4. Acts 23
For his own safety Paul
was confined in prison by
the Roman soldiers.
He had been before the
Sanhedrin, but the chief
captain feared for Paul’s
safety.
4
5. Acts 23:11 Andthe night following the Lord stood by
him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou
hast testified of Me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear
witness also at Rome.
When God has work for us to do, and we are
willing to do it --
We will not die until it is finished.
5
6. 12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded
together, and bound themselves under a curse,
saying that they would neither eat nor drink till
they had killed Paul. 13 And they were more than
forty which had made this conspiracy. 14 And they
came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We
have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we
will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.
They either broke that vow or died hungry.
I am sure that they broke the vow.
6
7. 15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the
chief captain that he bring Paul down unto you to
morrow, as though ye would enquire something
more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he
come near, are ready to kill him.
Oh they were zealous, but evilly so.
The council got involved in their plot.
Religious and yet evil!
7
8. Religion makes no one righteous.
Only the Blood of the Son of God,
Jesus Christ, the Messiah
Can make one righteous.
Salvation comes thru faith in His Name!
Submit to the Holy Spirit.
Obey the Word of God.
8
9. 16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying
in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and
told Paul.
This is all we know about this young man.
But he must have loved his Uncle Paul.
I hope he was a Christian, but
the Bible doesn’t tell us.
If the Bible doesn’t tell us,
We don’t know!
9
10. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him,
and said, Bring this young man unto the chief
captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. 18 So
he took him, and brought him to the chief captain,
and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and
prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who
hath something to say unto thee.
Paul had influence with the Roman soldiers.
They knew he was a Roman citizen
and well educated.
But never discount the Hand of God.
10
11. 19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and
went with him aside privately, and asked him,
What is that thou hast to tell me? 20 And he said,
The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou
wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the
council, as though they would enquire somewhat of
him more perfectly.
11
12. 21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in
wait for him of them more than forty men, which
have bound themselves with an oath, that they will
neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and
now are they ready, looking for a promise from
thee. 22 So the chief captain then let the young man
depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that
thou hast shewed these things to me.
Paul’s nephew revealed their evil plot
and saved his Uncle’s life.
12
13. Do you see how God moves to thwart the plans of
the devils who are against us?
When we are willingly obeying God day by day
and step by step,
We are on God’s side and God always wins.
“Be of good cheer!”
13
14. Romans 8 31 What shall we then say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
We need to be led by the Holy Spirit of God
in everything, all the time.
Busyness is not always God’s business.
Matthew 11 28-30 Come unto Me, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.
14
15. Sometimes we keep ourselves worn out -- busy,
working hard, overloading our own wagon --
When the Lord just wants to give us rest.
The Lord’s work is good and blessed.
Just relax and allow the Holy
Spirit to work in your life.
He will produce His fruit in you.
Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness,
Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance.
15
