Acts Chapter 23 verses 12 to 35
When it was day, some of the Jews banded together, and bound
themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until
they had killed Paul.
There were more than forty people who had made this conspiracy.
They came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, "We have
bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed
Paul.
Now therefore, you with the council inform the commanding officer that
he should bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to judge his
case more exactly. We are ready to kill him before he comes near."
But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and
entered into the barracks and told Paul.
Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, "Bring this young
man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him."
So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said,
"Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to
you, who has something to tell you."
The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked
him privately, "What is it that you have to tell me?"
He said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to
the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately
concerning him.
Therefore don't yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for
him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until
they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from
you."
So the commanding officer let the young man go, charging him,
"Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me."
He called to himself two of the centurions, and said, "Prepare
two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, with seventy horsemen, and two
hundred men armed with spears, at the third hour of the night."
He asked them to provide animals, that they might set Paul on one, and
bring him safely to Felix the governor.
He wrote a letter like this:
"Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.
"This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be killed by
them, when I came with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was
a Roman.
Desiring to know the cause why they accused him, I brought him down to
their council.
I found him to be accused about questions of their law, but to have
nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
When I was told that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him to
you immediately, charging his accusers also to bring their accusations against
him before you. Farewell."
So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul and brought him
by night to Antipatris.
But on the next day they left the horsemen to go with him, and
returned to the barracks.
When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor,
they also presented Paul to him.
When the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from.
When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said,
"I will hear you fully when your accusers also arrive." He
commanded that he be kept in Herod's palace.
Those were verses 12 to 35 from Acts Chapter 23
Insight- 40 men put themselves under an oath neither to eat or drink
till having killed Paul, but God thwarted their plans and Paul was sent away to
Caesarea by the commanding officer. Some people fast for the wrong reasons,
here, to murder a man who was preaching salvation through Jesus Christ. God
will keep his servants safe till it is their time to enter in to glory. It was
not yet time for Paul to die. He had still to do a lot for the kingdom of God
and God kept him safe.
Question- Do you believe it is God alone who keeps you safe? Do you
believe he can do it each and every day of your earthly life?
Prayer- Dear Father in Heaven, keep me and my family safe from evil
people. Do not let their evil plans against me succeed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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