Slices
Prepare
Paul is to be banished from Jerusalem. Have you felt anxiety with being maligned for something you are not guilty of? Share those frustrations with God who cares.
Bible passage
Paul transferred to Caesarea
23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, ‘Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.’
25 He wrote a letter as follows:
26 Claudius Lysias,
To His Excellency, Governor Felix:
Greetings.
27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.
31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. 33 When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, ‘I will hear your case when your accusers get here.’ Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.
Explore
Even motorcades ensuring the safety of US presidents have nothing on the security deemed necessary to extract Paul from Jerusalem, under cover of night. Almost 500 troops were readied for Operation Get Him Out of Here – quite the military undertaking (v 23).
Commander Lysias also dictates a letter to Governor Felix, offering ‘edited highlights’ of Paul’s situation. Interestingly, Lysias concludes ‘there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment’ (v 29), echoes of Pilate’s summing-up of Jesus (see Luke 23:14,15).
We don’t hear from Paul here, though we see him start the journey to Caesarea with his close protection squad. What must he be thinking, even despite God’s invocation to ‘testify in Rome’ (v 11)? It’s 2,000 miles from Jerusalem! Had he been clutching a Roman coin, he might have imagined that on the obverse was a complete rejection of his beloved ‘Way’. On the reverse, an apathetic ‘meh’ from secular society, duty-bound to uphold his civil rights but disinterested in his message. Exasperating!
We, too, need to cling to the assurance of God’s perfect plan, even when we can’t see past the next few hours.
Respond
Stuck between a rock and a hard place? Where do we need to seek God’s perspective? Trust that God will help us through the spiritual fog. Open your heart to him.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Chronicles 13–15; Ephesians 2
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for wisdom and creativity for Individual Giving Officer Annie Clifton as she plans our quarterly fundraising appeals. Ask God to guide the appeal messaging so supporters connect with the need and see the impact of their gifts in helping to reach more children and young people.
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