Acts 23:12-22

¹² The next morning some 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 the 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: “Some 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 with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Introduction

After Paul testified before the Sanhedrin, instead of believing what he shared with them, the Pharisees and Sadducees argue violently that the commander brought Paul into the barracks. When God’s word is preached there will always be distinct responses. Positive or negative response, God’s peace will prevail in the heart of God’s servant.

Oppositions conspired to eliminate Paul but God protected him.

1.  Plot

¹² The next morning some 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 the 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.”

When Paul went to Jerusalem, he was not surprised by the hostility of the Jews. The Holy Spirit warned him of probable persecution. A prophet named Agabus warned that he will be bound in chains. Other disciples pleaded for him not to go to Jerusalem but Paul got no fear of going to Jerusalem, why? Where did his courage come from?

Paul told the Ephesians in Acts 20:22-24, ²² “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.²³ I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to go to Jerusalem. He abandoned his fate, future, and life in the grace of God because the Holy Spirit prepared his heart. His heart was prepared to face danger when the Holy Spirit warned him of possible troubles. The desire to complete the task Christ has given him was more important than his safety and life.

How do you know that you are called in a particular ministry? When you are involved in a particular ministry, and you are frustrated, and quit, that ministry is not for you. God has prepared a particular ministry for each believer. Pray that you may discern the ministry you are called to serve the Lord. God’s grace will sustain you to complete the mission prepared for you even when life is at stake or in danger. Learn from Daniel.

Daniel

Daniel was very prayerful. His enemies used his prayerfulness to bring him down. In Daniel 6:6-10, ⁶ So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! ⁷ The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. ⁸ Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

⁹ So King Darius put the decree in writing. ¹⁰ Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Their plan against Daniel backfired. The Lord saved Daniel from the hungry lions. King Darius ordered to be thrown into the lion’s den those who plotted against Daniel including their family.

Daniel was very sincere and devoted to God. No matter what the opposition did to discourage or demolish him, he continued to pray and never worried about his life.

When God allows opposition, He gives us opportunity to prove and show our faithfulness and dedication. God has also designed timely personal concerns to show us the power of His grace. Paul has proven by his many experiences 1 Corinthians 10:13, ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

The word “temptation” can also be translated “trials, testing, probation, calamity, or affliction.” God allows our faith in Him to be tested for us to determine strength of our faith in Him. The magnitude of trial God allows us to face determines our faith in Him. Have you realized when you were new believers, Christian life was fine and easy? When you grow deeper in your relationship with Christ, trials have appeared, one after another, right? Praise God for trials! You must have grown mature in your faith! Amen!

2.  Protect

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: “Some 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 with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

God has creative ways to protect His obedient servants. God told Paul to testify in Rome. What God has planned, it certainly happened. Paul reached Rome eventually.

The plot against Paul was just added drama to the many challenges Paul had gone through. God’s grace was obvious. Paul’s nephew learned about the conspiracy to kill Paul. The centurion and the commander were truly concerned of Paul’s safety.

When believers respond to God’s calling, there will always be distraction and discouragement. Be very sure this. God will protect the obedient disciple until the mission God has given is completed. Watch out for inconveniences. God uses unlikely incidents or situations to accomplish His design for your life.

John Bunyan

John Bunyan (1628—1688) was an English Christian writer and preacher, and well-known for his book The Pilgrim’s Progress. John Bunyan had very little schooling. At the age of 27, John Bunyan became a deacon and began preaching, with marked success from the start. Five years later, he was indicted and imprisoned for 12 years. The charge: Preaching without a license. He pastored a church for 3 years after he came out of prison. Three years later he was again imprisoned for the same charge—preaching without a license.

John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress during his imprisonment.

Did John Bunyan dream to be successful writer? Why did God allow John Bunyan to be persecuted or to have little education? In prison, John Bunyan has much time to write his book, The Pilgrim’s Progress. With little schooling, he wrote his book that any ordinary reader can understand. The Pilgrim’s Progress is a story of a man searching for salvation. It’s the most famous Christian classic noble, accordingly. Any educated person can write it but God assigned The Pilgrim’s Progress for John Bunyan only.

Apparently, persecution is a perfect instrument of God to bring the best out of His servants. Persecution, trials, challenges, or difficulties in life are God’s filter to separate the great and the common, the strong and the weak, the genuine and the pretender, the God-chosen and the people- chosen leaders.

Check yourself. How do you respond to persecutions and challenges in life? Your response would help you determine how much faith you have in Jesus. Many Christians claim that they live by God’s grace. When Christian’s are not involved in the ministry, perhaps God’s grace is not active but idle, unproductive, and dormant in their life.

Trials, concerns, and challenges that God allows us to experience are His instrument to help us know and realize if His grace is actively at work in our life. God has designed different kinds of oppositions, trials, or struggles as God saw it fit to shape and fashion us according to His plan for us.

In Ephesians 2:10, ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do…

When God gives you a particular mission or ministry, that mission or ministry is God’s channel for you to grow spiritually and experience much of His grace if you obey.

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