Acts 23:12-22 The Plot Against Paul 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. Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”
Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”
And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”
So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.”
Paul has a bright nephew in Jerusalem. While Paul is confronting the Sanhedrin, this young man is quietly hanging around listening for any plans to hurt Paul. The morning after Paul’s confrontation with the Sanhedrin, more than forty Jewish zealots band together, taking strong oaths that they will neither eat nor drink anything until they have murdered Paul. This group sends word to the Jewish leaders that they should manipulate the Romans to bring Paul back for further examination. At that time, these men will fall upon Paul and kill him. When Paul hears of the plot, he reports it to one of the centurions, who immediately sends Paul’s nephew to the commander.
Even though Paul is a prisoner, he has evidently impressed the Roman centurions as well as the commander. Paul speaks fluent Greek and likely also speaks fluent Latin, something that would put the Romans at ease. There’s nothing simple about trying to keep order among a people with whom you struggle to communicate. As a scholar, Paul might be able to quote a few of the famous Roman writers, something else that would impress the Romans. And Paul is used to meeting and chatting with people from all kinds of ethnic groups and all levels of society. The Jewish religious leaders, secure in their status, have quite possibly given the Romans the feeling that they are somehow socially superior, never a good idea, considering the fact that Jerusalem is under Roman rule. This report of a plot against Paul gives the Roman commander a wonderful opportunity to pass this problem on to someone else.
Acts 23:23- 35 Sent to Felix
“And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” He wrote a letter in the following manner:
Claudius Lysias,
To the most excellent governor Felix:
Greetings.
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. And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.
Farewell.”
“Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.”
Well! The Roman commander in Jerusalem is doing his best to impress his superiors that he will protect Roman citizens at any cost. The commander organizes 200 soldiers, 200 spearmen, and seventy horsemen, plus mounts for Paul and whoever is traveling with him. This armed group leaves Jerusalem by night, traveling toward the port of Caesarea. So much for that carefully contrived plot. The commander also sends a very carefully worded letter to Felix, the governor, acknowledging Felix’s authority as well as hinting that the Jewish religious leaders will eventually make an appearance.
The story of Paul’s narrow escape from forty would-be assassins illustrates the way God can deliver His people. Because Paul has made such a good impression on the commander and because of his Roman citizenship, the commander sends 400 soldiers plus seventy horsemen, an incredible number of defenders. God has given Paul favor, and Paul’s life is spared.
Sometimes we might feel that God doesn’t care about us or that He has even forgotten us. But this story of Paul’s escape illustrates the fact that God can and will deliver miraculously. J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, used to say that “God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” Sometimes we may wonder if this is true, but God doesn’t play favorites. What God has done for Paul, God can do for any of us if the situation demands it.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust Your provision and Your protection. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment