Who is in control here is Felix in control?

Transcription

1 When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who formed this plot. They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. "Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place. But the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him." So he took him and led him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you." The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, "What is it that you have to report to me?" And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. "So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you. So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things." And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen." They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. And he wrote a letter having this form: "Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. "When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. "And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. "When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you." So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium. The Plot Against Paul The Plot Exposed The Plot Thwarted The Plot Leveraged 1

2 Acts 23: When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who formed this plot. They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. "Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place." Last week we read how Jesus appeared to Paul and said to him, "Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also." - and now the Jews are plotting to kill him. Do you think that this encouragement from Christ was meaningful to Paul? Do we sometimes need encouragement to keep going? Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Acts 9: When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, but their plot became known to Saul They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket. Acts 14:19-20 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city 2 Corinthians 11: Are they servants of Christ?--I speak as if insane-- --I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. What did Paul do to be hated like this? The Jews were offended because he upset their religious traditions he declared faith in Christ apart from circumcision or nationality Exposing unscriptural practices of an established religious entity will foster the same results true of the Reformation and true of today. The Gentiles were offended because he exposed their false gods Exposing the false belief systems of our day will incur the same hatred from the proponents of those belief systems John 16:1-3 "These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. "They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. "These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. Is it beyond the scope of reason to assume that outside of a mighty reformation in our own country, that someday, not so very far off, getting rid of us would be considered necessary for the greater good? 2

3 The Plot Exposed Acts 23: But the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, "Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him." So he took him and led him to the commander and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you." The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, "What is it that you have to report to me? And he said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, The Plot Exposed Acts 23: as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. "So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you." So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, "Tell no one that you have notified me of these things." This is the only clear reference to Paul s family How was Paul s nephew in a place where he was able to hear about this plot? The Plot Exposed We are not where we are today because of our circumstances, we are where we are today because God has directed our circumstances Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. Psalm 21:11 Though they intended evil against you and devised a plot, they will not succeed. Many times God foils the plots of the wicked, but sometimes he doesn t The Greater Glory of God The Plot Thwarted Acts 23: And he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen." They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. 200 soldiers + 70 horsemen spearmen men out of a garrison of 1000 men = plot thwarted They leave immediately the third hour (9pm) going 65 miles to Caesarea and stopping half way at Antipatris He is treated as a Roman citizen and rides a horse The Plot Thwarted When he arrives at Caesarea he is allowed to stay at the governor s residence Does this sound like an over-kill? Why did Claudius Lysias want Paul so quickly removed from his jurisdiction? Early politics The Plot Leveraged Acts 23: And he wrote a letter having this form: "Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings. "When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. "And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council; and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment. "When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you." 3

4 The Plot Leveraged Is this letter an accurate representation of what actually took place, or is Lysias putting a spin on it? He skipped the part about Paul being put in chains and detained without formal charges against him He skipped the part about him being strung up for a scourging Lysias was going to leverage this situation for his political advantage Notice how Paul did not leverage the situation though he could have - we don t use pragmatic solutions The Plot Leveraged Acts 16:36-40 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The chief magistrates have sent to release you Therefore come out now and go in peace." But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out." The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. Acts 23: So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. When he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, "I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also," giving orders for him to be kept in Herod's Praetorium. Who is in control here is Felix in control? Was the Jewish council in control? Were the 40 men who took a vow in control? Was Lysias in control? Were the 470 soldiers in control? Who is in control? Psalm 135:5-6 For I know that the LORD is great and that our Lord is above all. Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth What about the emperor, wasn t Rome the most powerful nation on earth? Isaiah 40: Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by the span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in a pair of scales? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as His counselor has informed Him? Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales All the nations are as nothing before Him, they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless. God s providence is not talked about much any more. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?" Benjamin Franklin, To Colleagues at the Constitutional Convention 4

5 And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor. July 4,1776 The Declaration of Independence What is providence? Isaiah 46:9-10 I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, 'My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure God s works of providence are His most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions. If creation was a unique exercise of divine energy causing the world to be, providence is a continued exercise of that same energy whereby the Creator, according to His own will, (a) keeps all creature in being, (b) involves Himself in all events, James I. Packer and (c) directs all things to their appointed end. The model is of purposive personal management with total hands on control: God is completely in charge of His world. His hand may be hidden, but His rule is absolute. Some have restricted God s providence to foreknowledge without control, or upholding without intervention, James I. Packer or general oversight without concern for details, but the testimony to providence as formulated above is overwhelming. How God causes His will to come to pass without violating the nature of things, ongoing causal processes or human free agency is a mystery to us, nevertheless it the clear and evident teaching of the Holy Scriptures. James I. Packer The plot of the Jews was meant for evil, but God used it for His eternal purposes. The plot was God s providence The exposing of the plot was God s providence The rescue of Paul was God s providence Going before Felix in Caesarea was God s providence Agrippa sending Paul to Rome was God s providence Getting shipwrecked on Malta was God s providence Acts 28: And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. As the Providence of God doth in general reach to all Creatures, so after a most special manner it taketh care of his Church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof London Baptist Confession Chapter 6, paragraph 7 Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 5

6 The Plot Against Paul Are we willing to be objects of plots and treachery, because of our dedication to the cause of Christ? Do we feel like we are victims of circumstances or do we recognize God s hand in directing our circumstances? 6