Acts 23:12-35: "Jews plan foiled"
After a couple of long hard days of defending himself and being physically beaten Paul is encouraged by the Lord to continue to proclaim the gospel in Rome. Paul will find out shortly how this will take place as the Lord will lead Him to Rome to save his life from the plotting Jews.
V.12 immediately takes us back to what the Jews are doing after Paul was taken from the council. Their frustration and hatred for Paul has hit its peaking point, as he has been taken from them twice now by the roman soldiers. Their vehemence for Paul runs so deep that many of them, "bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul". Paul must have felt like David. No matter what he did or where he went he had crazed men desiring his life. Thankfully, he had been encouraged by the Lord that past evening, and was prepared to handle the news that awaited him.
V.13-15 reveals the plot of the Jews to kill Paul. Interestingly, as pious and religious as these men made themselves out to be, we can see them exposed for the blood-thirsty liars they truly were. Breaking one of God's commands, they plan on lying to the Roman commander to get Paul in their grasp. Deceitfully they planned on, "notify[ing] the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place. I think that Paul summarizes them perfectly in Romans as he is quoting from Psalms, "Their throat is an open grave with their tongues they keep deceiving, theo poison of asps is under their lips; who mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace have they not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Rom3:13-18). This is a clear description of the Jewish men who sought Paul's life.
Fortunately, God sovereignly allows Paul's brother-in-law to hear of the Jewish plot for Paul's life. Immediately after hearing about the plot to kill Paul, the brother-in-law goes to tell Paul about it. Because Paul had not been officially charged with anything at this point he was only being held. Therefore, visitors were allowed. Paul tells the young man to tell the commander about the plot of the Jews. It was crucial that the young man be able to tell the Roman commander about the plot before the Jews approached him. That way he could act quickly to spare Paul.
In vv.19-22, Paul's brother-in-law informs the Roman commander about the plot to kill Paul and the commander asks him to, "tell no one that you have notified me of these things". He quickly prepares his army and takes swift action to get Paul to a safe place, as he will have no prisoner killed on his watch. "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen". The commander was clearly fed up with the Jews and the way they handled things. Knowing Paul was a Roman, and by the sovereign will of God, the commander took quick action to get Paul safely to Caesarea. He decides it best for his superior to take control from here as he writes to Felix the governor about the circumstances surrounding Paul. Not understanding the zealousness and spiritual blindness of the Jews, he states in his letter that he finds Paul, "to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment".
The soldiers get Paul safely to Felix and he asks Paul what Province he is from to see if this man was in his jurisdiction, which he was. To try to get to the bottom of what was going on, Felix sets up what will be one of many Roman trials for Paul in front of his accusers.
Two interesting things to note from this chapter. First, I find it amazing that the Jews did not get the hint that Paul was under God's provision. To see how many times he was successfully able to escape them, and His claims to be innocent before God, should have at least lead some of them to believe that the God who is omniscient and omnipresent was with Paul, helping him along the way. Second, this passage is a great example for God's provision and care for his people. David, who was sought out by evil men for a large portion of his life, probably felt many of the same things Paul did, was able to say, "That thou mayest grant him relief from the days of adversity, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not abandon His people, nor will he forsake His inheritance. For judgment will again be righteous; and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness? If the Lord had not been my help, My should would soon have dwelt in the abod of silence. If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, They consolations delight my soul" (Ps. 94:14-19) Is it not clear why God says he will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear? May we always be mindful of His amazing grace and provision.
V.12 immediately takes us back to what the Jews are doing after Paul was taken from the council. Their frustration and hatred for Paul has hit its peaking point, as he has been taken from them twice now by the roman soldiers. Their vehemence for Paul runs so deep that many of them, "bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul". Paul must have felt like David. No matter what he did or where he went he had crazed men desiring his life. Thankfully, he had been encouraged by the Lord that past evening, and was prepared to handle the news that awaited him.
V.13-15 reveals the plot of the Jews to kill Paul. Interestingly, as pious and religious as these men made themselves out to be, we can see them exposed for the blood-thirsty liars they truly were. Breaking one of God's commands, they plan on lying to the Roman commander to get Paul in their grasp. Deceitfully they planned on, "notify[ing] the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place. I think that Paul summarizes them perfectly in Romans as he is quoting from Psalms, "Their throat is an open grave with their tongues they keep deceiving, theo poison of asps is under their lips; who mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace have they not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes" (Rom3:13-18). This is a clear description of the Jewish men who sought Paul's life.
Fortunately, God sovereignly allows Paul's brother-in-law to hear of the Jewish plot for Paul's life. Immediately after hearing about the plot to kill Paul, the brother-in-law goes to tell Paul about it. Because Paul had not been officially charged with anything at this point he was only being held. Therefore, visitors were allowed. Paul tells the young man to tell the commander about the plot of the Jews. It was crucial that the young man be able to tell the Roman commander about the plot before the Jews approached him. That way he could act quickly to spare Paul.
In vv.19-22, Paul's brother-in-law informs the Roman commander about the plot to kill Paul and the commander asks him to, "tell no one that you have notified me of these things". He quickly prepares his army and takes swift action to get Paul to a safe place, as he will have no prisoner killed on his watch. "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen". The commander was clearly fed up with the Jews and the way they handled things. Knowing Paul was a Roman, and by the sovereign will of God, the commander took quick action to get Paul safely to Caesarea. He decides it best for his superior to take control from here as he writes to Felix the governor about the circumstances surrounding Paul. Not understanding the zealousness and spiritual blindness of the Jews, he states in his letter that he finds Paul, "to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment".
The soldiers get Paul safely to Felix and he asks Paul what Province he is from to see if this man was in his jurisdiction, which he was. To try to get to the bottom of what was going on, Felix sets up what will be one of many Roman trials for Paul in front of his accusers.
Two interesting things to note from this chapter. First, I find it amazing that the Jews did not get the hint that Paul was under God's provision. To see how many times he was successfully able to escape them, and His claims to be innocent before God, should have at least lead some of them to believe that the God who is omniscient and omnipresent was with Paul, helping him along the way. Second, this passage is a great example for God's provision and care for his people. David, who was sought out by evil men for a large portion of his life, probably felt many of the same things Paul did, was able to say, "That thou mayest grant him relief from the days of adversity, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not abandon His people, nor will he forsake His inheritance. For judgment will again be righteous; and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness? If the Lord had not been my help, My should would soon have dwelt in the abod of silence. If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, They consolations delight my soul" (Ps. 94:14-19) Is it not clear why God says he will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear? May we always be mindful of His amazing grace and provision.
posted by amesfam | 11:45 PM
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