Acts 23:12 - 24:27
Notes
Transcript
Paul Under Arrest
Paul Under Arrest
Good morning my friends, I hope you are well this morning!
I am blessed to see you this morning, what a joy it is to worship our Lord together.
And there is no better place in all the world for us to be than right here. This is indeed a sacred time, and as such we should treat this time as Holy before the Lord.
This is a time where by we seek the Lord, we realize we are broken and we need Him every moment, He need his grace, His mercy and His love. We need to know Him all the more that we might walk with in Him more and more.
In Him, in the Lord Jesus is the only way we can live in this life. We cannot live apart from the Lord.
Paul desired to know the Lord more deeply each day that he would be able to serve the Lord with a whole heart for God’s glory and a blessing for the people around him.
When we look at these days in the life of Paul, it is not getting easier for him, it is becoming difficult and discouraging at times. But His resolve was to trust the Lord!
So today we pick back up in chapter 23, beginning at verse 12 and running through chapter 24.
1. Murderous Plot...
You know, it’s sad to see people violate the laws of God over emotions, over selfish desires, unrighteous ways all which ultimately equals sin.
I say that because in our passage there are some who desire to kill Paul, all because He preached Jesus and the hope of the resurrection
Lets look at our text… Verse 12-14 Acts 23:12-14
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.
Wow… Do you see it, they, these Jewish men, the Scriptures tell us more than 40 who have bound themselves to an oath, an oath to commit murder.
So what is an oath?
Statements by which a person promises or guarantees that a vow will be kept or that a statement they say is true.
In the OT, the name of God was invoked as the One who would guarantee the results or truthfulness of a statement.
Here in our text this group has taken a oath. They have promised to neither eat or drink till Paul has been killed
Now we know automatically, what is wrong here. Here are two reasons....
First off Jesus tells us to refrain from taking oaths, instead Jesus said let your integrity speak for itself, let your yes be yes and your no be no.
But secondly, this oath violates the the 6th commandment, and there is no way around that, they are violating the basic law of God.
This is premeditated murder, the are planning to do it and have actually devised a plan to do it.
And Jesus said if you hate a person you have already killed him in your heart. Thus you have violated the command of God. And honestly, no matter if the actions are physical or spiritual, God’s law is violated.
These men want Paul dead, plan and simple. They ask the Chief priests and elders to ask for Paul to be brought to them for more investigations. They said they would ambush Paul before he arrived in their midst.
Their actions are a murderous plot my friends, and it is indeed sad that the religious leaders and others consented to this plan.
But my friends, I believe that God was at work. Before this could happen the Scriptures tell us that Paul’s sister had a son and he was able to over hear their plan. Look with me at verses 16-22
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.”
My friends, do no think that Paul got lucky… heaven no. The Lord was at work to bring Paul safely to Rome.
Why is Rome so important?
Rome is the capital of the world right now, with the gospel there influencing the heart and lives of people, Rome is becoming more Christian.
But also, it will spread around the world.
How awesome is that, this is the great commission being lived out in real and valuable ways.
So Paul’s nephew comes to him and tells him of the plan he has heard about around the council chambers there in Jerusalem.
And Paul directs him to share this news to the tribune, Lysias takes this threat very seriously and begins to work on a plan to ensure that Paul is kept safe while in his custody since he is a Roman citizen.
What a terrible thing to see people choose to disobey God in hopes of fulfilling their own evil desires...
And trust me my friends, evil desires are at the very core, disobedience to God.
The heart of man is wicked, Jeremiah 17:9-10
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
The Lord will allow you to act in sinful ways, He will allow man to chase their desires but he will also punish for He knows our heart and mind.
Listen my friends, evaluate every thought and action as best you can so that we can live righteously before God.
Amen....
2. Maneuvering in the Night....
There are times when learning the truth about a topic or situation, we are forced to make a decision.
And those decisions will have great implications, consider a with me your salvation or times when you felt God’s leadership and you were obedient. It produces good things in your life. Your decision to receive Christ, you were given eternal life. Obedience to God makes increases your faith, it makes you stronger and it it always leads to bring God glory.
Lysias had to make a decision. Paul was desperately sought after by the Jews, they were determined to kill him if possible.
Lysias doesn’t understand their hatred toward of Paul, but he is surely going to do what we can to protect a citizen of Rome.
Look with me at Acts 23:23-24
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. 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
Lysias wasted no time in doing his best to keep Paul safe. So much so that he called for a sizeable number of troops to escort Paul to the governor of the area, the procurator of the land. Felix.
I mean, look at this, there were 200 foot soldiers, 70 cavalry men and another 200 spearmen. A force of almost 500 Roman soldiers. This is almost half of the 1000 soldiers stationed in Jerusalem.
These men will ensure that a Roman citizen named Paul would make it safely north to Caesarea.
So by the third hour of the night, (9 pm) they set out on their journey to deliver Paul to Felix.
And Lysias drafts a letter to Felix, you can see the contents of this letter in verses 26-30…
Paul is taken with the military force and soon arrives in Caesarea, and the Paul is held in custody in the Praetorium the beautiful palace of Herod the Great .
(Herod the Great was the one who was in charge when Jesus was born and ordered all the male children killed when the Wise men came to worship and bring gift to Jesus.)
Felix tells Paul, he would hear his case when His accusers arrive at his offices.
The maneuvering that took place late that evening most likely saved Paul’s life but it it wasn’t man’s endeavor alone, God ensured Paul was safe and sound until Felix would hear the case and make a decision on the matter himself.
My friends, God seeks to direct your steps, if you will allow him too. And were God leads, no matter the place is no mistake my friends, God is so good.
Let me ask you a question, are you living in a way whereby God can direct your steps? Or are you navigating this life in your own strength, in your own wisdom..
I think I want God to direct my steps...
3. Marked as a Troublemaker...
As Paul is in custody in Caesarea, the religious leaders from Jerusalem will have to present themselves before Felix to share their concern and charges against Paul...
Lets look at verses 1-9
1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. 2 And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:
“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, 3 in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. 5 For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”
9 The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.
So the Scripture tells us that after 5 days, the High Priest Ananias arrived with several of the other leaders from Jerusalem, one of whom is a skilled leader teacher of the law, Tertullus.
Tertullus begins by buttering Felix up. Listen to what he says to him… Because of you we have enjoyed much peace and through your programs we benefited greatly..
The Romans prided themselves on keeping the peace. This is the very heart of the Pax Romano, the Peace of Rome. Because of Rome, if all the areas are at peace. we can travel, visit and know there is a measurable amount of peace in the land.
But also, all that you have done for us Felix… the programs, the development of areas and such… all this has helped us, what would we do without you??
But please hear us briefly…
And listen to what he says.. 3 charges he brings against Paul...
Paul is a plague, a disease that we wish hadn’t turned up in out midst.
He insights riots among all the Jews around the world and is the ringleader of the sect, a cult dear Felix… of this group of Nazarenes…
He even tried to profane our Temple, this man was disrespectful toward our holiest place, the temple.
Examine him yourself and you will see what we speak of is true, and those with Tertullus agreed with Him.
And Paul was asked to speak, declaring his innocence, and in relation to this cult they speak off, I worship the God of our Fathers, believing everything laid down by the law and prophets, having a hope in God.
What did Paul believe? He said the law showed us we were sinners in need of help
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
So what did it reveal, it revealed the need of a Savior.. for only Jesus could give and grant eternal life.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The law shows us our failure, our sin, and our need. We were broken and dead before God, without hope.
But Jesus came to bring hope. To take upon himself our sin, becoming our propitiation. Jesus is the one who satisfies the wrath of God.
2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
He took the sin of the world upon himself and our sin, my sin,,your sin was put to death in Christ. So that the penalty of sin having been satisfied, we are justified before God.
We are made right in His sight
When God sees us, all he can see is the blood of Jesus! How wonderful my friends.
Because of the hope of the resurrection, that my sin being forgiven and eternal life promised, my hope in Jesus, in the resurrection is why I stand before you today..
Paul’s hope is our hope my friends...
Just as the Jews sought to silence Jesus, so they sought to silence Paul, and even today the world seeks to silence the church, the Christian....
Why… because the Church represents all that is good and holy before God. And if the church can be silenced, then sin will not be a problem and the devil can funnel more and more people into hell
The world, needs Jesus and we must take the stand and live for him more each day
Iim gonna stop here in verses 22 and 23
22 But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.
Felix having been in the area a long time, he knew of the group called the way.
He differed passing Judgement until Lysias returned to him and ordered Paul kept in custody until that time.
A Murderous Plot
Maneuvering in the Night
And finally, Paul is marked as a trouble maker...
My friends, because of all Jesus as done for us, let us all be marked as a trouble maker...
Amen
