THOU SHALT NOT SPEAK EVIL OF THE RULER

In these verses in Acts, Paul indignantly objected to the high priest’s orders to assault him. His retort was sharp and stinging, and occasioned rebuke. It is a testimony to his knowledge of scripture that he was able to apply this isolated command to the situation. Similarly, when the disciples saw the Lord Jesus cleansing the temple, at once they related it to Psalm 69 verse 9; they remembered that it was written ‘the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up’, John 2.17. These men knew the Bible: let it be a challenge to us as to how familiar we are with the scriptures and as to how well we are able to apply them to the circum­stances of life.

This command does not relate to an armed struggle, or trea­son, or a coup d’etat. It is to counter the habit of even criticising those who are in authority. No doubt, many in positions of gov­ernment leave themselves open for censure. Their ‘private lives’ can be shady and some of their projects seem a far cry from the teaching of the word of God, but it is not the believer’s duty to oppose them either by political conflict or armed resistance. The saint of God can have a major input into the affairs of state by praying for ‘all that are in authority’, 1 Tim. 2. 2. ‘Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers’, Rom. 13.1.

There is another sphere where divinely appointed rule is in place and that is in connection with the assembly of God. Elders are appointed by the Holy Spirit, Acts 20. 28, and part of their function is to exercise rule, 1 Tim. 5. 17. That rule must never be dictatorial, 1 Pet. 5. 3, but these men, under Christ, do have the responsibility to guide the assembly from the word of God, Heb. 13. 7. Their task can be difficult enough in itself, and thus to speak evil of them and to undermine them aggravates their problems. Remember, ‘they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy’, Heb. 13.17.

Speaking evil of the ruler inevitably leads to division. Absa­lom insinuated that his father’s regime was incompetent and it led to conflict, 2 Sam. 15. 3-4. By contrast, be willing to esteem those who are ‘over you in the Lord’ and ‘be at peace among yourselves’, 1 Thess. 5. 12-13.