Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial." And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees' party stood up and contended sharply, "We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?" And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. — Acts 23:6-10

From the start of Acts, we said that the resurrection of Jesus is the central message and concern of this book. And this rings true here again.

Paul understands a couple of things. First, he understands the reason he is in this situation is that he was proclaiming the resurrection from the dead. Second, he also understands there was this longstanding division on the high council about this matter. At present, the high council is divided into two camps. Camp one represented those who rejected the resurrection — Sadduccees. Camp two represented those who accepted the resurrection — Pharisees. And thus, by presenting this issue, he lets the council fight with themselves rather than him.

Now you have to admit that this was a pretty cunning move by Paul. Because the primary reason for the trial was not the resurrection. The primary reason for the trial was concern that Paul brought a Gentile into an off-limits area of the temple. But this never gets mentioned. They are so distracted by the hotly debated issue of the resurrection that the instigating matter is never discussed. And they don't even touch the most divisive issue on the table — the specific belief that Paul proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah raised from the dead. What they end up arguing about is the general bodily resurrection from the dead. Not Jesus raised from the dead.

The only takeaway I see here is this. Sometimes it's okay to let people who want to argue, argue with themselves. Just let them argue over the issues of relevance to them and get out of the way. I think we are watching this happening right before our eyes. If you want to put this to the test, do this. Tonight turn on CNN for one hour. And then, for the next hour, turn on FOX NEWS. And watch and see what they are doing. All they are doing is arguing with one another at our expense. You know what I think Paul would say about this if he were watching this today. He might say this:

"Let them argue with themselves. You know what I am going to do. I'm going live out the calling Jesus gave to me and present the gospel to those who are lost."

Today concern yourself with issues that matter, and let God address everything else.

ASK THIS: What is something that others are concerning you with that only God can address?

DO THIS: Give it to God, and concern yourself with living out the gospel.

PRAY THIS: God, may I not be distracted by meaningless issues that divert me from matters that matter.

PLAY THIS: C. West - Focus.

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