God will strike fakes

Acts 23:1 Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."

This is a very interesting verse. Paul (formerly Saul) was always desiring to serve God. He didn't always get it right because he was taught the doctrine of men his whole life, yet he thought he was serving God. When Jesus entered his life he was completely transformed and was for the first time, truly serving God. So, Paul has every right to say, "I have lived in all good conscience before God"....was he always right?....NO....but he was always seeking The Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Notice in these next verses how Paul tells it like it is. The high priest thinks he is doing the will of God, but is clearly confused....OR....he is seeking his own selfish power and/or satisfaction. Even though these verses show how an "ultra religious" person is confused and deceived, the parralell can be made to many today. Paul could make this same statement to those who are pretending to be Christians, yet are completely disobedient to The Word of God. Paul wouldn't pull any punches, so why do we? Paul would probably say something like, "God will strike you, you who pretend to belong to Christ yet live to satisfy your flesh in the lusts of this world."

Act 23:2-3 And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.
3 Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?"

Paul ready to face death and not shying away from being bold for Jesus, now gets new marching orders from The Lord:

Acts 23:11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."

Acts 23:12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

I wonder if they died of starvation or if they broke their oath....because as we can see from verse 11, Paul is going to Rome, and as we see in verse 27, Paul's Roman citizenship (orchistrated by God) has protected him again:

Acts 23:27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.