Scary situations but protected by God. Paul was in lots of them. This one among them. Protection by Romans too.
Before we start, let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the excitement in Acts. Thank you for the constant protection of Your people. While I know that that protection isn’t always to remain here, it is always to remain with You and with You is far better. Lead me through this chapter and reveal all You want me to see. For Your glory, Lord. Always.
Please read Acts 23:1-5
Paul before the Council
1 Then Paul, looking intently at the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), said, “Kinsmen, I have lived my life before God with a perfectly good conscience until this very day.” 2 [At this] the high priest [a]Ananias ordered those who stood beside him to strike Paul on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you [b]whitewashed wall! Do you actually sit to judge me according to the Law, and yet in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” 4 But those who stood near Paul said, “Are you insulting the high priest of God?” 5 Paul said, “I was not aware, brothers, that he was [c]high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
Does that surprise you? I mean all he did was call Ananias a name and yet, he considered it speaking evil. What can we learn from that? Maybe not to call anyone by a name other than their given name? Maybe silly fun is okay, nicknames are okay, but intent matters more? Think about it.
Please read Acts 23:6-10
6 But recognizing that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began affirming loudly in the Council chamber, “Kinsmen, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7 When he said this, an angry dispute erupted between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the [whole crowded] assembly was divided [into two factions]. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no [such thing as a] resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees [speak out freely and] acknowledge [their belief in] them all. 9 Then a great uproar occurred, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and began to argue heatedly [in Paul’s favor], saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has [really] spoken to him?” 10 And as the dissension became even greater, the commander, fearing that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered the troops to go down and forcibly take him from them, and bring him to the barracks.
Interesting to know the Pharisees believed in ‘all these things’ yet the argument was such that the commander feared for Paul’s life and ordered he be removed. Only we get the information after the events so try to put yourself in the story somewhere. Even just as an observer.
Protected by God Always
Please read Acts 23:11
11 On the following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Be brave; for as you have solemnly and faithfully witnessed about Me at Jerusalem, so you must also testify at Rome.”
Jesus! Oh how I love seeing Jesus speak here.
Please read Acts 23:12-15
A Conspiracy to Kill Paul
12 Now when day came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath (curse), saying that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty [men] who formed this plot [and swore this oath]. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath not to taste anything [neither food nor drink] until we have killed Paul. 15 So now you, along with the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), notify the commander to bring Paul down to you, as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But we are ready to kill him before he comes near [the place].”
Yes or No, Not an Oath
That reminds me of Matthew 5, because Jesus addresses oaths there. Matthew 5:33-37AMP
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not make false vows, but you shall fulfill your vows to the Lord [as a religious duty].’ 34 But I say to you, do not make an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35 or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you are not able to make a single hair white or black. 37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’ [a firm yes or no]; anything more than that comes from the evil one.”
Revisit 12-15, sound evil to you? An oath with evil intent for sure. Guess they all end up dying of starvation because Paul does’t get killed here. We don’t actually get to know what happened to them. God has a plan for Paul and nothing will avert that plan. The same is true for you.
Please read Acts 23:16-22
16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their [planned] ambush, and he went to the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul, calling in one of the centurions, said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called for me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to ask him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tomorrow, as if they were going to interrogate him more thoroughly. 21 But do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him, and they have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, just waiting for your promise.” 22 So the commander let the young man leave, instructing him, “Do not tell anyone that you have given me this information.”
See, only God could have had that plan overheard by someone related to Paul. And give the young nephew the ability to go tell Paul then also speak so clearly the exact message to the commander too. Only God. Yes, Jesus words to Paul a few verses ago will come true, he will get to Rome. So he simply can’t die here, but the commander isn’t going to give anyone the chance to try to kill him.
Please read Acts 23:23-24
Paul Moved to Caesarea Maritima – Protected
23 Then summoning two of the centurions, he said, “Have two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night (9:00 p.m.) to go as far as [d]Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred [e]spearmen; 24 also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and bring him safely to [f]Felix the governor.”
See, that’s a lot of soldiers for one persons protection. Especially that late at night.
Please read Acts 23:25-30
25 And [after instructing the centurions] he wrote a letter to this effect:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.
27 This man was seized [as a prisoner] by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, when I came upon him with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And wanting to know the exact charge which they were making against him, I brought him down to their Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court); 29 and I discovered that he was accused in regard to questions and issues in their Law, but [he was] under no accusation that would call for the penalty of death or [even] for imprisonment.
30 When I was told that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you immediately, also directing his accusers to bring their charges against him before you.”
The second person who says something like “Paul shouldn’t even be in jail for this.” Alas, he will not be set totally free for a while. Seems he will be under Roman protection for quite some time. Still, he will report later how that has proven to share the gospel throughout the leadership.
Please read Acts 23:31-35
31 So the soldiers, in compliance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night. 32 And the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these [horsemen] reached Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor, and also presented Paul to him. 34 After reading the letter, he asked which province Paul was from, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia [an imperial province], 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers have arrived,” giving orders that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium (the governor’s official residence).
Remember, no matter how your life is going, if you have faith, you have God as your protection. That protection won’t always keep you from dying, but it does make you eternally safe. Because He will never let you go.
Footnotes
[a] Acts 23:2 Ananias – Ananias served as high priest from a.d. 47-59. He was a violent man who had close ties to Rome and was assassinated by his own people about a.d. 66.
[b] Acts 23:3 whitewashed wall – Paul probably is referring to the outside wall of a tomb, which was considered ritually unclean and polluted. Tombs were usually whitewashed on the outside so that passers-by could see them more clearly and avoid contact with them.
[c] Acts 23:5 high priest, Ananias – Under Roman domination, high priests did not serve for life but were replaced from time to time. Paul had not been updated on the current status of the office.
[d] Acts 23:23 Caesarea – Caesarea Maritima (Caesarea-on-the-Sea) was a coastal city built by Herod the Great. It was an important city, both politically and militarily, and its harbor was the largest on the eastern Mediterranean coast. It was the capital of Judea, and the official residence of the prefects and procurators (governors) appointed by Rome. Both Pontius Pilate (prefect, a.d. 26-36) and Marcus Antonius Felix (procurator, a.d. 52-60) would have been based here during their respective terms of office.
[e] Acts 23:23 spearmen – Or slingers or bowmen.
[f] Acts 23:24 Felix – Marcus Antonius Felix was appointed by Emperor Claudius and served as procurator (governor) of Judea from a.d. 52-60.