Thank you. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans telling them all things work together for good for those who love God.

Was that somehow easier for Paul to believe because he had been uniquely commissioned by Jesus?

Today on Truth for Life, Alistair Begg reminds us that the mighty apostle wasn't a perfect man,

he was ordinary, like you and me.

Our scripture reading this morning, it's Acts chapter 22 and verse 30 through to the 11th verse of Acts chapter 23. And if you care to turn to it, I will read it in your hearing, and you can follow along.

As I read verse 30, the concluding verse of Acts 22 is where we begin our reading.

The next day, since the commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered

the chief priests and all the Sanhedron to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before

them. Paul looked straight at the Sanhedron and said, my brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.

At this, the high priest, Ananias, ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

Then Paul said to him, God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. You sit there to judge me according to the law,

yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck. Those who were standing near,

Paul said, you dare to insult God's high priest? Paul replied, brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest,

for it is written, do not speak evil about the ruler of your people. Then Paul, knowing that some of them

were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedron. My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee,

I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead. When he said this, a dispute broke

out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the assembly was divided. The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection and that there are

neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledged them all. There was a great uproar,

and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously.

We find nothing wrong with this man,

they said. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him? The dispute became so violent that the

commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take

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