Protected And Placed

Introduction

Scripture is full of examples where men and women are placed by God for His purpose.

We talked a few weeks ago about Esther and her placement.

Daniel is another example. His homeland was conquered, family was probably killed, it is possible that he was made a eunuch, his best friends were almost burned alive, and he was thrown into a lions den.

From an outside perspective, Daniel’s life could seem horrible.

Yet God protected him through these trials and placed him in a position of power to help Israel and receive incredible revelations of the future.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer for a conquering king. God placed him in this position to bring about the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the eventual return of the Jews.

Joseph was hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, unjustly imprisoned, and forgotten by those he helped. Yet God protected him in these circumstances and ultimately placed him in charge of Egypt to preserve Israel!

We could talk about Gideon, Joshua, Moses, Samson, David and many others who endured trials and suffering and yet were protected and placed by God for His purpose and glory.

Over the past 5 messages in the book of Acts we discussed the sovereignty of God in the circumstances of life. As I was preparing for today, I was struck with how evident the sovereignty of God is in the book of Acts. That could be the subtitle of the entire book.

Sovereignty is something that we believe in and we expect in the big picture. Yet there are times in Acts where we see the sovereign hand of God in the small things.

The trick is learning to see how God is at work.

Today we are going to learn the necessity of Seeing God’s Hand In The Details.

Seeing God’s Hand In The Details

When we, as children of God, are walking in obedience to our Father, we can rest in His care and control.

When we, as children of God, are walking in obedience to our Father, we can rest in His care and control.

As we understand how to see God’s hand in the details of life, we will gain peace.

That is our goal this morning. To leave here with peace in knowing God protects and places.

To see God’s hand in the details we must grasp two rules of life.

Rule of life #1…

1. In God’s Will, The Believer Enjoys God’s Protection vv. 23-30

The first key here is “in God’s will.”

Outside of God’s will, we will not enjoy His protection.

It is therefore vital that we remain in the will of God.

How do I know if I am in God’s will?

The will of God is revealed in the Word of God.

To be in God’s will we must be in God’s Word because it is impossible to be in God’s will without knowing what it is.

The second key here is “protection.”

Oftentimes we view protection as being absolutely free of conflict and difficulty.

That is not the form that God’s protection takes.

God’s protection means that nothing is allowed near us apart from God allowing it.

This means that every trial and every difficulty is allowed by God for His purpose.

His purpose will always include our growth and opportunity to proclaim Christ.

Therefore, Protection is not the absence of trial.

Protection is the presence of God in the midst of the trial. Protection is the purpose of God for the trial. Protection is the program of God accomplished through the trial.

Protection is the purpose of God for the trial.

Protection is the program of God accomplished through the trial.

These realities lead us to two conclusions about protection.

While that is a form of protection, it is not a protection we enjoy.

While that is a form of protection, it is not a protection we enjoy.

Conclusion #1…

a. God determines my safety vv. 23-24

READ v. 23

The commander prepares a 470 person guard to transport Paul to Caesarea.

This is a 60 mile journey (S).

The commander prepares a huge guard to transport Paul to Caesarea. He even writes Felix a letter in which he stretches the truth to make himself look good and protect his position and life.

The commander prepares a huge guard to transport Paul to Caesarea. He even writes Felix a letter in which he stretches the truth to make himself look good and protect his position and life.

They are commanded to begin this journey at 9 pm. The third hour would be counting from 6 pm which is when the Jews ended their day.

This is a 60 mile journey (S).

Why begin at this time? To decrease the chances of Paul being killed by the Jews.

This commander is expending a huge amount of resources on Paul’s behalf. Why?

Partially to protect himself. Paul is a Roman citizen and this commander will answer for any harm that befalls him.

I believe that the commander also genuinely wants to keep Paul safe.

As we have discussed previously, Paul has treated the soldiers with respect.

READ v. 24

“Mounts” plural. The distance from Jerusalem to Antipatris was 35-40 miles. The soldiers were going to be doing a hard march and an unusually swift one.

This securing of multiple mounts for Paul demonstrates the commander’s care for him.

The instruction to the guards is explicit. The safety of Paul is of first priority.

Notice with me what Paul says in these verses. Nothing. Paul is silent.

Paul does nothing! God uses the commander to protect Paul.

This explicit command for Paul’s safety could only be orchestrated by God!

God told Paul that he would proclaim the gospel in Rome. This is a step in that journey.

Paul is walking in God’s will. Therefore, Paul is safe.

God is fully capable of protecting His people.

History, both Biblical and extra-Biblical, has made this clear.

Turn to (p. 429). Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, then 1-2 Kings.

(p. 429)

2 Kings 7:3–7 NKJV

3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” 5 And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. 6 For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!” 7 Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives.

Syria has besieged Samaria because of an embarrassing situation in ch. 6. Because of the seige a famine has taken hold. People are desperate, and Samaria has no way to defeat this foe. But then God steps in. READ.

God turned the approach of 4 lepers into the sound of an army approaching! An entire army flees from 4 lepers!

In Exodus God parted the Red Sea for His people. In Judges God empowered Samson to defeat an army with a donkey’s jawbone. He enabled Gideon to defeat an army with only 300 men, holding pots and torches.

Here’s the point.

If your situation is a result of obedience to God’s will, He will protect you until His will is accomplished.

Safety is not found in peace. Safety is found in the will of God.

God can use whatever means He sees fit to protect us.

With Paul here, God uses this commander.

When God leads you into danger or difficulty, trust Him to bring you out.

He determines our safety. Safety is found in His will no matter how difficult or painful our circumstances may be.

There is a second conclusion about safety. Conclusion #2…

b. God delivers my safety vv. 25-30

READ vv. 25-26

This is the first time we hear the commander’s name. Claudius Lysias.

He is taking the time to send a letter with the soldiers to explain why he is sending Paul and, as we will see, to protect himself.

He engages in a little bit of flattery here because most accounts report that Felix was a terrible governor.

He is being very calculated and strategic in how he addresses Felix.

We can learn from this. Without lying, we should speak to people with respect and care.

READ v. 27

v. 27

Here we find Claudius Lysias protecting himself.

It’s true that Paul was seized by the Jews. It is also true that they were about to kill him. It is even true that Claudius brought soldiers and rescued Paul. However, it is not true that his reason for the rescue was Paul’s status as a Roman citizen.

There were strict rules regarding the treatment of Roman citizens. By binding Paul back in 22:25-29 Claudius had committed a crime. Here he twists the facts to protect his position and life.

Claudius is rather cunning and creative in how he approaches Felix.

Notice how God uses Claudius’ desire to protect himself to protect Paul. Claudius is sending Paul to Felix, in part, to protect himself if anything were to happen to Paul.

God is using this to preserve Paul’s life and, as we will see, place him where he needs to be. This is a further way Paul’s status as a Roman citizen is being sovereignly used by God.

READ v. 28

Claudius recounts his decision to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin.

As we know, God used this appearance as another stepping stone to get Paul to Rome.

Claudius thinks all of this has been his own decision. This makes me think of (S).

Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

God is in control.

READ v. 29

This is Paul’s testimony before Claudius. Paul had done nothing deserving of death or chains.

Paul’s only crime was his refusal to compromise what he believed.

My prayer is that this would be said of me as well.

Paul is enduring arrest and suffering, yet he is not guilty of any punishable crime.

Our lives should lived in this same way.

puts it this way (S).

1 Peter 3:17 NKJV

17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Paul has done nothing wrong. His arrest and imprisonment have been based on supposition and a desire to eliminate him.

Paul is in the middle of God’s will and there he is safe.

But what about the abuse he has suffered? It is in God’s will and plan. What about Paul’s arrest? God is in control. What about the plot to kill him? God has a reason plan and purpose for everything He allows!

READ v. 30

Here we finally arrive at some new information.

Claudius has commanded the Jewish leaders to appear before Felix to state their case against Paul.

What we see here is God delivering Paul through Claudius.

The circumstances of Paul’s arrest, coupled with his Roman citizenship and his apparent innocence, have led Claudius to send Paul to the next level of authority.

This is all part of God’s plan.

Paul is in the center of God’s will.

God is providing safety for Paul.

When we are in God’s will, He will keep us safe.

Sometimes in very unexpected ways.

Here God delivers Paul’s safety through the deception of the commander.

Claudius’ desire for self-preservation is actually preserving Paul!

We may not always know how, but we can trust that God will keep us as safe as necessary to accomplish His plan and purpose.

That is our first rule of life. In God’s will, the believer experiences God’s protection.

This brings us to Rule of life #2…

2. In God’s Will, The Believer Expects God’s Placement vv. 31-35

Again, the first key is that we must be in God’s will.

Warren Wiersbe writes:

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twenty-One: Paul the Prisoner (Acts 22:30–23:35)

God’s people can afford to be daring, in the will of God, because they know their Saviour will be dependable and work out His perfect will. Paul was alone—but not alone! His Lord was with him and he had nothing to fear.

To be in God’s will we must obey Him.

To obey Him, we must know what He has commanded.

This brings us yet again to the Word of God.

The second key here is “God’s placement.”

When we are walking in God’s will it means that we go where He wants us to go.

Being in God’s will does not give us the ability to do whatever we want.

Being in God’s will means that we will be content, fulfilled, and at peace wherever He places us.

The ability to be content, fulfilled, and at peace comes from our knowledge of God’s sovereignty.

He is in control. We can trust Him. That is where peace comes from.

With that as our understanding, where He places us becomes secondary to our obedience.

When it comes to God’s placement there are two details it is vital to grasp.

Detail #1…

a. God places with His method vv. 31-33

READ v. 31

By night. With guards (see v. 23).

They arrive at Antipatris which is a little more than halfway to Caesarea (S).

This was a very fast trip. Probably very exhausting.

There is an interesting phrase thrown in here. The soldiers arrive in Antipatris “as they were commanded.”

Soldiers obey their commander.

describes us as soldiers (S).

2 Timothy 2:3–4 NKJV

3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

God is our commander. We are His soldiers. Our goal is to please him.

As our commander He places us where he wants.

We don’t always know the reason, but we trust that the commander has a plan.

He may place us where there is hardship. We trust His plan and purpose. Therefore, we endure.

He may place us on a battlefield. We are soldiers! Therefore, we endure.

READ v. 32

The 70 horsemen stay with Paul while the 200 soldiers and 200 spearmen return to Jerusalem.

READ v. 33

With a letter and presentation, they deliver Paul to Caesarea and Felix.

With a letter and presentation.

Paul would probably have preferred to give his own introduction.

The events that have led up to Paul’s arrival in Caesarea leave little doubt that this has been God’s plan from start to finish.

If I were Paul I might be thinking, “You know Lord, I would have gone to Rome on my own. All you had to do was ask!”

Yet God has chosen to bring Paul to Rome using this method. Why?

I suggest that arrest and imprisonment gives Paul access to people he would not otherwise be able to share Christ with.

God places us where He wants us. However, He does so using the methods He chooses.

Through the years I have heard story after story of people having opportunities to share Christ through difficult circumstances.

My dad has shared Christ with tow truck drivers.

Patients have shared Christ with Doctors and nurses.

Two of my brothers had large crowds at funeral services for the children the Lord called home. Many unsaved people heard the gospel at those services.

If we had our choice of methods, we would not choose tragedy.

God provides gospel opportunities by placing us where we need to be.

Sometimes that placement is not pleasant, but it is necessary to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The trial you are facing is an opportunity.

The struggles we endure are God’s method of placement!

He uses all kinds of circumstances to place us where He wants us to be.

He may use an illness or surgery to place us with Doctors and nurses we otherwise couldn’t access.

He may use a job change to place us with people who need Christ.

He may bring success to enable us to reach a certain sphere of people.

God’s methods are His business.

We are called to share Christ faithfully regardless of circumstances.

God places with His method. Vital detail #2…

b. God places with His motive vv. 34-35

READ vv. 34-35

Felix has determined that Paul is from a province within his jurisdiction. Here God is using not only Paul’s citizenship, but also the very county he is from.

There are two things in this verse I want to zero in on.

First, The promise to Paul.

Felix has promised to hear Paul’s defense when his accusers come.

The accusers coming will give opportunity to preach Christ. We’ll see that in the next chapter.

The accusers coming will give opportunity to preach Christ. We’ll see that in the next chapter.

This is all of God! Paul was told from the beginning that he would suffer. But he also is having incredible opportunities to share the gospel before great and powerful leaders!

Felix has unknowingly committed himself to hearing the gospel!

This brings up a somewhat controversial issue.

Should Christians preach Christ in public forums?

For example: Let’s say we have a Christian who is an award winning architect. This person is invited on a talk show to discuss their designs. Should said Christian use this talk show as an opportunity to preach Christ?

Some would say, absolutely! This is a once in a lifetime chance. Don't waste it.

Others would argue that the architect is on the show to talk about designs, not about Christ.

What should the Christian do?

I would argue that the architect should use the principle of design to discuss the ultimate designer. Then move on to the purpose of the show.

Why? Because we are to preach Christ at every opportunity! That doesn’t mean that Christ is all we talk about. However, it does mean that God gives us opportunities for a reason.

The second thing we want to zero in on is The placement of Paul.

Paul is kept in Herod’s Praetorium. We will learn in 24:27 that he is ultimately there for two years!

Craig Keener explains that,

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament 23:33–24:9—The Hearing before Felix

Hearings for Roman citizens arraigned on capital charges required painstaking examination, if Felix were to follow the law. The procurator’s residence in Caesarea was a palace built by Herod the Great; Paul was thus kept elsewhere in Felix’s own residence.

He was under guard, but still, what an opportunity!

Paul is in the governor’s house!

I would suggest that this is part of the whole purpose here.

God has protected Paul through Claudius Lysias, brought Paul to Felix, and placed him in Felix’s own house all for the sake of the gospel!

gives us this command (S).

Mark 16:15 NKJV

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Every creature means every creature. Therefore, as we have opportunity to preach Christ, we do it. We may never get another chance to share Christ with that person.

God places us to provide gospel opportunities.

In his summary of this chapter, Keith Brooks writes:

Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament Chapter Twenty-Three

It is the will of Christ that His servants should often suffer with Him, but in their trials He would have them to be “cheerful,” and in the consciousness of His presence, how can one be otherwise? If He is with us, all secular events will be ordered to give opportunity to witness for Christ.

Will we take advantage of them?

Will we take advantage of the opportunities God provides?

Conclusion

I don’t know all of the trials you are enduring.

However.

I know we are all facing something today.

There are two things I want us to walk away with.

#1…

When we are in God’s will we are safe.

That safety might include some trials, difficulties, and suffering. It might include the worst days we have ever experienced. I don’t know.

But there is one thing I know with absolute certainty that safety will include.

The child of God walking in the will of God will know the presence of God.

Yes, there will be hardship. But God will carry you through!

Here is the second thing I want us to walk away with.

#2…

When we are in God’s will there is purpose.

That purpose may place us in circumstances we would rather avoid.

God may place us using methods we do not like.

Regardless, this is what we know.

The child of God walking in the will of God is placed for the glory of God.

This is our ultimate purpose. To bring God glory.

We do this by patient endurance and by faithful witnessing.

God places us with a purpose and we are safe until that purpose is accomplished.

Where He places us we can be confident He has souls to call to Himself.

God protects us and He places us with purpose

We can be at peace knowing that God is in control.

Here is our assignment.

Enjoy God’s protection. Expect God’s placement. Experience God’s peace.

#42 “Seek Ye First”

Acts 23:23–35 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.” 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. 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. 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.