ACTS: No Matter How It Looks, God is in Control; Just as Jesus was Taken to the Praetorium, so was Paul!

And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. (Acts 23:12-13)

As a short recap, the Jews accused Paul, that he "... teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (Acts 21:28)  The Roman authorities arrested him, but later found out that he was a Jew born a Roman citizen; so The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them. (Acts 22:30)

After being heard before the Sanhedrin, Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. (Acts 23:6-7)

Those who banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul were probably in agreement with the Sadducees; For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” (Acts 23:8)

Whomever they were, the more than forty who had formed this conspiracy were determined to kill Paul, and probably went to the Sadducees, who were the priests, with their plan.  They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.” (Acts 23:14-15)

So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.” (Acts 12:16-18)

This is one of the first references to a relative of Paul, a nephew.  Obviously he had been sneaking around listening to whatever he could hear about what the Jews were planning to do to his uncle from the time he was arrested. Very similar to Mark, who is believed to be the certain young man followed Him [Jesus] (Mark 14:51), when Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. (Mark 14:53)  Later, this same Mark would join Paul and Silas on one of their missionary journies.  (Acts 12:25)  Wouldn't be surprising if Paul's nephew may have also one day taken part in spreading the gospel of Christ.  Paul had always used himself  as an example, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (I Corinthians 11:1)

The young man was already proving to be like his uncle in his boldness. Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.” So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” (Acts 23:19-22)

And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” (Acts 23:23-24)  What an entourage! Paul was getting closer to his goal, "I must also see Rome.” (Acts 19:21) And closer to the fulfillment of the Lord's promise, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” (Acts 23:11)

He [the commander] wrote a letter in the following manner:

Claudius Lysias,

To the most excellent governor Felix:

Greetings.

This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.

Farewell. (Acts 23:25-30)

Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. (Acts 23:31) Antripatris was a city built by Herod the Great, on the great Roman road from Caesarea to Jerusalem.  The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia [Acts 22:3], he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium. (Acts 23:32-35)

Just as the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him (Matthew 27:27; Mark 15:16; John 18:28) the same was being done to Paul; although the Jews themselves, they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium (John 18:28) Yet again, Paul was experiencing what Jesus told the disciples would happen to them, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  And we too may suffer persecution and being falsely accused, but as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. (I Corinthians 1:5)  The Lord ... said, “Be of good cheer!" AMEN!