"Fly High" - Acts Part 21 Series

Fly High – Acts part 21

Opening Illustration: On the lighter side of life

Thesis: Acts 23 teaches us that “Flying high” for the Lord means we understand that our testimony – our witness - does impact the direction of nations and that the natural law of sowing (planting) and reaping (harvesting) is also a spiritual law. Our personal witness and our spiritual act of sowing and reaping will impact our nation.

Scripture Text:

The Holy Bible, New International Version. Pradis CD-ROM: Ac 23

Ac 23:1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”

Ac 23:2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

Ac 23:3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”

Ac 23:4 Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”

Ac 23:5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

Ac 23:6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.”

Ac 23:7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

Ac 23:8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)

Ac 23:9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

Ac 23:10 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.

Ac 23:11 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.”

The Plot to Kill Paul

Ac 23:12 The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

Ac 23:13 More than forty men were involved in this plot.

Ac 23:14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.

Ac 23:15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

Ac 23:16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

Ac 23:17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

Ac 23:18 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.”

Ac 23:19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

Ac 23:20 He said: “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.

Ac 23:21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

Ac 23:22 The commander dismissed the young man and cautioned him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea

Ac 23:23 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.

Ac 23:24 Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

Ac 23:25 He wrote a letter as follows:

Ac 23:26 Claudius Lysias,

To His Excellency, Governor Felix:

Greetings.

Ac 23:27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen.