Lives of Scripture

Ananias served as high priest when Paul was brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin in Jerusalem after his arrest in the temple. As Paul opened his defense by declaring he had lived before God "in all good conscience," Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth (Acts 23:1-2). Paul responded sharply, "God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?" -- then, told he had spoken against the high priest, Paul acknowledged he had not recognized him and cited the command not to speak evil of a ruler of the people (23:3-5). Ananias next appears in Acts 24:1, traveling to Caesarea with elders and an attorney named Tertullus to formally accuse Paul before the Roman governor Felix, charging him with being a troublemaker and temple-desecrator. Historically, Ananias son of Nedebaeus was a controversial high priest known for corruption and violence, later killed by Jewish rebels at the outset of the war with Rome in AD 66. His conduct toward Paul -- ordering an illegal assault mid-trial and later pursuing a politically motivated prosecution -- exemplifies the very abuse of religious power the prophets and Jesus both condemned.