Religion & Spirituality
The Purpose of Culture, Part 6 {byline} Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?” Acts 23.1-3 Listen Now | Download jwplayer('avreloaded8').setup({ 'id': 'playerID', 'width': '272', 'height': '24', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'allowfullscreen': 'false', 'usefullscreen': 'false', 'file': '/images/content/wilberforce/audio/vpculturelove/vpculturelove6.mp3', 'modes': [ {type: 'flash', src: '/includes/js/player.swf'}, {type: 'html5'}, {type: 'download'} ] }); Sic ‘em!I have to tell you, this is one of my favorite passages in the whole of Scripture. Here is Paul, stung by an abuse of culture and a transgression of civility, laying into the highest religious official in Israel, complete with name-calling and threats of retribution from God.