#1608 Acts 23 Part 3 Entourage

 

23 And when he called to him two of the centurions, he said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to proceed to Caesarea by the third hour of the night, 24 and provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter having this form:

26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.

27 “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.

28 And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Sanhedrin;

29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.

30 “And 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 speak against him before you.”

31 So the soldiers, according to their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks. 33 When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 And when he had read it, he asked from what province he was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium. Acts 23: 23-35 LSB

Acts 23: 23-35

V. 23 Two Centurions - Men over a hundred men each, like century is a hundred years. He is putting together a rather large group of men, including horsemen, so this enables him to send people ahead and also surround Paul with a multitude, making it very difficult for his would be assassins to reach him. They are probably getting weak from hunger at this point as well, but this commander, Lysias, is not taking any chances. The threat is very real so he is exercising precautions first in keeping everyone quiet about their movement, and secondly, being prepared if someone does have loose lips that announce this plan to the wrong people. Centurions were men who could be trusted with great levels of responsibility, who could lead even under fire. I am reminded of Jesus' encounter with another centurion.

5 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.” 7 And Jesus *said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not good enough for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this man, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel. 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; 12 but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment. Matthew 8: 5-13

Vs. 24-25 Mounts to put Paul on - This was probably pretty first class compared to the way Paul usually travelled. 

They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor - The idea was not just security (470 soldiers) but speed. The Romans provide a horse for Paul to ride to Caesarea. "Ahead of him, before he even came to Rome, lay two years of confinement in Caesarea. And after he arrived at Rome he was a prisoner there at least another three years....But ahead there are two lonely years of waiting in Caesarea, during which nothing is recorded of his ministry. I am sure he had a ministry during that time, but there is no account of it in the Scriptures. " (Stedman)

Andrews on Felix - History tells us that Marcus Antonius Felix was not a good man. Felix was appointed as governor of the province of Judea in 52 A.D and there he reigned for seven years. He owed his high standing in the Roman government of his brother Pallas who had great influence during the reign if the Roman Emperor Claudius. Felix was a cruel man who reigned with an iron fist. (Ibid) - PA

Vs. 26-27 Having learned that he was a Roman - He left out the part about almost flogging him, but to his credit he is really trying to make up for it and get Paul to the governor safely. 

Vs. 28-29 No accusation deserving death or imprisonment - It was a theological disagreement, and often accompanied by false accusations. It is as often a case of Who is this Christ that Paul keeps going on about? Rome held the power of the death penalty, and it could not be a light thing when dealing with a citizen. 

13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.… 1 Peter 2: 13-15

V. 30 A plot against the man - Rome had to govern and protect it's citizens against terrorism and mob rule. These 40 men had taken a vow not to eat until they had killed Paul, but God tells Paul beforehand that he will go to Rome, that it's not over yet, so this chapter has been a huge study on the working out of all these things, the providence of God. 40 come against him but now he is being escorted by 470. 

Vs. 31-35 From Cilicia - Interesting historical note because this would effect the how and where Paul was to be tried. 

Ray Stedman notes that "There were two kinds of provinces in the Roman Empire: There were those under the control of the Roman senate, and those which reported to the emperor (See map from 117 AD of these two types of provinces - note Cilicia just above the island of Cyprus) -- the imperial provinces. He learns that Paul is from Cilicia which, like Judea, is an imperial province under the direct control of the emperor himself, responsible to him. And so the steps are being laid, as God is operating behind the scenes to pave the way, for bringing Paul and the emperor, Nero, face to face. God is going to accomplish it his way." These are his wheels within wheels (Ezekiel 1:15-21) by which he manipulates human history. It might not look as if God were involved at all, and yet all these incidents are occurring at his command, accomplishing his purposes. The striking thing from this part of the story is that God has no trouble handling history. That is no problem. He can work out his will through human events without any difficulty whatsoever. Even stubborn, obstinate, resistant, rebellious people can be used by God to bring people to where he wants them and to do what he wants done. But what gives him grief and heartache is when his own people resist his will and stubbornly determine to have something which God has said it is not time for yet. They are the ones who halt and limit the program of God. As long as the hearts of his people are right, before him, he has no difficulty. It is only when, because of an overwhelming desire for our own way, we step out of his purposes that we find ourselves in conflict with the movement of history and, like the apostle, suffer hurt and limitation as a result. And, you know, since I have been studying this through, I have to tell you that every day I must say to myself, "Look, Stedman, you can fall, too. You can miss God's will. You can get so intent on something that you think is right, and press and push for it so hard, that you too can miss the will of God." My heart's cry is that God will keep me from that. And I hope that you are praying that way, too. Be alert, be sensitive to the warning of the Holy Spirit, so that you may always walk in his purposes. (Acts 22:30-23:35 Love That Never Lets Go) - PA