From Peril To A Palace Series

Acts 23 v 12 - 35 From Peril to a Palace

The Plot

It's Source - 12 when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together,

It's Sincerity - and bound themselves under a curse,

It's Solemnity - did anathematize themselves, YLT

saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

It's Solidity -

13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

It's Subtlety - 14 And they came to the chief priests and elders,

and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse,

that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

It's Strategy - Involved -

Deceit - 15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain. Duplicity - that he bring him down unto you to morrow,

Distraction - as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him:

Destruction - and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

The Ploy -

Discovered - 16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

Disclosed - 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. 18 So he took him & brought him to the chief captain and said,

Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee

Discussed - 19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

The Plan -

The Intention - 20 he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council,

The Invention - 20 as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.

The Injunction - 21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than 40 men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee

The Instruction - 22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

The Play -

The Protection - 23 he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready 200 soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;

The Provision - 24 and provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on,

The Procession - and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

The Petition - 25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:

The Greeting - 26 Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

The Grievance - 27 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.

The Graft - 28 And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:

The Grounds - 29 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

The Grudge - 30 and when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.

The Place -

A Distant Place - 31 Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them,

took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

32 On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him,

and returned to the castle:

The Palace -

A Defended Place - 33 Who, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.

34 And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;

A Distinguished Place - 35 I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come and commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.