Paul Survives an Assasination

The Jews concoct a devious scheme to murder Paul.

They have been frustrated at every attempt to get at Paul since he arrived in Jerusalem.

The morning after Paul appeared before the Sanhedrin a group of Jews get together to form a pact.

There are 40 men who each take a vow to abstain from eating until they have killed Paul.

They share their decision with religious leaders, the Sanhedrin.

It’s as if they are saying, “Hey look, we know your hands are tied, so we are going to do what you can’t.”

We are going kill Paul the next time he comes out of that fortress.

The Sanhedrin agrees to assist in this conspiracy.

They determine that the next day they will call for Paul to be brought before them for questioning.

Before he arrives, the 40 murderous thugs will jump him and his escort and kill him.

This way, the Jews can get rid of Paul and the Sanhedrin can keep their hands from getting messy.

This doesn’t look good for Paul.

Remember, though Jesus had promised him a ministry in Rome.

How is God going to save Paul this time?

In verse 17, a previously unknown player is coincidentally made aware of what has been determined.

Paul’s sister’s son hears about this scheme.

Where did this kid come from???

Why have we never heard about him before?

Paul actually has a family?

In the previous chapter we learn that not only was Paul a Pharisee, but so was his dad. 23:6

The Bible is not clear, but there is a lot that we can infer as to the significance of this.

If you will permit me, I would like to talk for just a moment of what this might have meant.

What typically happened within the family of a Jewish person after they got saved?

They were disowned.

They may have even had a funeral for the person.

Paul was almost definitely disowned when he got saved.

You just didn’t abandon the family’s beliefs and then just get to go along like nothing happened.

If you were born into the family of a pharisee, then you were trained as a pharisee, you married someone from another pharisee family, and you would remain a pharisee until you died.

Paul’s sister had probably stayed true to the family heritage.

Meaning she was probably married to a Pharisee.

Paul’s brother-in-law quite possibly was in the chamber during Paul’s trial.

He may not have been a member of the Sanhedrin.

He may have been a lawyer.

Maybe he was on one of the member’s staff.

Can you imagine the story he could tell his wife that night?

Then the next day, the brother in law overhears the plot to trick Paul into coming out in order to kill him.

He goes home and again tells his wife what he overheard.

Paul’s sister isn’t the only one overhearing things though.

Her son hears, and decides he must do something to help Uncle Paul.

Paul’s nephew bravely exposes the plot to destroy Paul.

The boy/young man risks quite a bit in coming to Paul in prison.

He risks repercussions from the family.

He also risks his own and his father’s futures should he be discovered.

When Paul hears the plan he immediately sends his nephew to the Roman captain.

The way that this takes place, shows us the standing that Paul had quickly gained in the Roman prison.

He calls a centurion to take his nephew to the Captain.

The captain, gives up precious moments of his time to meet with this boy.

He takes the boy by the hand and takes him to a private room to hear what he has to say.

The boy tells the captain everything about the scheme.

The captain believes the boy.

He lets him go with directions not to tell anyone about what he has done and heard.

God directs the Roman guard to devote an overwhelmingly powerful escort to provide for Paul’s safety.

The captain orders an escort for Paul consisting of the following…

200 Footmen

70 Cavalrymen

200 Spearmen

Lysias doesn’t waste any time in getting Paul to safety.

He sends Paul and his men out at 9pm to escort Paul out of the city.

Paul says goodbye to Jerusalem, his home for so many years.

He leaves, protected by God using Romans to shield him from the Jews.

With that Paul’s long journey to Rome begins.

Once again, God has shown His ability to save Paul’s life.

THIS MORNING, I WANT US TO LEARN ONE LESSON BY LOOKING AT FOUR DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS OF THIS PASSAGE.

Seeing this from the Jews’ perspective

No matter how hard they tried they couldn’t get rid of Paul.

Normally I feel bad for people who are frustrated because what they are trying to do keeps failing, but not this time.

The Jews are publicly acting out there frustrations at being unable to silence Paul.

Seeing this from Paul’s Nephew’s perspective.

If Paul experienced the kind of shunning that most Jewish believers experienced then the fact that his nephew is the one that comes to his aid is all them more moving.

This boy would have had knowledge of the existence of Paul, but he was essentially dead to the family.

I can imagine this young man being in the temple listening to his uncle speak to the mob of people.

I can see him following his dad to watch the proceedings at the Sanhedrin.

Nobody thought anything about talking about their plan in front of this boy.

Yet this is the boy that God uses to protect Paul.

Seeing this from Paul’s perspective.

Paul had been tested time and time again.

He been imprisoned many times before, yet God was always with him.

Isn’t it interesting that each time God delivered Paul, he did it differently.

Paul didn’t alway avoid pain or loss. God used earthquakes to deliver Paul. Paul was even stoned and left for dead.

I am blown away by the confidence Paul demonstrates throughout chapter 22-23.

Paul doesn’t speak as a man afraid, he speaks as a man of strength.

Seeing this from our perspective…

Last week we were reminded to be of good cheer.

It almost never fails that when you find yourself encouraged in the Lord, problems lurk around the corner.

Can we really trust God?

Yes, the answer is always yes for those that are seeking to live for Him.

You may not know where the help will come from, but it will come.