I Didn't Recognize the High Priest

"And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people." (Acts 23:1-5) (Note: Here Paul paraphrases from Exodus 22:28)


"I didn't recognize him."  Of course Paul knew that Ananias was the High Priest!  In the next passage, Paul declares to the group that he is a Pharisee and a Pharisee would know the High Priest.  Paul was using the words in the same way we might today.  He was being sarcastic, telling Ananias that he did not recognize Ananias' authority.  He also was asking Ananias how he dared to judge Paul (Acts 23:3).  Paul knew exactly who he was, God's apostle, and he was not shy about exerting his own authority.