Acts 23

Acts 23:3
God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall!
 
I love the Bible. It doesn’t paper over the faults of our greatest heroes. Paul pens the beautiful words, “Love is patient, love is kind.” He lists one of the fruits of the Spirit as self-control. And, yet, what we see here is neither patient, kind, nor self-controlled. He was slapped in the mouth and he shot back with some bitter venom of his own.
 
Have you ever said something that you later regretted? Fired something off in the moment you wished you could get back? Of course, you have. Even the greats have had moments of weakness. But, thankfully, Paul didn’t try to defend his behavior (see verse 5). And, guess what, neither should we. It would’ve been nice if we avoided it altogether, but now that it’s out there, we may as well take responsibility for our indiscretion.