God’s Timing is Very Evident to Paul
December 25, 2019
Commentary
The chief captain did not want to have to explain to his superior the assassination of a Roman citizen in his charge. Taking no chances, he summoned two-hundred foot soldiers, seventy cavalry, and another two hundred spearmen to see that Paul had a safe exodus from Jerusalem (v. 23). God was seeing to it that His apostle got to Rome safely (v. 24). The chief captain also sent along a letter to Felix, stating his belief in Paul’s innocence as far as the Roman law was concerned (vv. 25-30).
This great company of soldiers left at nine o’clock at night (v. 23). The city gates would have been opened to let them through and then closed again, making it virtually impossible for a pursuit to take place until the gates were opened again in the morning, and by that time Paul would be safely in Caesarea. You can imagine the disappointment of these about to be assassins as this strong force protecting Paul sped out of sight, heading for the Roman capital. The soldiers took him on the first leg of his journey, as far as Antipatris, a small town in the plains of Sharon about forty miles from Jerusalem and some twenty-five miles south of Caesarea (v. 31). Now that the main danger was passed, the infantry turned back to Jerusalem, and only the cavalry went on to Caesarea with Paul (v. 32).
When they came to Caesarea, they gave the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him (v.33). The governor read the letter. Then he asked Paul and found out that he was from Cilicia (v. 34). Paul was now in the hands of Felix, who had ruled the country in a very cruel and treacherous manner for seven years. He was a man of lowly origin and owed his high rank to the influence of his brother Pallas, who had been in Rome during the reign of Claudius. This was the man in whose hands the future of Paul now rested. Felix prudently, and rightly, decided to defer Paul’s case until the accusers from Jerusalem came to press charges (v. 35). As it turned out Paul stayed here for two years as a prisoner while his case was in limbo.
Application
Is there a reason that God has placed me and my family in our particular community at this time? Am I taking advantage of where God has placed me? Ask each member of your family if they think they are taking advantage of their situation.
Acts 23:23– 35 (NET)
23 Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, “Make ready 200 soldiers to go to Caesarea along with 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen by nine o’clock tonight, 24 and provide mounts for Paul to ride so that he may be brought safely to Felix the governor.” 25 He wrote a letter that went like this:
26 Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, when I came up with the detachment and rescued him, because I had learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 Since I wanted to know what charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found he was accused with reference to controversial questions about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed there would be a plot against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges against him before you.
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night. 32 The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to the barracks. 33 When the horsemen came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 When the governor had read the letter, he asked what province he was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive too.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
Illustration: God’s Word Determines Time Well Spent
A converted Hindu who had been given a Bible and a clock said, “The clock will tell me how time goes, and the Bible will tell me how to spend it..” (Anonymous)