Acts 23:12-22 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Acts 23:12-22. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Acts 23:12-22 (NIV)
12 The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13 More than forty men were involved in this plot.
14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”
18 So he took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”
19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”
20 He said: “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him.
21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
22 The commander dismissed the young man and cautioned him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
On verses 12-22: Growing up as a kid I loved watching James Bond movies. Not only did James Bond show tremendous skill, heart, and suave as he went about his mission, but he was also extremely lucky. In every James Bond movie, there would be some crucial moment when his life would be in grave danger and he would be spared not because of his skill, his heart or his suave, but simply because he happened to be in the right place at the right time or because someone else happened to lend him a hand. That’s what I see happening here with Paul too.
Repeatedly in Acts 21-23 we have already seen that Paul has been granted special favour or protection simply because he happened to be a Jew from Tarsus (Acts 21:39), or he happened to be a Roman citizen (Acts 22:25), or he happened to come from a family of Pharisees (Acts 23:6). Yet again here we see that, for reasons other than Paul’s skill, heart and suave, Paul is delivered from certain death. Forty Jews conspire to kill Paul and vow not to eat or drink until they have done so.
Yet despite all their careful planning, just in time Paul’s nephew happens to get wind of their assassination plot and is able to tell Paul and the Roman commander in charge of Paul’s custody. To ensure Paul’s safety, the Roman commander will arrange for Paul to be shipped out of Jerusalem under extensive protective security. Just because Paul happens to have a nephew who hears about the plot against Paul’s life, Paul gets rescued.
Are all these coincidences? Absolutely not. God’s hand is on Paul’s life and no matter what plots people make against Paul, God is going to ensure that His plan for Paul’s life prevails. It reminds me of Psalm 33:10-11 which says:
10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Likewise, God’s plan for your life is greater than anyone else’s, and no matter what He will make sure that His plan for your life prevails.
Father, thank You that no matter what I plan or anyone else plans, it is Your plan for my life that will prevail, and that Your plans are better than anyone else’s. So let Your will be done and let Your kingdom come in my life. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
