What did Paul mean when he called Ananias a whited wall?
Paul meant Ananias was a blatant hypocrite—a religious leader who knew nothing of the things of God. Although Ananias sat to judge Paul by the law, he commanded Paul to be struck contrary to the law. The phrase exposed his hollow religious standing and lawless conduct.
Les explains that when Paul called Ananias a “whited wall,” he was in so many words calling him a blatant hypocrite—a religious leader who knew nothing of the things of God. The setting is Acts 23, where Paul stood before Israel’s religious leaders and Ananias the high priest ordered those standing by to smite Paul on the mouth, because in Ananias’ mind Paul was lying about having lived in good conscience before God. Paul fired back rather than standing there like a milk toast. Les notes that while this should not be the common thing for a believer to do, if it is impossible to do anything else, one may have to exert Christian rights. Paul then charged that Ananias sat to judge him after the law while commanding him to be smitten contrary to the law.
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?