Daily Scripture Reading Acts 23:16-35
As we go through life, many things happen to us that appear to be good luck. Perhaps we took a wrong turn, missed a flight, or showed up on the wrong day, but then found out that if those things had not happened, we would have been in an accident and been killed. Maybe a complete stranger said something in passing that ended up helping us avoid a catastrophe. We might have friends or family that gave us a random warning or bit of advice that in retrospect was very valuable.
When these things happen, there is no hard evidence that God was working miraculously to help and protect us. Therefore, it is tempting to simply treat our avoidance of these disasters as random good luck.
There was an event in Paul’s life that delivered him from an ambush and also appears to have been a random act of good luck. However, knowing what we know about God’s promises to Paul, we can logically assume God was working miraculously in an invisible way to protect Paul so that Paul could fulfill God’s mission for his life. This means we can’t dismiss the possibility that God is miraculously protecting us in an invisible way.
In the early verses of Acts 23 we read about a conspiracy to kill Paul. 40 Jews bound themselves under a curse to neither eat nor drink until they had put him to death. Their plan was to ask the commander to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin and then ambush and kill Paul while he was in transit.
Acts 23:16 ¶ But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, he came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul.
The New Testament tells us very little about Paul’s family. I believe this is the only reference to him having any siblings, although he likely had many siblings. Somehow Paul’s nephew learned of the plot to kill his uncle.
It is easy to dismiss Paul’s nephew hearing about this plot as fortunate and simply good luck; however, God had promised that Paul would go to Rome; therefore, it is logical to conclude God miraculously intervened and made sure Paul’s nephew heard about the plot in order to make sure His plan for Paul’s future was not derailed. We can’t prove God intervened in a miraculous way to protect Paul, but we shouldn’t dismiss that possibility either.
As we go through life, there are many things that happen to us that seem accidental and turn out to be very good for us. Perhaps it is someone warning us of danger, or voluntarily filling a need we have. Perhaps those who helps us are doing it of their own free will. However, we should not dismiss the possibility that God intervened in their lives to make them help us at our time of need, or order that we would be where God wants us to be, doing what God wants us to do.
Acts 23:17 And Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.”
Acts 23:18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you.”
The centurion was very willing to do as Paul said, probably because he knew Paul was a Roman citizen. This shows the prestige and power of being a citizen of Rome in the 1st century AD.
Acts 23:19 And the commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?”
By stepping aside and speaking privately with Paul’s nephew, the commander also revealed the deference given to Roman citizens in that culture.
Acts 23:20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Sanhedrin, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more carefully about him.
Acts 23:21 So do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of them—who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him—are lying in wait for him and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.”
Acts 23:22 So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”
Acts 23:23 ¶ And when he called to him two of the centurions, he said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to proceed to Caesarea by the third hour of the night,
Acts 23:24 and provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
The commander mobilized 470 men to protect Paul. That is a huge contingent. Once again, this shows the benefit of being a Roman citizen and the respect which was automatically extended to citizens.
It also gives us an insight into how many Roman soldiers were in Rome at this time. I am sure the commander did not send all or most of his soldiers. There must have been thousands of soldiers in Rome. It is logical to assume there would have been thousands of soldiers in Jerusalem when Jesus visited the city. Think about the impact on the Jewish mentality to have that many Roman soldiers in their holy city.
The soldiers were ordered to take Paul to Felix, the Roman governor, who was in Caesarea. It was at least 55 miles / 90 km from Jerusalem to Caesarea. That journey would take at least two days. Two days was a significant amount of time for the Jews to plan an ambush; thus, the need for so many soldiers.
Acts 23:25 And he wrote a letter having this form:
Acts 23:26 ¶ “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.
Acts 23:27 ¶ “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
The commander was not quite honest. He did not rescue Paul because he knew he was a Roman citizen. He learned Paul was a Roman citizen after he arrested Paul, and after he had put Paul in chains and was about to flog him without a trial.
Acts 23:28 And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin;
Acts 23:29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.
Acts 23:30 ¶ “And when I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to speak against him before you.”
Acts 23:31 ¶ So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
Note the phrase “brought him by night”. This did two things. First, by leaving immediately, they could get Paul out of Jerusalem before the Jews knew Paul was leaving. That meant the Jews would not have the opportunity to alter their plans for an ambush. Second, by traveling at night, it made an ambush harder because the conspirators would not have been able to see.
Antipatris was about halfway between Jerusalem and Caesarea.
Acts 23:32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks.
The 400 soldiers returned to Jerusalem while the 70 horsemen took Paul to Caesarea.
Acts 23:33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
Acts 23:34 And when he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,
Acts 23:35 he said, “I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.
Paul was delivered from an ambush because his nephew heard about a plot against Paul’s life. There was no physical, tangible proof that God acted miraculously to make sure Paul’s nephew knew about the plot; however, since God wanted Paul to go to Rome, it is quite likely God intervened and used Paul’s nephew to accomplish his purpose for Paul’s life.
What are some of the things that have happened to you that were very beneficial to your life, and appear to have been a random act of good fortune?
If instead it was God acting miraculously in your life, why might He have done that?
Have you thanked God for the good things that appear to have randomly happened to you in your life?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”