the doctrine of the resurrection. Knowing this, the apostlecriedout, in clear, decidedtones, "Brethren,I am a Pharisee, the sonof a Pharisee; of thehope and resurrection of the dead I am calledin question." These words,appealingto the sympathicsof