Tag Archives: Paul’s nephew

ACTS THE SEQUEL…THE PLOT AND THE PLAN – 57

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“The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

God’s word is like a bridge connecting present and future events by a solid walkway into the unknown. His promise provides certainty in uncertain circumstances. 

God’s promise came to Paul before the plot to kill him was uncovered. So, despite the threat, he had a word from the Lord to steady and guide him as he navigated his way towards Rome… He knew he would reach Rome because God had said so. 

“The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul…But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the by centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭23‬:‭10‬-‭12‬, ‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How was it that Paul’s nephew happened to be in the right place at the right time? How was it that the commander happened to treat the young man kindly, listen to him, and believe his story? How was it that this commander acted immediately and removed Paul from danger that same night?

“Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭23‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This was God’s sovereignty, providence, and intervention at work! He was orchestrating and supervising each step of Paul’s journey to Rome…and at the Roman government’s expense! For Paul, it may have seemed like a long, circuitous, and rough ride… but the Lord was surely in it from start to finish…of that he was convinced. 

So, Paul was content to follow the cues, and to read the signs. Always sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, he was bold, courageous, and unashamed to tell his story and to bear witness to Jesus whenever and wherever he could. 

 Paul’s enemies had a plot but…God had a plan. As long as He was in charge, human schemes would never succeed against His purposes. He turned every adversity to Paul’s advantage. He used every trial and every hardship as tools to accomplish His purpose and to finish what He started. 

So, from Jerusalem to Caesarea, the first leg of Paul’s journey to Rome, was accomplished but…there were still many months of frustration, uncertainty, and patience ahead of Paul before God’s promise would be fulfilled. God was never in a hurry. There were people who would join the caste in this narrative… Paul’s story would be told before kings…and even miracles would happen before Paul would reach his destination. 

As the details were added, day by day, bringing shape and colour to this picture God was painting…what the purpose and what would the end result look like? 

We can only marvel as we catch glimpses of what God was doing. Paul himself summed it up in his magnificent outburst of praise as he contemplated the glory of God’s plan for Israel. 

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭33‬-‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God was moving Paul, step by step, towards Rome. No matter how many twists and turns his journey took, no matter how many deviations and detours…he would reach his destination, safe and intact because God had made the plan and determined the way. 

Is it not true that we, in the midst of our troubles, can see only darkness, uncertainty, and insecurity. Imagine what Paul must have felt like as he was hurried off in the night, under heavy guard, to escape his killers…or in those long, tedious days in prison in Caesarea…waiting…for what? What did he think when his advice was later disregarded…and a vicious storm battered the fragile boat until all aboard the ship lost hope? What about those months on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, not knowing what would happen next? 

These frightening circumstances, on hindsight, tell an amazing story of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and power…weaving together the dark and light threads of a tapestry so incredible that only God Himself could have made it all possible. Truly, to Him alone belonged the honour, praise, and glory…

…but…I am rushing ahead of myself…

To be continued

THE BOOK OF ACTS – IN THE NICK OF TIME

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IN THE NICK OF TIME!

“Paul’s nephew, his sister’s son, overheard them plotting the ambush. He went immediately to the barracks and told Paul. Paul called over one of the centurions and said, ‘Take this young man to the captain. He has something important to tell him.'” Acts 23:16-17 (The Message).

Enter God again, in the nick of time! He had His agent, planted in the right place at the right time.

Just when it seemed that nothing could save Paul, his young nephew caught the sound of the enemy at work and quickly reported it to Paul. This is the first time any family member of Paul is ever mentioned. There is no indication of his age or why he was in Jerusalem. He was there and he knew enough of what was going on with his uncle to understand the threat and do something about it.

“The centurion brought him to the captain and said, ‘The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He says he has something urgent to tell you.’

“The captain took him by the arm and led him aside privately. ’’What is it? What do you have to tell me?’

“Paul’s nephew said, ‘The Jews have worked up a plot against Paul. They’re going to ask you to bring Paul to the council first thing in the morning on the pretext that they want to investigate the charges against him in more detail. But it’s a trick to get him out of your safe keeping so that they can murder him. Right now there are more than forty men lying in ambush for him. They’ve all taken a vow to neither eat nor drink until they’ve killed him. The ambush is set — all they’re waiting for is for you to send him over.'” Acts 23:18-21 (The Message).

There is was, the plot exposed! It was now up to the captain to believe the young man’s story and take quick action, or dismiss it as a family plot to get Paul released. It was in the captain’s favour that he took Paul’s words seriously when he told him earlier that he was a Roman citizen and now, this boy’s story when the plot was disclosed to him.

There was now no longer any reason to delay in indecision. Paul had to be spirited out of Jerusalem at once and placed beyond the reach of these murderous Jews. It would seem that they would stop at nothing to get him out of their hair. One wonders what happened about their vow. They were so sure of themselves that they vowed not to eat or drink until they had succeeded in killing Paul. Did they sign their own death warrant by their hunger strike or did they give up on their vow when their plot fell apart?

“The captain dismissed the nephew with a warning: ‘Don’t breathe a word of this to a soul.’

“The captain called up two centurions. ‘Get two hundred soldiers ready to go immediately to Caesarea. Also seventy cavalry and two hundred light infantry. I want them ready to march by nine o’clock tonight. And you’ll need a couple of mules for Paul and his gear. We’re going to present this man safe and sound to Governor Felix.'” Acts 23:22-24 (The Message).

Quite a hefty escort for one man! The captain was taking no chances with Paul. With forty ruffians out there somewhere waiting in ambush, he had to have Paul safely surrounded by enough guards to ward off any attack. Of course, the would-be killers had no idea that their plot had been uncovered. No doubt Paul would have been taken out of Jerusalem by a route unguarded by the men in ambush. They would wait in vain for their victim, hungry and thirsty and thwarted by one young man’s alertness.

Where was God in all this? Like the story of Esther, unmentioned but right there, keeping watch and setting things up for Paul’s escape. After all, had He not said that Paul would testify to Him in Rome?