Daily Thoughts from Acts: God Our Refuge (Acts 23:12-35)

When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.”  So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” And he wrote a letter to this effect:

“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.  And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.  (Acts 23:12-35 ESV)

It would be interesting to know the rest of the story regarding the 40 who swore an oath to God not to eat until Paul was dead.  Did they starve to death?  It is touching, also, to see a glimpse of Paul’s family (he isn’t married) and his nephew must have been quite young as the tribune takes him by the hand to bring him aside and hear about the plot against Paul.

In the report the tribune sends to Felix he says he rescued Paul when he heard he was a Roman citizen and that is not exactly true, but overall the message is correct.  Paul’s citizenship is affording him special treatment and protections under Roman law.

Do the Jews know they have no actual case against Paul?  Surely they have searched out the facts and realized that Paul did not bring a Gentile into the temple courts.  Perhaps that is why they are willing to let the forty who took an oath try to kill Paul.  They will have appeased the people who wrongly believe Paul is telling others not to observe the law, and they won’t have to deal with Roman authorities for unjustly accusing Paul, a Roman citizen.

Caesarea seems like a safe place, and it is from the standpoint of offering protection against the plots of the Jews, but it is already obvious that there is much political posturing that is taking place and great room for injustice.  God alone is our refuge and fortress.

I love you, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:1–3, ESV)