Travel to Rome
Acts 23:11-35; 5/19/2024/2024; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
After Paul returned to Jerusalem, the persecution continued, and it seemed that his mood suddenly hit rock bottom. However, the vision given by the Holy Spirit allowed Paul to strengthen his confidence and continue on the road of mission. Let’s look at the first point:
Obstruction in direction
The Bible says that where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint. The Holy Spirit was leading Paul on all three missionary journeys, and the effects of the gospel were always with them. But since returning to Jerusalem, the chains have followed. So, will there still be direction in the bundle? First, Rome became the new vision. Visions are often given in times of suffering, do you agree? The Israelites suffered in Egypt for more than four hundred years, and God gave them a vision to leave Egypt and enter Canaan. The vision of going to Rome was also a vision that had been with Paul since he arrived in Jerusalem. Moreover, Luke makes people feel as if they are actually there when he records: “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” ” God means that just as you suffered for the Lord in Jerusalem, you must also bear witness for the Lord in Rome! Pastor Cao, Sanqiang knew that he would be imprisoned when he returned from Myanmar. However, in the face of the vision, Pastor Cao still moved forward.
Secondly, the Jews wanted to kill Paul. Paul’s existence and testimony itself was a threat to the Jews. Because Paul was originally a Jew, and he was also a Pharisee, and he was even a Pharisee who persecuted Christians. After not seeing each other for a few years, Paul has become the person he originally came to persecute. The key is that Paul was extremely knowledgeable and was a disciple of the famous Rabbi Gamaliel. Paul’s testimony left the high priest and others extremely embarrassed and speechless. The feeling of being angry and helpless made the Jew feel murderous. In particular, the high priest saw that Paul just said a word about Christ’s resurrection from the dead, and caused the Sadducees and Pharisees to fight against each other.
Lastly, do whatever it takes to kill Paul. Jealousy makes people hateful, and hatred can make people murderous. Paul’s experience on the Damascus road made people jealous, and the Jews were dissatisfied that Paul could meet the Lord. So, if we admit or accept that what Paul met was the Lord, God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, what should we do? Is everything wrong? When Jews feel threatened, hatred escalates. Originally they only had murderous intentions, but now they have reached the point where they want to kill Paul at all costs. The Antichrist regime has a similar mentality towards the church. After decades of reform, freedom of belief is a decoration used to deceive overseas investments. Now that they have money, it’s time to tear down crosses and destroy churches. In fact, the reason is very simple. When the number of Christians increases, the number of party members will decrease. Let’s look at the second point:
Jewish trick
From hatred to feeling threatened, it can make people’s mind become dizzy and lose its rationality due to the pursuit of personal gain, do you agree? The Jews wanted to kill Paul, but they could not. What to do? Hatred is accumulating and the sense of threat is increasing, so the option of deception is most likely before them. First, the council ambushed and swore to kill Paul. Hateful people are like the leaven of the Pharisees, which may begin with one person and gradually grow into many. The Bible says: “There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.” When there are more people, it is possible for things to happen in a short period of time and in a small space. So, the chief priests and elders planned that when Paul came to the council for trial, more than forty people would swarm Paul and kill him. It feels a bit like the partisanship in the United States today, where Trump is being prosecuted in a New York court. Media reports said that it seems that Biden did not want to compete head-on with Trump in the campaign, so he used this dirty trick to delay Trump so that he did not have time to participate in campaign events in various places.
Next, the nephew reported to the tribune. As the saying goes, God’s plans supersede our own, and the high priest’s conspiracy was somehow foiled. “Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.” In this way, Paul had the opportunity to tell the tribune the news, and the crisis was averted. God’s grace is always with those who love God, accomplishing His will through some inadvertent little people and things. How did Paul’s nephew know? He came to Paul, who seemed to easily be able to ask the centurion “Take this young man to the tribune.” Paul was a prisoner, so why should the centurion listen to him? The tribune’s attitude was also very strange. Not only did he hold his nephew’s hand, but he also asked him privately.
Finally, rushing to Caesarea overnight. Everything that happened was interconnected and just right! When the tribune learned of this, he immediately took action. The nephew told the tribune: “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.” Of course the tribune doesn’t want to take on this responsibility, right? Paul was a Roman citizen and had not been convicted, If he died here, who would bear the responsibility? Thinking about it and uploading the responsibility! Sending Paul to the governor Felix should be the tribune’s best option at this time. Without any hesitation, “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.” Let’s look at the third point:
Arriving at Caesarea
Caesarea was the capital of the province of Judea in the Roman Empire, so the governor Felix also lived there. First, escort Paul arrived thoughtfully. In order to ensure safety, the tribune did not hesitate to use nearly 500 troops, and he set out around ten o’clock at night. Not only that, but the tribune also charged Paul’s nephew, “Don’t tell anyone that you reported this to me.” When Paul went to meet the governor, he did not go in a prison cart or on foot. Instead, animals were prepared for Paul to ride on, not to be escorted, but to be convoyed to the governor Felix. Everything here allows people to see God’s rich provision. God allowed the impossible to happen to Paul, and it became the encouragement and comfort of the church.
Next, the tribune wrote a letter. Writing a letter from a tribune is a common exchange of official documents from subordinates to superiors. The point of the letter is that it was the Jews who captured Paul, not him. When he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen, he was determined to save him. After a preliminary interrogation, Paul was not found guilty of anything. But the Jews in Jerusalem refused to give in. They even wanted to swarm Paul and kill him during the next hearing. Out of respect for the Roman emperor and love for the Roman citizens, I have to send Paul to the governor, who is far more capable than me. It is most appropriate for you to preside over the trial. It should be said that the tribune was relieved that he had abided by the rules of the officialdom and was relieved of a burden.
Finally, awaiting trial in Herod’s praetorium. Paul lived in Caesarea for more than two years. I wonder if he left some writings behind? After consulting many sources, I did not find any book written in Caesarea. Some commentators believe that Paul prepared the writing of eight books in Caesarea, namely Hebrews, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, and 2 Timothy. Titus, and Philemon. Because Paul went to Rome two years later and published these eight books very quickly. Looking back, it is reasonable to draw this conclusion. Christians should be writers at the same time, writing devotionals, testimonies, etc., to become a blessing and encouragement to many people.
Conclusion
Well, thank the Lord! The vision God gave Paul was to go to Rome. When people receive visions, they will inevitably experience Satan’s disruption, difficulties, and obstacles. However, in this process, you will definitely experience God’s grace, protection and care! In the following time, the vision of going to Rome will also accompany Paul until Rome.
Let us pray……
Acts 23:11-35
11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
12 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.
13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy.
14 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.
15 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.”
16 Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.
17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”
18 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.”
19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked 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 tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him.
21 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.”
22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”
23 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.[a]
24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.
27 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.
28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council.
29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.
30 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.”
31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.
33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.
34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia,
35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.