Paul’s actions seem a bit strange. To begin with, he insulted the High Priest, Ananais who was enraged by Paul’s opening remark that his conscience was clear. It seemed to him that Paul’s claim that, although now a Christian, he was still a good Jew, was arrogant. To the High Priest the idea that Jesus was the Messiah or that He had risen from the dead was a blasphemous concept. Paul’s response seems to reflect a feeling of anger, which could be justified. Jesus had similar words for the hypocritical Pharisees. Yet when the Lord was before the Sanhedrin on the night He was betrayed, He was struck in the face, but did not respond. More than likely though Paul may not have known he was addressing the high priest. He was known to have had poor eyesight (Gal.4:13-16; 6:11) so that the term “white-washed wall” may have been not so much a reference to hypocrisy as an allusion to a white-robed figure across the court whom Paul could only dimly perceive. Still, the accusation was true whether or not he knew it.
Paul also made remarks about the resurrection that seem designed to deliberately set the Pharisees and the Sadducees against each other. Yet we should not see this as an attempt to curry favor with one side, but as an expression of the gospel spoken out of concern for his accusers. This triggered off further argument, which became violent. After the confrontation between Paul, Ananias, and the Sadducees, the Lord Jesus appeared to Paul and comforted him with the promise that would allay any doubts about his present trial. The Lord told him he would carry the gospel to Rome. This promise would give him the courage and perseverance he would need to carry on during his two years’ imprisonment, his three trials and his perilous voyage to Rome.
Paul’s respect for his accusers should teach us a lesson about relating to others. When we Christians face people who accuse us of wrongdoing, we ought not respond with anger but with respect and love. They may be fools and hypocrites but if we point that out, it will only make them angrier. If we argue with kindness, wisdom and sobriety we may plant the seeds of faith or at very least give our accusers pause for thought.
Theophany: Meeting With God In His Word 