Acts 23:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. 3 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?
This text has been used by many in an attempt to support the notion that Christians can curse. “Even Paul cursed the high priest,” they say. However, observe the succedent texts (what happened afterwards);
Acts 23:4-5 (NKJV)
4 And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest 5 Then Paul said, “I DID NOT KNOW, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL of a ruler of your people.’
Do you see that? Paul knew what he had done was wrong and he repented. Therefore, vv. 1-3 can seen as Paul responding hastily and in anger but he repented of what he said. This cannot be used to support cursing your enemies. If anything, it teaches you to control your temper and mind your words.
(For a detailed study on this, get the sermon “Coals of Fire: How to pay back your enemies” by Pastor Josh Banks)
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2021.
