High Priests?

rrobsr · Sep 5, 2017

Acts 5:15-16,

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Who could complain about this state of affairs in the early church? None other than the high priests!

Acts 5:17-18,

Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

Filled with indignation? Wow! What kind of high priests where these guys?

There have been very few and short periods of history when Christians weren't captured, imprisoned, tortured, and killed. It's going on somewhere in the world as you read this. Is it still the high priests causing the problem? If these priests, whoever they are, were teaching the words of God instead of the wisdom of man, the world would most assuredly be a markedly different world.

faroukfarouk · Sep 5, 2017

rrobsr said:
Acts 5:15-16,

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Who could complain about this state of affairs in the early church? None other than the high priests!

Acts 5:17-18,

Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

Filled with indignation? Wow! What kind of high priests where these guys?

There have been very few and short periods of history when Christians weren't captured, imprisoned, tortured, and killed. It's going on somewhere in the world as you read this. Is it still the high priests causing the problem? If these priests, whoever they are, were teaching the words of God instead of the wisdom of man, the world would most assuredly be a markedly different world.

The law has been changed and the Lord Jesus is now the believer's Great High Priest; the Epistle to the Hebrews shows this.

It's not only the behaviour of religious leaders that is at stake, but the doctrine on which they rest their ideas and practices.

rrobsr · Sep 5, 2017

faroukfarouk said:
The law has been changed and the Lord Jesus is now the believer's Great High Priest; the Epistle to the Hebrews shows this.

Very true. Couldn't have been better said. Now the task is to to get mankind as a whole to see this tremendous truth you brought out. God would like all to be saved (1 Tim 2:4). Unfortunately somebody has other ideas. In the book of Acts it was the high priests. Who is it now? Through whom is the devil now filling people's minds with lies? Is it still the religious hierarchy?

Dave-W · Sep 5, 2017

rrobsr said:
Filled with indignation? Wow! What kind of high priests where these guys?

The first law of being in power is to do what you can to stay in power.

The Sadducean caste led by the High Priest served in that capacity at Rome's pleasure. Having someone do miracles and stirring up the people meant Rome may be displeased and remove them from office. (remove = execute)

thetruth0 · Sep 5, 2017

Here is another passage the High Priests which you have identified as wicked are responsible for. yet, it is the foundation of the belief in Religious Christianity. So i ask you, if the High Priests are wicked, and the GOD said they were vipers, why would the GOD use one to Prophesy? Except ye have the Spirit of Prophecy - that is to say, be a true Prophet, you cannot Prophesy the WORDS of GOD.

47Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

rrobsr · Sep 5, 2017

Dave-W said:
The first law of being in power is to do what you can to stay in power.

The Sadducean caste led by the High Priest served in that capacity at Rome's pleasure. Having someone do miracles and stirring up the people meant Rome may be displeased and remove them from office. (remove = execute)

What kind of person would allow their lust for power to trump the healing of physically and mentally sick people? It's a spiritual battle, so we know the commander is the devil. But through whom does he spread his lies? In Acts it was the church. Has he exchanged his agent, the church leaders, for another? Or is it still the church?

Be assured that I don't consider my battle to be against any man. For one thing, there is, to my knowledge, no man upon the blame fully lays. But more to the point, the scriptures say our battle is spiritual. Nonetheless, the devil controls men's carnal minds through lies told by people to other people, usually religious leaders to their flock. At least that was the case in the book of Acts. Again, I ask, has it changed?

To this day there is a large segment of the world's population (notably "enlightened" societies) who believe Christians are something less than intelligent, logical, productive citizens. Just short of Baboons could describe many people's impressions of Christians who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, those who routinely declare their love for God to others, those who actually believe in miracles and healing. Who gave them that idea? The devil, But how and through whom has he spread that impression throughout history? Is society shaped by the civil or the church? Who instructs who in "right" living?

rrobsr · Sep 5, 2017

thetruth0 said:
Here is another passage the High Priests which you have identified as wicked are responsible for. yet, it is the foundation of the belief in Religious Christianity. So i ask you, if the High Priests are wicked, and the GOD said they were vipers, why would the GOD use one to Prophesy? Except ye have the Spirit of Prophecy - that is to say, be a true Prophet, you cannot Prophesy the WORDS of GOD.

47Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

He was quoting OT scripture which, as a priest, he surely would have known. In the time and culture of the Bible prophecy simply meant holding forth the word of God. It didn't necessarily mean foretelling the future. It wasn't until much later that people came to understand prophecy as always foretelling the future. You can confirm all of that fairly easily.

Just because he quoted scripture didn't make him the servant of God. The devil himself often quotes scripture. Look at the outcome of his actions. That's when they decided for sure that Jesus must die. God had nothing to do with this high priest. It was not long before this incident that Jesus told the religious leaders that their father was the devil (John 8:44). The harsh reality is that every motivation of that high priest was devilish.

thetruth0 · Sep 5, 2017

rrobsr said:
He was quoting OT scripture which, as a priest, he surely would have known. In the time and culture of the Bible prophecy simply meant holding forth the word of God. It didn't necessarily mean foretelling the future. It wasn't until much later that people came to understand prophecy as always foretelling the future. You can confirm all of that fairly easily.

Just because he quoted scripture didn't make him the servant of God. The devil himself often quotes scripture. Look at the outcome of his actions. That's when they decided for sure that Jesus must die. God had nothing to do with this high priest. It was not long before this incident that Jesus told the religious leaders that their father was the devil (John 8:44). The harsh reality is that every motivation of that high priest was devilish.

Im sorry but that is incorrect. It was a conspiracy to kill JESUS CHRIST our Supreme LORD just as they conspired to kill lazarus after he was raised from the dead, just as they wanted to kill the Apostles. It is a lie forged by the High Priest of the Pharisees and that is the strong delusion which has been in operation in the earth.

rrobsr · Sep 5, 2017

thetruth0 said:
Im sorry but that is incorrect. It was a conspiracy to kill JESUS CHRIST our Supreme LORD just as they conspired to kill lazarus after he was raised from the dead, just as they wanted to kill the Apostles. It is a lie forged by the High Priest of the Pharisees and that is the strong delusion which has been in operation in the earth.

Incorrect? Unless I'm missing something, I think if you reread my original reply you'll see we are in complete agreement. If you don't think so, please quote my incorrect statement(s). Maybe I wasn't clear in my post. To clarify, I averred that the church leaders, including the high priest, of the time were children of the devil. That's not my idea.That's what Jesus called them. Does that not accord with your statement that the high priest forged a lie to deceive the peoples of the earth? I think we are of one mind on this matter.

thetruth0 · Sep 5, 2017

rrobsr said:
Incorrect? Unless I'm missing something, I think if you reread my original reply you'll see we are in complete agreement. If you don't think so, please quote my incorrect statement(s). Maybe I wasn't clear in my post. To clarify, I averred that the church leaders, including the high priest, of the time were children of the devil. That's not my idea.That's what Jesus called them. Does that not accord with your statement that the high priest forged a lie to deceive the peoples of the earth? I think we are of one mind on this matter.

'
Yes, we do agree. However, The basis of Christianity is that JESUS our Supreme LORD came to die for the sins of the world, not just for the nation but for the whole world. This is the lie that was forged by these children of the devil which 99% of Christians believe. Therefore, the strong delusion.

the GOD i know does not delight in sacrifice, but Mercy. The GOD i know does not practice human sacrifice, that is of the occult. And we see that its entire concept is founded by those HE called, children of the devil. Where is the righteousness in celebrating the death of the one that came to save you?

11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Dave-W · Sep 6, 2017

rrobsr said:
What kind of person would allow their lust for power to trump the healing of physically and mentally sick people?

Those trying to keep from getting killed by the Romans.

Dave-W · Sep 6, 2017

thetruth0 said:
. It is a lie forged by the High Priest of the Pharisees

The High Priest was NOT a Pharisee. He was a Sadducee.

BIG difference.

Acts 5:17
But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.

Dave-W · Sep 6, 2017

thetruth0 said:
So i ask you, if the High Priests are wicked, and the GOD said they were vipers, why would the GOD use one to Prophesy? Except ye have the Spirit of Prophecy - that is to say, be a true Prophet, you cannot Prophesy the WORDS of GOD.

That is actually NOT true. There is a phrase in there that often gets overlooked:

John 11:51
Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,

God honored the OFFICE, not the man. The same thing happened to king Saul even as he was trying to kill David:

1 Samuel 19:18
Now David fled and escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. 19 It was told Saul, saying, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.” 20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David, but when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing and presiding over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied. 21 When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. So Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Then he himself went to Ramah and came as far as the large well that is in Secu; and he asked and said, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.” 23 He proceeded there to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also, so that he went along prophesying continually until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 He also stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

God honors the office. Even a gross sinner who is fighting against God and His plans may TRULY prophesy at times. That is because prophecy (and other supernatural sign gifts) are a function of "Spirit Upon" instead of "Spirit Within." And that is a teaching/discussion for another folder.

rrobsr · Sep 6, 2017

Dave-W said:
Those trying to keep from getting killed by the Romans.

Yeah, like the Romans have more to offer than our Lord Jesus Christ!

Dave-W · Sep 6, 2017

rrobsr said:
Yeah, like the Romans have more to offer than our Lord Jesus Christ!

Hind sight is 20-20. I am sure it did not look that way to the priests.

rrobsr · Sep 6, 2017

Dave-W said:
Hind sight is 20-20. I am sure it did not look that way to the priests.

Jesus was pretty straightforward with what he could do for them. Eternal life for starters. Surely they didn't think the Romans could do better. As bad as they were, they weren't that stupid.

Dave-W · Sep 6, 2017

rrobsr said:
Jesus was pretty straightforward with what he could do for them. Eternal life for starters. Surely they didn't think the Romans could do better. As bad as they were, they weren't that stupid.

But they did not believe Him. They thought he was just another powerless messiah-wannabe.

rrobsr · Sep 6, 2017

Dave-W said:
But they did not believe Him. They thought he was just another powerless messiah-wannabe.

You're right about that. They weren't even very good with the hindsight you mentioned. Even after the resurrection of Jesus they were still against the Apostles and Jesus' message. The religious leaders beat them, they killed Stephen and many others. Their hate for believers never stopped throughout the book of Acts.

BTW, looks like God has blessed you with a really nice family. Good for you!

ViaCrucis · Sep 6, 2017

rrobsr said:
Jesus was pretty straightforward with what he could do for them. Eternal life for starters. Surely they didn't think the Romans could do better. As bad as they were, they weren't that stupid.

Jesus wasn't the first or last person to claim to be the Messiah. The Sadducees also didn't believe in a messiah, Sadducees were "Torah-only" Jews, they by and large did not accept the Prophets or any of the various Writings which the Pharisees also accepted; they rejected the belief in the messiah, they rejected all eschatological teachings concerning life after death and the future resurrection of the dead. From the perspective of a faithful Sadducean Jew anyone claiming to be the Messiah was a false messiah, and seeing as Rome's usual methods for dealing with messianic claimants was to come down with a massive hammer of vengeance (usually resulting in all Jews in Palestine suffering in some way), the high priests saw it in the best interest of themselves--and their fellow Jews--to acquiesce to Rome, not stir trouble, and to keep the peace.

That they were wrong about Jesus doesn't change the fact that from their perspective and position, the decision they made was, in their estimation, the best course of action.

-CryptoLutheran

rrobsr · Sep 7, 2017

ViaCrucis said:
Jesus wasn't the first or last person to claim to be the Messiah. The Sadducees also didn't believe in a messiah, Sadducees were "Torah-only" Jews, they by and large did not accept the Prophets or any of the various Writings which the Pharisees also accepted; they rejected the belief in the messiah, they rejected all eschatological teachings concerning life after death and the future resurrection of the dead. From the perspective of a faithful Sadducean Jew anyone claiming to be the Messiah was a false messiah, and seeing as Rome's usual methods for dealing with messianic claimants was to come down with a massive hammer of vengeance (usually resulting in all Jews in Palestine suffering in some way), the high priests saw it in the best interest of themselves--and their fellow Jews--to acquiesce to Rome, not stir trouble, and to keep the peace.

That they were wrong about Jesus doesn't change the fact that from their perspective and position, the decision they made was, in their estimation, the best course of action.

-CryptoLutheran

They undoubtedly thought they were right. Every man sees himself as right.

Prov 21:2,

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Prov 16:2,

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

They thought they were right, but the Lord saw things differently. Jesus said they were born again of the devil's seed.

John 8:44,

Ye (Pharisees, religious leaders) are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

There is no excuse for their actions. Jesus may have been one of many who claimed to be the messiah, but he was the only one to get up from the grave. The unsavoury things they did to the Apostles and others in the book of Acts all occurred after that resurrection. As children of the devil they were simply blinded to the truth.

High Priests?

Active Member

Fading curmudgeon

Active Member

Welcoming grandchild #7, Arturus Waggoner!

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Active Member

Welcoming grandchild #7, Arturus Waggoner!

Welcoming grandchild #7, Arturus Waggoner!

Welcoming grandchild #7, Arturus Waggoner!

Active Member

Welcoming grandchild #7, Arturus Waggoner!

Active Member

Welcoming grandchild #7, Arturus Waggoner!

Active Member

Confessional Lutheran

Active Member

Similar threads