The stone stairway and high wall of the Roman barracks at night, one torch burning low on the wall above the dark temple courts.

The Book of

Acts 23

A council split in two, forty men under an oath, and a promise in the night: Paul is going to Rome.

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In this chapter

Paul before the Sanhedrin

Paul

Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”

At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.

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Paul

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.”

Those standing by

But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!”

Paul

“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”

We find nothing wrong with this man.

Acts 23:9

The dispute grew so violent that the commander was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces. He ordered the soldiers to go down and remove him by force and bring him into the barracks.

A small barred window high in a bare stone barracks room at night, pale light falling across a rolled sleeping mat on the floor.

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”

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Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Reflect

Take courage

After a blow to the mouth, a council in uproar and soldiers dragging him away, Paul was in the barracks. That night “the Lord stood near Paul” and said, “Take courage!” He did not take Paul out of trouble. He told him where the road was going: “so also you must testify in Rome.” Where do you need to hear Him say “Take courage!” today? Write it down, and write what you think He might be leading you toward through it.

The Plot to Kill Paul

The conspirators

They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him down to you on the pretext of examining his case more carefully. We are ready to kill him on the way.”

But when the son of Paul’s sister heard about the plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

Paul

Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”

The centurion

So the centurion took him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner sent and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”

The commander (Claudius Lysias)

The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

Paul’s nephew

He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him. Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

The commander (Claudius Lysias)

So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Do not tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Question

Quick question

More than forty men had sworn to kill Paul, and the chief priests were in on the plan. Then someone overheard.

Who warned Paul about the ambush?

Paul Sent to Felix

A torchlit fortress courtyard at night, ranks of Roman infantry, cavalry on restless horses and light spearmen forming up, one extra saddled horse held at the edge.

Then he called two of his centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea in the third hour of the night. Provide mounts for Paul to take him safely to Governor Felix.”

The commander (Claudius Lysias)

His side of the story

Whiteboard

In the letter, Lysias came “to rescue him” because he knew Paul was a Roman citizen. In fact he found that out only after he had chained him and stretched him out to be flogged. But even his polished version admits what matters: “no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.”

So the soldiers followed their orders and brought Paul by night to Antipatris. The next day they returned to the barracks and let the horsemen go on with him. When the horsemen arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and presented Paul to him.

Stylised map · locations approximate

Where it happened

The night ride to Caesarea

The escort left Jerusalem “in the third hour of the night” and brought Paul “by night to Antipatris” after a march of about forty miles down through the hills. From there the horsemen rode on alone across the coastal plain to Caesarea, the governor’s seat by the sea, some twenty-five miles more.

The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

Felix

he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.”

Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium.

Pray

Kept under guard

Paul ends the chapter “kept under guard in Herod’s Praetorium” and waiting for his accusers. Yet every soldier, horse and letter has carried him one step closer to Rome, just as the Lord said. Pray for someone who feels stuck and watched today, and thank God that He keeps His word through other people’s plans.

You’ve experienced

Acts 23

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A verse to carry with you

Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.

Acts 23:11

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