Recently, someone posted a picture of me and my second-grade classmates. In case you’re wondering, I’m the burly and buff looking guy on the top left (next to the star). I noticed I’m not smiling which goes along with my thug-life, tough-guy image. This picture reminded me of an alarm system my sisters used when they had conflict on the playground. Whenever they were in trouble, all they had to do was yell, “Wuuh-Wit” and I’d come running to their rescue.
My favorite memory from this class picture is of Jack Wills. I put a red circle around him. He had the guts to make a goofy face which gave him immediate cred with all the guys. I’m sure his mom was not too impressed.
Last weekend Pastor Tim reminded us of all the conflicts the Apostle Paul had – the Jews in the temple wanted to get rid of him, the commander of the guard wanted to flog him, the high priest ordered him punched in the face, in turn, Paul called him a whitewashed wall, and we’ll see today some Jews were planning to ambush and assassinate him. Through it all, Paul kept a good conscience and was comforted by the Lord. We were reminded of this truth: In the turmoil of life, a clear conscience creates the basis for spiritual courage and comfort.
Before we get into the rest of Acts 23, let’s circle back to verse 11: “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.’” This is the fourth time in the Book of Acts that the Lord appears to Paul to encourage him. When Paul was struggling and feeling overwhelmed, the Lord Himself stood by him. This word means, “to place oneself near; to set over.” The Lord promises His presence to comfort us when we’re going through problems. Near the end of Paul’s life, he wrote these words from prison in 2 Timothy 4:17: “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me…”
The phrase, “take courage” is a command which means, “to take heart; be of good cheer.” This reminds me of what God said to Joshua in Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Jesus spoke something similar to the disciples in John 16:33 when they were distressed and discouraged: “Take heart, I have overcome the world.”
The Lord of heaven and earth made a personal visit to Paul to encourage him to keep going. Paul was commended for testifying about the facts of Jesus in Jerusalem and was commissioned to do the same in Rome. I love how the word “facts” and not feelings, is used. It shows the Bible is verifiable truth.
“Must” refers to “a necessary and inevitable duty.” It’s often used by Luke to indicate “divine necessity.” It can be translated literally as, “must thou.” We also saw in Acts 19:21 how the Spirit made it clear Paul was to take the gospel to Rome: “Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must also see Rome.’”
These words of comfort, commendation, and commission gave Paul courage to press on. He would need to remember this because things were about to get dicey for him. The same is true for us. We need to focus on the facts of our faith, not on our fickle feelings, remembering God is always at work, even when we can’t see Him. When things are confusing and chaotic, allow His presence to give you comfort.
Beginning in verse 14, it appears as if Paul was outnumbered by his enemies and about to be assassinated. Even though he received a promise to testify about the gospel in Rome, it looked bleak. I imagine him shouting “Wuuh-wit,” but no one came to his rescue...at least not right away, nor in the way he expected.
Our text in Acts 23:12-35 is interesting because we see no commands or exhortations. The names of God the Father, Jesus or the Holy Spirit are not mentioned at all. We see no supernatural miracles, no message from the Lord, no believers praying, no explanation of salvation, and no exposition of biblical doctrine.
What we do see is an amazing illustration of the delightful doctrine of God’s providence. The easiest way to remember what God’s providence means is to focus on the root of the word, which is to “provide.” Providence is the preserving and governing of all things under the intentional sovereign rule of God. Got Questions offers this definition: “Divine providence is the governance of God by which He, with wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe.”
In Isaiah 46:9-11, God states unequivocally He is in charge of everything: “I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.” What appears to us as random chance is in fact overseen and orchestrated by a sovereign God who knows the number of hairs on every head (which in my case, is getting easier to count every year).
Here’s what I’m hoping we come away with today: Trust in the providence of God when you can’t feel the presence of God. This text offers four ways for our trust to increase.
1. Recognize the plot against you. Listen to verses 12-15: “When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.’”
These Jews would certainly have known the sixth commandment forbidding murder, but they were so filled with rage and revenge they somehow justified their murderous scheme. Jesus predicted this would happen in John 16:2: “Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.”
The word “plot” refers to a conspiracy. This takes us back to Matthew 26:4 where we read the enemies of Jesus “plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him.” These religious radicals were so determined to kill Paul, they placed themselves under a curse if they did not fulfill it. Literally it reads, “they anathematized themselves with an anathema.”
These modern-day suicide bombers would rather die than let Paul live. They were willing to spend eternity under the curse of God if Paul was allowed to live. Interestingly, in Romans 9:3, Paul was willing to be accursed in eternity if it meant that his Jewish brothers and sisters would be saved. In the meantime, they refused food and water, which showed how determined they were.
Just like Judas in Luke 22:4, these forty fanatical men realized they needed the help of the religious leaders to accomplish their assassination plans. They urged these religious leaders to ask the Roman officials to bring Paul down to them so they could kill him in an ambush. This is an illustration of Psalm 37:32: “The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.” One would think these religious leaders would shut this down, but they complied with the plot.
Brothers and sisters, are you aware there is a plot against you as well? Warren Wiersbe often said, “The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground, and we must be on our guard at all times.” According to Ephesians 2:1-3, we have at least three enemies stalking us incessantly – our own flesh within us, the world around us, and the devil and his demons plotting our demise in the spiritual realm.
• The flesh. 1 Peter 2:11 says the passions of our flesh “wage war” against our souls. This phrase refers to a long-term military campaign filled with relentless and malicious aggression. It’s like we’re in an internal “civil war” between our flesh and our spirit.
• The world. We’re all faced with outside influences and temptations as well. 1 John 2:15-16: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”
• The devil. According to 1 Peter 5:8, you are being targeted by the evil one who wants to ambush you. His strategy is to trip you up and to bring you down: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” BTW, I just heard The Satanic Temple held a three-day convention in Scottsdale, Arizona called SatanCon last weekend. They claim it was the largest satanic conference ever, even reaching out to the Guinness Book of World Records for confirmation. This is the same group that is sponsoring a “Satan Club” in a Moline school. They held their convention in Scottsdale on purpose because Satanists were not allowed to give an invocation at a city council meeting.
Brothers and sisters, there is a plot against you, a conspiracy to take you down and take you out.
Trust in the providence of God when you can’t feel the presence of God.
2. Rely on the provision of God to you. The plot against Paul seemed like a pretty good plan. Forty ‘hangry’ men could easily surround and kill one prisoner. By all accounts Paul should be dead before the sun came up.
Against overwhelming odds, verse 16 shows God providentially provided a way out for Paul by positioning Paul’s nephew to hear about the plot: “Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.” Pastor Terry Trivette offers this insight: “While here on the ground, the devil still seeks to ‘work us woe,’ on the throne of heaven above is a God who works all things out for our good and His glory.”
Up until this point, we’ve not heard about any of Paul’s family members, though Romans 16:7 does refer to Andronicus and Junia as his “kinsmen.” Because God is in control, He positioned this young man (who could have been the age of someone in the Edge Student Ministry or Mainspring) in the exact place at the precise time to hear about their plans to ambush his uncle.
We’re not given his nephew’s name or any other background information. This is another example of how God loves to use “no-name” people to accomplish His purposes. This makes me think of the Casting Crowns song, which I won’t sing for you: “I’m just a nobody trying to tell everybody about Somebody.”
This young man took a risk by entering the barracks to tell Paul about the plot. Let’s read what happened next in verses 17-22: “Paul called one of the centurions and said, ‘Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.’ 18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, ‘Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.’ 19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, ‘What is it that you have to tell me?’ 20 And he said, ‘The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. 21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.’ 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, ‘Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.’”
When Paul heard about the plot, he boldly called one of the centurions over and directed him to take his nephew to the Roman officer in charge. This officer took him tenderly by the hand and talked to him privately to get all the details. Before dismissing the young man, he told him to not talk about the plot so he could put together a plan.
We see God’s providence at work in how Paul was able to be so direct with the centurion and that this seasoned leader in charge of 100 soldiers listened to him. It’s even more amazing that the Roman tribune took the time to hear what Paul’s nephew had to say.
Some might say this is coincidence or luck, but there are no coincidences with God. Trust in the providence of God when you can’t feel the presence of God. You can do that by recognizing the plot against you and by relying on the provision of God to you. That leads to the third way to increase your trust.
3. Rest in the protection of God around you. Especially when your circumstances look bleak, God is providentially at work for His glory and your good. Listen to verses 23-24: “Then he called two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.’”
This military leader quickly organized a highly trained security detail of 470 men to escort Paul out of the city. This group consisted of 200 heavily armed soldiers, 70 members of the cavalry, and 200 bodyguards, also known as “spearmen” or “javelin throwers.” In God’s sweet providence, Paul was even given “mounts” to ride, which again shows God’s provision. If they thought Paul was really a criminal, they would have made him walk. Notice, he had more than one horse assigned to him.
They left at the third hour of the night, or 9:00 pm, because they wanted to travel under the cover of darkness and leave before the 40 fasting men would expect them. Paul rode out of town that night, escorted like an emperor, not a prisoner.
Don’t you love how God often goes over and above in how He provides? This is a wonderful illustration of Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” The overwhelming ratio of 470 to 40 (almost 12x more) makes me think of what Elisha said to his servant in 2 Kings 6:16-17: “‘Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” I’m also reminded of 1 John 4:4: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
When Jesus was taken into the hands of His enemies, He told them in Matthew 26:53 He could call on more than 12 legions of angels to come to His aid, which was something like 75,000 angels. Psalm 91:11 says, “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Friend, God can unleash all the power of heaven to protect you if that is part of His plan. 2 Thessalonians 3:3: “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”
After organizing Paul’s protective detail, the military officer wrote a letter to Governor Felix explaining the situation. He got most of the details right, though he did gloss over his own mistakes, while making himself look like the hero. Listen to verses 26-30: “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”
Did you notice he didn’t mention he almost had Paul scourged? It’s significant he declared Paul had done nothing deserving death, which is similar to what Pilate said about Jesus on three different occasions: “I find no fault in Him.”
In verses 31-32 we read what happened next: “So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.” Antipatris, located about 40 miles north of Jerusalem, was the site of a huge Roman garrison. Believing Paul to be safe there, the soldiers returned to Jerusalem and the 70 horsemen continued with him to Caesarea the next day.
Trust in the providence of God when you can’t feel the presence of God.
Brothers and sisters, recognize there is a plot against you, rely on the provision of God to you, and rest in the protection of God around you. There’s one more way to trust His providence.
4. Rejoice in the purpose of God for you. Our purpose in life should be to live out God’s purposes for us. Listen to verses 33-35: “When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, ‘I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.’ And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.” Caesarea is 26 miles from Antipatris. Essentially, this was a preliminary hearing to determine where Paul’s case should be tried and who should hear it.
Herod’s praetorium was built on beautiful beachfront property. Herod didn’t get to enjoy his seaside palace for long because as we learned in Acts 12, because of his pride, he was eaten by worms and died. Paul’s lodgings here were more like a luxury apartment than a prison. This makes me think of Proverbs 16:7: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
Paul’s imprisonment was actually God’s providential protection for Paul. It put him in position to share the gospel with two Roman governors. Plus, it put him on the path to accomplish his larger purpose of taking the gospel to Rome, with Roman protection to get there. This is a good reminder how God doesn’t just provide for us, or protect us, for our good. He wants us to live out His purposes, all for His glory. Proverbs 19:21: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”
While you might not be able to see 470 soldiers at your side, you can be assured until you finish your work, God will protect you and allow you to rejoice in His purposes. This principle is stated clearly in Genesis 50:20: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” God loves to take what is bad and turn it into good, all for His glory.
Edgewood has supported George King as a missionary in Japan for 60 years! He is now 89 years old and serves alongside his daughter Ruth, who has been there for 33 years. In George’s recent prayer letter, he mentioned how Covid has limited his ministry but in God’s providence, God is still using him for His purposes.
I try to travel 700 miles once a month to minister to detainees of Japanese immigration. [remember he’s 89 years old!] Before Covid I was the only foreigner allowed to hold services inside. Not being allowed inside because of Covid, I now can only minister with individuals with no physical contact. Each of us are in a separate 6 foot by 9-foot room separated by glass, with two guards in each room. Time for each is limited to 30 minutes. No cameras or electronic devices are allowed. On December 7th, a 39-year-old man from Nepal, entered the room and immediately said, “I want to be saved!” Thirty minutes later he was rejoicing, with assurance of faith in Christ.
Are you ready to increase your trust in the providence of God when you can’t feel the presence of God?
• Recognize the plot against you.
• Rely on the provision of God to you.
• Rest in the protection of God around you.
• Rejoice in the purpose of God for you.
Let’s look at six life lessons we can apply from this narrative.
1. Be prepared to face opposition and trials which will come when you choose to serve the Lord. As we’ve been learning, persecution is a promise. 2 Timothy 3:12: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
2. Use your position as a platform for God’s purposes. Like Mordecai was used by God to overhear a plot against the king’s life, God positioned Paul’s nephew to hear about the planned ambush against his uncle. Later, Esther needed to be reminded by Mordecai how God wanted to use her position as Queen to accomplish His purposes in Esther 4:14: “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
3. Don’t look down on someone who is young. God uses people of all ages for His purposes. We see this especially in our children, youth, and Mainspring ministry. 1 Timothy 4:12: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”
4. Always give God credit for His providence. Here’s a challenge – let’s stop using words like “luck” or “coincidence.” Psalm 33:11: “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.”
5. Just because God is silent, doesn’t mean He is absent. In John 5:17 Jesus told us He and His Father are always at work: “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” The challenge is holding on to this truth, even when circumstances are bleak.
6. God is in charge of all people in all places. Listen to how Psalm 2 begins: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed…” I love God’s response to the plots of people as seen in verse 4: “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.”
I appreciate Kenneth Gangel’s insight: “Sometimes God delivers His children through the simple word of a young relative. Sometimes He has to call in the cavalry. At all times, He is ultimately in charge.”
Will you trust Him today?
The religious people plotted against Jesus and ultimately had Him killed. Evil men did evil things, but God providentially arranged all the details for Jesus to die in our place. His death wasn’t an accident, nor did it catch the Father off guard. It was through the death of His Son that you and I can be forgiven of our sins.
I wonder what happened to the 40 assassins and their vow. They probably starved to death and are now experiencing the curse of God in a hot place called hell. John 3:18 tells us those who don’t believe in Jesus will end up in the same place: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
You don’t have to call out, “Wuuh-wit” to be rescued, but Romans 10:13 makes this promise: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Will you call out to Him right now? You could be saved right now by praying this prayer.
Lord Jesus, I confess I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I repent of my sins by changing my mind about the way I’ve been living. By faith I gratefully receive Your gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. With all my heart I believe You are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank You for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. Thank You for dying in my place as my substitute. I believe Your words are true. I believe and now receive You as my Lord and Savior. I surrender to Your leadership in my life. Make me into the person You want me to be as Your disciple who looks for ways to make more disciples as You use me to live out Your purposes for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
