The Way
The Plot His Nephew Overheard
A life saved by a young nephew
Story
The commander wanted to find out why Paul was being accused, so he called the Council together and stood Paul before them. Paul knew that the Council was made up of Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, and Pharisees, who did. He called out, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee. I am on trial because of my hope that the dead will rise.” The Council split in two and began to quarrel, so the commander had his soldiers take Paul back to the barracks.
That night the Lord stood beside Paul and said, “Take courage. As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome.” In the morning more than forty Jews swore an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. Their plan was to ask the commander to bring Paul before the Council again and to ambush him on the way.
The son of Paul's sister heard about the plot. He went into the barracks and told Paul. Paul called a centurion and had him take the young man to the commander. When the young man told him of the plot, the commander said, “Don't tell anyone that you reported this to me.” That night the commander sent Paul with four hundred and seventy soldiers to Felix, the Roman governor of Judea, in Caesarea.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of the Lord and of Paul
Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I am on trial because of my hope that the dead will rise.
Take courage. As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome.
Don't tell anyone that you reported this to me.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Acts 22:30–23:35
Background
It is more than a hundred kilometers from Jerusalem to Caesarea. The troops marched by night as far as Antipatris, and the next day only the horsemen went on with Paul. In the letter the commander sent to the governor, his name is given as Claudius Lysias.
Pause and Reflect
Do I believe God uses even the small courage of ordinary people?