Acts - Week 74

Week 74 Acts 23 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 23:20-22 

20 Paul’s nephew told him, “Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information. 21 But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.” 22 “Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man. 

His nephew overheard the plot on Paul’s life. The nephew told Paul who told the officer to take the young man to the commander. The commander took him aside to hear what he had to say. The young man told of the threat on Paul’s life and the commander asked him not to tell anyone they had talked. What would the commander now do? 

REFLECT 

As you read this account, be thankful the information got to the source as needed. Have there been times in your life when important information has been transferred to the proper person rather than to those who did not pass it on? 

RESPOND 

With your disciple, again address that even though the Bible does not give every detail of what is occurring, it gives what is needed to know. God used Paul’s nephew to be in the right place to hear the threat and to see that it was passed on to the right individual. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 23:23-25 

23 Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. 24 Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.” 25 Then he wrote this letter to the governor: 

It is possible the commander was concerned about whether he would be in trouble for earlier ordering Paul to be bound and whipped. But he is doing all he can to get this Roman citizen safely to Governor Felix. The commander would write a letter to the governor. What would he write? Would the letter make him seem like a hero or would he speak in defense of Paul? 

REFLECT 

The commander was doing all he could to protect Paul. Whatever his motives were, the situation was turning out for Paul’s safety. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about not judging the motives of others. One can only go by their actions: are they pleasing to God or not? Some people are so introspective they do not act. Read 1 Corinthians 4:2-4 to see that Paul didn’t spend time judging himself. Thank God for what He has done for you and move out to tell others about Him.  

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 23:26-30 

26 “From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!  

27 “This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety. 28 Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him. 29 I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. 30 But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.” 

The commander refers to himself as Claudius Lysias and claims he had rescued Paul when the Jews wanted to kill him. He omits how he learned Paul was a Roman citizen. He wrote that Paul had done “nothing worthy of imprisonment or death.” The commander sent Paul to Governor Felix having told Paul’s accusers they could come to Caesarea to bring their charges to Felix. 

REFLECT 

As seen in his letter to the governor, the commander presented himself in the best light possible. He glossed over his errors of the past. Be honest in the way your present yourself to others.  

RESPOND 

Although it is not necessary in most cases to tell of previous problems and weaknesses, be humble in the way you present yourself to others. Read James 4:9-10 to see what James wrote on this topic. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 23:31-33 

31 So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris. 32 They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea. 33 When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix.  

This passage tells of the travel of Paul and the military guard. From Jerusalem to Antipatris was a distance more than 35 miles. Yet they had arrived by the next day because most of the guard returned to Jerusalem then. This indicates it was thought they were out of most of the danger so Paul was taken by only the mounted troops the additional 27 miles to Caesarea.  

REFLECT 

Consider how rigorous the travel was in those days. The convenience of travel now causes forgetfulness of how it had to be done in Bible times. 

RESPOND 

Be thankful for modern conveniences in most lands today. This should make it easier and quicker to promote the gospel by travel and electronics. What do you think the apostle Paul would have done with these conveniences? 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 23:34-35 

34 He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered. 35 “I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters. 

Governor Felix asked Paul where he was from and promised to hear his case when his accusers arrived. The governor must have been somewhat sympathetic to Paul because he did not assign him to the common prison but to Herod’s headquarters, the Praetorium. Will the accusers come before Felix? The commander had written Felix that Paul had done nothing that deserved imprisonment or death.  

REFLECT 

Paul is promised a hearing face to face with his accusers. This aspect of the Roman law is also the guideline for trials in the United States of America. It is important for those accusing and being accused to see each other face to face. 

RESPOND 

Some facing trial need support of friends. Have you or your disciple ever offered to go with a friend to a trial? Consider the encouragement it could be. Plus, it might open an opportunity to witness about Jesus.