The plot to kill Paul #2

Plot to kill Paul #2

, 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.

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.

At the Nicene Council, an important church meeting in the 4th century A.D., of the 318 delegates attending, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or lost a hand or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith. These delegates understood the ministry of suffering as it pertains to serving Christ with you whole heart. Someone asked C.S. Lewis, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They're the only ones who can take it.

, gives us great clarity concerning our trusting Christ through suffering as a Christian because He has the ability to prevent every evil plot against us.

13Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor’s as supreme, 14or to the governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to the praise those who do good. 15For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. As Christians are to be subject to every civil authority. Understanding that these authorities gain that authority for God. They have the right to punish to pronounce, “justice, punishment, and retribution. Their purpose is to not just deter evil but carrying out retribution against those who do evil.

, ‘For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.’

By contrast, we are to praise and reward governments that do what is good, thus encouraging more good behavior.

This is the will of God that through our godly lives we show an unbelieving world how to behave. Through our godly lives we give an example of how to endure false persecution, false accusations, false charges. Through our godly lives of believers and our consistent behavior we will put to silence any false lies raised against them.

, ‘Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. 17 Honor the emperor.’ Here Peter reminds not to use our Christian freedom to become involved in activities, actions, and agenda that do not honor God. Using that freedom as a cover for our evil desires. But we must always maintain our balance and seek behavior that brings glory to our God. We must honor everyone showing mutual respect for others made in the image of God that we share; but with whom we shared unimaginable differences. We must love the brotherhood, our love for everyone should pale in comparison to our love for our Christians brothers and sisters. The bible teaches us that those who sow to their own flesh will reap corruption but lets us sow to the Spirit and reap eternal life. That we should no grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, any especially to those who are of the household of faith.

We must fear God who is our source and our life, living life of honor and that give glory for the things He as done. We must honor the emperor that God has put into place, having respect for the office even if we have no respect for the office holder.

, ‘Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.’ This verse has been often taken out of context to try to justify American chattel slavery, nothing could every justify chattel slavery. , “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.

This instruction indicates that the people of Israel were called to justice not only in the way they treated slaves but also in the manner by which a person could become a slave.

, “If a man is found stealing one of his brothers of the people of Israel, and if he treats him as a slave or sells him, then that thief shall die. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

Kidnapping is regarded as theft and is the only type of theft for which the death penalty applies; these laws place a higher value on persons than on property. Those who were aware of such a sin were to purge the evil.

Slavery in the Greco-Roman world was not American chattel slavery.

This was not chattel slavery or slavery predicated on skin color but indenture servitude. Those paying off a debt or those captured in war. Masters had extensive authority over slaves, and slaves were often mistreated by their masters. Still, Peter calls on slaves to be subject even to evil masters, with all respect.

, For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”

This phrase “Gracious thing” comes from “grace” (Gk. charis) and in this context seems to be synonymous with credit. Both words indicate that God’s people will receive a reward from Him if they endure suffering righteously.

, And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.”

The same word here charis is translated “credit” and is parallel with “reward” (Gk. misthos). “Gracious thing” could also mean that patient endurance of suffering is evidence of God’s grace at work in us and through us. The two interpretations are compatible, for along with God’s enabling grace comes his favor and blessing.

21‘For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

How do we follow in the mighty footsteps of Christ Jesus?

Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice in which he gave his life for sinners is unique, and yet those he has saved may follow Christ’s example when they suffer unjustly, even though their sufferings do not atone for sin. Christ Jesus served as our example, as a young boy, we often using tracing paper to aid us in learning to form the letters of the alphabet in cursive. The sheet of tracing paper was laid upon an example of the letters perfectly written. Christ lived a perfect live before us, as He laid on the cross, we are to place our lives upon Him, tracing every step of His perfect example so that we might live victoriously and suffer unjustly.

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.’ Lastly Peter teaches us a basic lesson concerning our follow ship of Christ Jesus. As Christians we are not called to retaliate, not called to revenge, and not called to reprimand, but called to rely and to remain, entrusting ourselves in Him who judges justly. Paul understood this principle and fully put into practice in passage we are studying today. Paul sought to trust Jesus even through the plot to take his life; because he knew that Jesus could prevent it and had made him a promise. The promise that he would testify about Him in Rome.

So, this morning let’s look at ‘Preventing the plot to kill Paul.’

· Prevention through protection

· Prevention through persuasion

· Prevention through providence and province

Let us pray…

Prevention is the act of preventing an effectual hindrance, it can be seen as the avoidance of a crisis or confrontation, the forestalling of an impending danger, and the thwarting of evil plots.

We see here in the passage that we have been studying that God intervenes in the plot to kill Paul by revealing the plot to Paul’s nephew who then shares it with Paul. Who then shared it with the centurion, who then shared it with Claudius Lysias, who accepted the responsibility of getting Paul to Caesarea safely.

Prevention through protection

The seriousness of the situation is further conveyed by the commander’s response. He summons two centurions to lead a very large military detachment, he arranges for the safe transfer of the prisoner to the governor’s headquarters in Caesarea. ‘Only a large force traveling secretly at night could ever hope to deliver Paul from what, is a city set upon his destruction.’ These provisions, together with the commander’s letter (vv. 25–30), treat Paul as a person of some significance, who is worthy of protection and just treatment by Roman authorities. However, there is a discrepancy between this report and Luke’s account of the same events (v. 27) suggests that the commander is hiding his previous mistakes in dealing with Paul because He was a Roman Citizen. Luke begins to show how the Lord’s promise to Paul, that he would testify about Him in Rome is fulfilled by a series of flawed human agents.

By rescuing Paul from this plot, Claudius Lysias puts him one step closer to Rome. He also brings about the final separation of Paul from Jerusalem.

Our text had previously shown the commander to be a man of insight and decisive action. Once more, Lysias intervenes to rescue Paul from mob violence, he orders two of his centurions, ‘Then he called two of the centurions and said, 23“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.’ Caesarea, the seat of the Roman provincial governor, was almost 70 miles by road. If the garrison in Jerusalem had only a single commander and was a normal Roman cohort, two hundred soldiers would have been about half the force available. Let’s just take a quick look at the math here. With the total two hundred soldiers and seventy horsemen that 270, and then add two hundred spearmen that’s 470. This armed troop was twelve times larger than the band of forty terrorists! Claudius was not playing; he was not taking the threat against Paul life lightly. We know from other writings that there were well-known dangers of the route might justify such a large military presence, but the main point seems to have been the commander’s wish to preserve Paul from any further threat from his opponents. Also, the fact that they are traveling under the protection of night. So, pastor what does it mean when Luke says they left at the third hour of the night?

It appears that the Jews divided the night (from sunset to sunrise).

When Luke says that it was "at the third hour of the night" that Lysias sent Paul, escorted by soldiers, from Jerusalem to Caesarea.

This means it was nine o'clock in the evening. So at nine in the evening, the body of soldiers, with Paul in the midst, marched out of the fortress, and through the dark and silent streets of the city, and at a rapid pace pursued their journey toward Caesarea.

We also see in the text that an order was also given to provide ‘mounts for Paul to ride and bring him to safely to Felix the governor.’

So, we see here that Paul a prisoner is treated like a prized possession by his own capturers because the favor of God is upon him. We need to recognize that this favor of the Lord is a promise given to many for his servants all throughout the bible, , ‘Noah found the favor of in the eyes of the Lord. , ‘But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. , The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.

, ‘Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes establish the work of our hands.’

Paul clearly understood that even in his confinement, even though he is serving Christ in chains, and even though is constrain as he travels to Caesarea, he continues to trust in Christ for his protection.

Paul understood that suffering is the heritage of all, but only beneficial to those suffering for Christ.

Oswald Chambers once said, “Suffering is the heritage of the bad, of the penitent, and of the Son of God. Each one ends in the cross. The bad thief is crucified, the penitent thief is crucified, and the Son of God is crucified. By these signs we know the widespread heritage of suffering.”

Prevention through persuasion

The commander’s letter to Felix (vv. 26–30) also suggests Paul’s importance. It shows that Lysias believed Paul to be innocent of any charge deserving death or imprisonment. He thus saw himself protecting a Roman citizen from unjust treatment by representatives of his own race and religion.

The inclusion of this letter in the narrative allows us to observe Lysias giving ‘an official report of his own handling of Paul’s case to his superior, the governor’. How Luke could have ever obtained access to Roman archives whether in Jerusalem or in Caesarea is a mystery. Perhaps If the letter was read aloud by the governor (v. 34), which was the almost universal practice in antiquity, Paul may have been able to recall its message for Luke. However, ‘precisely because it was an official report, it was the sort of document that would be preserved for the trial of Paul as an important reference work for Felix to use’. This persuasive letter reveals a Roman official feeling the need to present himself in the best possible light. , ‘And he wrote a letter to this effect: “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.’

“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.’

Here we are told the name of the commander for the first time (Claudius Lysias). The address to Governor Felix gives us a time reference for the event and prepares us to meet an important character and observe his dealings with Paul. Lysias abbreviates the account of his first engagement with Paul.

27a‘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,’ and, in so doing, implies that he knew from the beginning who he was, 27b having learned that he was a Roman citizen. Did you hear that? Do you see how Claudius conveniently fails to mention that it was Paul who told him that he was a Roman citizen as he prepared to flog him?

This is doubtlessly an effort of self-protection. People will always seek to show their actions in the most favored light. This is more than just a character flaw; this is the stain of sin which shows in all of our lives. As a result, Roman justice appears to be flawed, even though it offers protection to Paul from the injustice meted out by his own people. Positively, however, Lysias records how he pursued the question of why they were accusing him. Look at verse, 28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to the council. And after hearing their discussion, please note that Claudius leaves out the part about the riot that ensued and moves directly to the fact that there is proper evidence against Paul. Verse 29 introduces this fact, 29, I found that he was being accused about questions of their law but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.

Now if we trace these events all the way back to Paul being arrested in the Temple because of the charge of taking a Gentile into the sacred places. That charge was surely deserving of death, but that charge had no witnesses, because it never really happens, it was purely a false assertion.

Look at verse 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.”

Claudius continued to summarize his story, one that made him appear as the loyal servant of the Governor. One that was acting here to protect this Roman citizen from harm, when he was informed of a plot to be carried out against Paul, the commander records that he sent him to Felix at once. How does Paul maintain his hope and trust in God during all these events, in which evil people seek to destroy his ministry and to deliver him to a certain death?

The question is the same for us, how can we trust and believe in God in a dry and thistly land? Where do we draw our strength? Where do we receive our sustenance?

We must go to the well that never runs dry; we must dip our cup deeper into the well of our faith and irrigate our very soul.

Parnell Bailey visited an orange grove where an irrigation pump had broken down. The season was unusually dry and some of the trees were beginning to die for lack of water. The man giving the tour then took Bailey down to his own orchard where irrigation was used very sparingly. He said to Parnell, "These trees could go without rain for another 2 weeks," "You see, when these trees were young, I frequently kept water from them. This hardship caused them to send their roots deeper into the soil in search of moisture. Now mine are the deepest-rooted trees in the area. While others are being scorched by the sun, these are finding plenty moisture at a greater depth."

You see the greater the test, the greater the testimony, God has prepared us in our youth through the ministry of suffering, to cling close to Him. To find our rest in Him, and to allow our roots of faith to grow deeper in Him the time of trouble. This is what Paul relied on during this trial, use when deeper into his faith in Jesus in search of His life-giving water.

31So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. This was approximately 35 miles from Jerusalem, at the foot of the Judean hills. It was difficult for such a company to reach Antipatris in the course of a night, yet with this the crisis at hand, it might have been enough motivation. Once safely there, it was no longer necessary for Paul to have such a large escort, and so as the text tells us in 32 …on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. When the cavalry had covered the further distance through the open country to Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. Caesarea is the context for Paul’s custody and trials for the next three chapters (). According to the Roman historian Tacitus, the full name of the governor was Antonius Felix. His appointment as governor was unusual since he was a former slave, and not part of the Roman aristocracy. His promotion appears to have been due to the influence of his brother Pallas in the imperial court, the High Priest actually suggested his appointment to Emperor Claudius. His term of office was marked by increasing insurgency throughout the province. He put down these uprisings ruthlessly, in a way that alienated more moderate Jews and even led to further rebellion. But in God’s foreknowledge letter sent was persuasive enough to get to Caesarea.

Prevention through providence and province

34On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from…

Felix acted in the proper legal manner and held a preliminary interrogation. First, he sought to establish Paul’s status by discovering what province he was from. Perhaps he hoped for ‘an answer that would enable him to slip out of the whole affair but found that he could not do so.’ ‘Learning that he was from Cilicia, he said, ‘I will hear your case when your accusers get here.’ At this time Judea and Cilicia were both a part of the Roman province of Syria. Since Felix administered a portion of that province and Paul’s home was within it, Felix determined that Paul’s case was within his jurisdiction. This is where the providence of God meets the province in which God had placed Paul. Do you know that God knows exactly where each and every one is and what we are in need of at any given time? , says it this way, ‘And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.’

Having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place indicates God’s sovereignty over the histories of nations. This also means that our God is able to deliverer us from any situation because we are never out of His jurisdiction, never out of His province. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullest there of!

, ‘And if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord know how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement.’

Paul was experiencing a great trial, but God is a great God whose has total authority over His trial. Paul says in , You yourselves now how I lived among you the whole times from the first day I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to through the plots of the Jews.

Paul knew without a doubt that trials come to make us stronger, so that our roots and faith may grow deeper.

, ‘Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it full effect, that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.

The status of Cilicia did not require that natives should be sent to it from Caesarea for trial. But this was in the province and authority of Felix, and unknown to Felix God had planned for him to get Paul’s case a hearing before him. Because for God every place in His province and authority. God will used anything and anybody to give a defense for His people, whether that realized it or not. God tells us, in , “If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.”

Had Felix sent Paul on to Syria he would likely have only created more troubles for himself with both Roman and Jewish officials with whom he had to have ongoing dealings. So, Felix agreed to hear his case when Paul’s accusers arrive, and he commanded his to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium. The praetorium at Caesarea was built right into the Mediterranean Sea, Herod spare no expense, it was a place in every detail. At place for the Governor and visiting dignitaries, and an outpost for the soldiers.

Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love and that He has the ability to deliver. There are some things that I can only learned in a fiery furnace.

John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One-night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Paton’s and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came, they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, It was because of all the men who were surrounding your home. The he asked, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton said, there were no men present--but the chief insisted and said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling their home.

You see God has the ability to prevent any plot against us, His prevention is seen through His protection, His prevention is seen through His persuasion and His prevention is seen through His providence because of his divine care and direction and through His province because the God has authority any every jurisdiction, the earth is the Lord’s and the fullest thereof.