Unexpected Deliverance

Introduction

Last week we read of Paul’s trial before the Jewish council which ultimately ended in a chaotic scene as the Pharisees and Sadducees are divided over the idea of resurrection.

Paul is once again rescued by the Roman forces from the Jewish mob and brought into the castle for his own safety.

Now at what was likely one of lowest points of his ministry the Lord stood by and encouraged his faithful servant that there was yet much to be accomplished and that his ministry was not yet finished.

What a joy to know that even in the lowest valleys in life the Lord stands by ready to encourage and deliver us!

In this passage we shall see the providential hand of God at work once again in Paul’s life. Those who spend their lives in faithful service to the Lord, as Paul did, can be confident that God is able to deliver them from trouble.

The passage begins with:

The Plot Developed (Vs. 12-15)

More than 40 of Paul’s Jewish enemies are so intent on silencing Paul that they determine that he must be killed in order that the supposed heresy for which he is responsible spread no further.

Those involved in the plot had resolved that they would not eat or drink until the apostle Paul was dead. This is evidence of the strength of their hatred for Paul and the message he preached.

They intended to have the soldiers bring Paul before the council as though they desired to question him further, but instead they would seize him and have him killed.

Paul’s very reason for coming to Jerusalem was that he might preach the gospel to his Jewish brethren. It is Paul who carried such a burden for his lost Jewish brothers that he once stated in Romans 9:1-4- that he was willing to be accursed from Christ if only his brethren could be saved.

We have a striking contrast presented with Paul willing to be accursed himself to save his Jewish brethren while the very men that he has such a burden for have bound themselves under a curse to destroy the apostle Paul.

It is amazing to consider the lengths to which these zealous Jews would go to destroy the apostle Paul for preaching Christ. There can be no doubt that, in their minds, their behavior was pleasing to God and they were justified in their hatred for Paul and their desire to have him murdered. Romans 10:1-2- zeal but not according to knowledge.

Much of what we see developing in our world today is not much different. There are many who have a system of beliefs in place be it humanistic or atheistic or even at times a belief in “God” that drives them to make the decisions they make.

Consider the muslim who believes it is his duty to kill the infidels who refuse to profess faith in Allah, or the Catholics who have forcibly converted or killed thousands down through the course of time, or even Buddhists who have persecuted and killed those of other faiths at certain points in history.

The best example may be what we would call cancel culture today. Those who promoted this ideology believe that they have the moral high ground on every issue and will stop at nothing to silence dissenting voices and to destroy anyone who stands in opposition to their ideology. These believe that the ends justify whatever means are necessary to destroy those who oppose them.

From this we must learn a valuable lesson, it is not our duty to silence by force those who may oppose the Christian faith but rather to love them to Christ or, as Paul did, to die trying.

“The moment we resort to violence, especially in God’s name, we become agents of destruction and bring reproach to the God we claim to serve.”

We must never be among those who use unjust means to achieve what they believe to be just ends.

By God’s providence news of the heinous plot somehow reached Paul’s nephew. Then we see:

The Plot Divulged (Vs. 16-22)

By God’s providence among those who were aware of the plot was Paul’s own nephew. Paul’s nephew immediately decides to go to Paul and to share the information that he has received.

Paul calls the centurion to him who, likely because of Paul’s Roman citizenship, takes the matter seriously and escorts the young man to the chief captain so that he can deliver the information to him personally.

Paul’s nephew shares what he has heard with the captain and makes him aware of the plot the Jews have formulated to kill Paul.

It is likely that without his nephew’s intervention these Jews would certainly have been successful in their plot, but once again God has intervened.

The chief captain could have simply dismissed the charges as false information that did not warrant his attention but instead for some unknown reason he believes the young man’s story.

The captain may have believed the story because of the aggression he had already witnessed or he may have simply been concerned about having the blood of a Roman citizen on his hands were he to do nothing. Either way he responds to the charges swiftly and decisively.

There can be no other explanation for this turn of events than the providential hand of God moving to protect the apostle Paul from harm and to allow for the furtherance of the gospel.

The next development is even more shocking and reveals to an even greater extent the hand of God working in Paul’s favor.

The passage concludes with:

The Apostle Paul’s Deliverance (Vs. 23-35)

The chief captain immediately begins to gather a large group of soldiers numbering 200 foot soldiers, 200 spearmen, and 70 calvary.

There was no chance that the Jews would be able to overwhelm such a strong force to get to Paul.

The chief captain’s solution was to send Paul to Caesarea to go before Felix and he was to be escorted there in safety by this force of Roman soldiers.

Who would ever have expected that Paul would have his own private military escort to his next destination. God is clearly not through with Paul and has further plans for his ministry that would extend to Rome itself.

This is a great reminder of the words of Jonathan as he and his armor bearer faced the Philistines: I Samuel 14:6- God is able to save by many or by few.

Paul is now guaranteed safe transit to Caesarea where he will have an audience with Felix the governor and ultimately with others of great power and influence.

The letter from the chief captain to Felix is interesting in that the captain attempts to paint the scenario as a daring rescue of a Roman citizen.

Ultimately Paul would be set on horseback and carried to Caesarea to continue on his way to Rome.

This serves to prove that God’s providential hand is able to deliver us from the conspiracies and plots of evil men even when it seems impossible. II Thessalonians 3:1-2

We must never fail to recognize God’s sovereignty in human events and we must continue to trust that “Where God guides, He will provide”. So long as we are following His will we can know without any doubt that our life is in His hands and there is nothing anyone can do to upset or frustrate God’s plan.

Paul’s entire life from the moment he came to Christ and began to proclaim the gospel is a miraculous tale of deliverance and protection by the hand of God.

Any person who commits himself or herself to serve the Lord will know from experience the supernatural power of God which was active in Paul’s life.

“Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.” -St. Augustine

Paul would spend the next two years imprisoned at Caesarea but God would greatly use him there and he would have the opportunity to testify of Christ before Felix and other powerful men and women.

Paul had learned to entrust himself to God’s care and God time and time again proved himself faithful to protect and provide for his faithful servant.

Conclusion

Paul was continually on the enemies “Most Wanted” list because of the tremendous impact he was making for the cause of Christ.

Paul’s primary concern amidst all the turmoil and uncertainty was not the preservation of his own life but rather the furtherance of the gospel.

In this passage we see a wonderful example of how God works through providence to preserve and protect his faithful servant. When we are in the will of God we need not fret or fear because we can be confident that God’s protecting hand is able to deliver if it be what is best.

Are you in the will of God today? Is your life making an impact that would cause the enemies of the gospel to stop and take notice? Are you willing to trust yourself to God’s care?