The Human Judge in the Presence of the Divine
Acts 23:3
Then said Paul to him, God shall smite you, you white washed wall: for sit you to judge me after the law…


Sittest thou to judge me, etc.? (see celebrated sermon by Rev. Sydney Smith, preached at York, March 28, 1824).

I. The law of man rests on the Law of God.

1. In its aims.

2. In its execution.

II. The blessing of a faithfully kept and righteously administered system of justice, which, notwithstanding all human infirmities, can be maintained.

III. The bar of human law both a prediction and an evidence of the future judgment. Yet the imperfections of earthly justice remind us that God shall make up all inequalities, and show hereafter perfectly that all justice is love.

IV. The corruption of Jewish Law proved the necessity of a better law, the law of Christ, which is not a despotic law, but "peace, and righteousness, and joy in the Holy Ghost;" not smiting our neighbor, but "bearing one another's burdens." - R.



Parallel Verses
KJV: Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

WEB: Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?"




Passion Under Insult
Top of Page
Top of Page