Reading: Acts 23-25
This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds(Acts 23:27-29).
Paul was a heretical rabble-rouser in the eyes of the Jewish leaders, but to the Romans, he was an enigma. Under their law, Paul had nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. Paul was taken into Roman custody primarily to restore order to the mobs of angry Jews that had formed outside of the Temple, and he was kept in custody for his own protection. Claudius Lysias, chief commander of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem, was in over his head. He knew that Paul was Roman-born and therefore protected by Roman law, but he was also a Jew, and the Jewish leaders were screaming for his blood to be spilled. Not wanting to be further caught up in the controversy, he made arrangements for Paul to be sent at once to Felix, the Roman governor of Judaea.
Felix likely received Paul with a fair amount of trepidation. The situation was eerily similar to the one that had befallen Pontius Pilate when he had been called upon to judge Jesus of Nazareth, except, in this instance, the accused was also a Roman citizen. Felix could not condemn a fellow Roman without proof, but he would be committing political suicide if he made enemies of the influential Jews. Instead of making a ruling that could have quite possibly ended his career (either way he chose to rule), Felix deferred judgment for an indeterminate amount of time. He ordered Paul to be kept in Roman custody (but not in prison) until such time as a verdict was reached.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28). Paul’s friends and fellow evangelists were horrified when he announced that he was returning to Jerusalem (Acts 21:12-14), fearful that once he did, he would be met with certain death. Still, Paul had persevered, confident that he was following the path set before him by God. Scripture doesn’t go into detail on the reactions of his friends to his Roman capture and imprisonment, but based on their past responses, it is likely that they were at once relieved that he had not been immediately executed and dismayed that his ministry had been silenced. Paul, on the other hand, was at perfect peace. As always, he was right where God wanted him to be, ministering to those who needed Him most (even if they didn’t recognize their need.)
Governor Felix believed his actions were undertaken for self-preservation, never once realizing that God was working through him to further spread His Word. Similar scenarios are regularly occurring in our world today. God is the creator of all, believers and unbelievers alike, and He works through ALL of His creation for the furtherance of His plan. As Christians, we must never lose faith. God cannot be silenced through the workings of man. As long as we are prayerfully following His will, we can be confident that we are exactly where He means for us to be and that His light is still shining brightly through us.
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps(Prov. 16:9).
Thought For Today:God’s perfect plan does not lend itself to coincidence or mistakes; even the selfish motivations of individuals can’t change its ultimate fulfillment.
Word Studies:23:3 whited wall = whitewashed wall, meaning hypocrite (see Matt. 23:27); 23:23 third hour of the night = 9 p.m.
Pray For Staff:Bible Pathway Printer: Polluck Printing, Nashville, TN • Country: Hong Kong (7,112,688) Eastern Asia • Major Languages: Chinese, English • Limited Religious Freedom • 90% Eclectic Mixture of Local Religions; 10% Christian• Prayer Suggestion: Study and heed the instruction of the Word of God that your prayers may be heard (Prov. 1:28-30).