Protected on Purpose

I was working on a project this past week and it was going beautifully. That is until I hit a snag. The more I trie to fix it, the worse it got.

I spent hours trying to make it better. In the end, it became firewood.

What have you been going through?

Maybe you’ve prayed, you’ve waited, and instead of things getting better… they get worse. You feel like you’re just hanging on, waiting for something—anything—to shift.

That’s exactly where Paul is in our story today. He’s in Jerusalem, doing what God called him to do, and yet he finds himself the target of a violent conspiracy. More than forty men have taken an oath that they won’t eat or drink until they kill him.

If you were Paul, you’d probably be asking, “God… where are You?”

But here’s the big idea I want you to walk away with today:

When God has a purpose for your life, He will protect you to fulfill it—even when the path looks dangerous.

God is in control of your life—even when it feels like everything is out of control.

I. GOD CAN USE UNEXPECTED PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PLAN (vv. 23–24)

Let’s look at Acts 23:23-24:

Acts 23:23–24 NKJV

23 And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; 24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”

Now stop for a moment. Paul is a prisoner. He’s being accused by religious leaders. He’s not even safe in protective custody. And who steps in to save his life?

A Roman military officer.

Not a priest. Not a fellow believer. A government official who doesn’t know God—but knows how to maintain order.

Claudius Lysias isn’t acting out of compassion. He’s acting out of duty. But God uses him anyway.

What’s his plan?

Send Paul to the nearest Roman governor, Felix.

And he doesn’t just send Paul with a guard. Look at who he sends.

Two hundred soldiers

Seventy horsemen (also military)

Two hundred spearmen

The word “spearmen” in Greek is δεξιολάβους (dexiolabous)—literally, right-handers. It’s a military term that reminds us just how specialized and strategic this escort was.

That’s a military detachment of 470 trained men to escort Paul.

He was ensuring Paul’s safety.

Here’s the takeaway:

God doesn’t just use the “spiritual” people. He uses anyone—at any time—to accomplish His purpose.

Application:

Don’t assume God can only use Christians to help you. Don’t limit God to only working through church people. Sometimes your deliverance comes through a judge, a teacher, a doctor, or even a boss who doesn’t know your God—but still carries out His will.

II. GOD’S PROVIDENCE OFTEN LOOKS LIKE BUREAUCRACY (vv. 25–30)

Let’s read Acts 23:25-30:

Acts 23:25–30 NKJV

25 He wrote a letter in the following manner: 26 Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. 29 I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. 30 And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him. Farewell.

“He wrote a letter in the following manner…”

Now we get to see this official letter from Claudius Lysias to Governor Felix. This is the only secular letter in the New Testament!

And if you read closely, you’ll notice Claudius Lysias paints himself as the hero in this story. He says he rescued Paul because he found out he was a Roman citizen.

That’s not exactly true.

In reality, he thought Paul was a dangerous Egyptian terrorist and almost had him flogged. But now he’s writing a letter that protects himself and Paul.

Isn’t that just like God?

Even human pride, political spin, and Roman bureaucracy get folded into God’s bigger plan.

God knew exactly what needed to happen.

Application:

You might be stuck in a system you don’t understand. Maybe it’s healthcare. Maybe it’s legal. Maybe it’s education. You’re waiting on a decision from someone in an office somewhere.

Here’s what Acts reminds us:

God can work through systems—even flawed ones—to protect and position you. Even when we don’t understand why things are happening the way they are.

III. GOD’S TIMING INCLUDES BOTH DELAYS AND DELIVERANCE (vv. 31–33)

Now let’s read Acts 23:31-33

Acts 23:31–33 NKJV

31 Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. 33 When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

“Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.”

This is about 37 miles away from Jerusalem. They marched all night long—an exhausting, forced march with nearly 500 men. The next day, the cavalry finishes the trip and takes Paul to Caesarea.

This was not a restful Uber ride. It was stressful. Paul was still a prisoner. Still under threat. Still under Roman control.

But here’s the key: He was safe.

He didn’t know what was next. But he knew he was still alive—and still in God’s hands.

Application:

Sometimes God moves fast. Sometimes He makes you march through the night. Either way, He’s still moving.

You may be in a long, hard season—but God’s protection isn’t always comfortable.

Sometimes deliverance looks like exhaustion—but it’s still deliverance.

IV. GOD PROVIDES REFUGE IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES (vv. 34–35)

Let’s finish with Acts 23:34-35:

Acts 23:34–35 NKJV

34 And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.

Now we might breeze past this, but don’t miss it.

Paul isn’t thrown into a dirty dungeon. He’s held in Herod’s palace—a former royal residence.

He’s still in custody. But he’s not crushed. He’s protected in a place of honor.

Only God does that.

Application:

When you’re in a tough season, ask yourself: Where has God already placed me to catch my breath?

It may not be a palace. But it may be a hospital room with peace. A break between jobs. A home filled with friends.

God often places you in surprising places to rest and reset—before the next step.

CONCLUSION: YOU’RE NOT ALONE IN THE CHAOS

Let’s bring it all together.

Paul didn’t choose this route. He didn’t book the cavalry. He didn’t write the letter. But God did.

Behind the scenes, beyond the stress, God was working. As I said earlier…

God is in control of your life—even when it feels like everything is out of control.

Final Encouragement

So let me ask you\:

Do you trust God when things feel unstable?

Can you believe that His hand is on your life—even when you can’t see His fingerprints?

You may not have 470 Roman soldiers, but you have something better:

“The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” – Psalm 34:7