“The Lord Will Protect You III!”

“The Lord Will Protect You III!”(Acts 24:23-35).
After the coupplot on Paul had been unravelled, the commander “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. Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.’
He wrote a letter to His Excellency, Governor Felix, stating:
‘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. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. 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. 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.’
…When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, 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.”
The kind of protection given to Paul as he was transited to the governor could only come from God alone.
It is important to note that Paul’s life was threatened by his own people just because he believed in the resurrection of the dead; and preached Jesus as the firstborn of the resurrection.
Ignorance is no excuse. Comfortable Christianity breeds comfortable Christians. Comfortable Christians hate anything that attempts to rock their boat and destabilise their comfort zones! If only Paul’s accusers had spent less time in religious rituals and more time in studying their own Scriptures, they would have sided with Paul, rather than wanting to kill him at all cost!
While his own people wanted him dead, the commander found out that “there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment.”
The Lord has a way of protecting those who bring the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time, he has a way of reaching the high and mighty with that same message. For example, if governor Felix has not heard about Christ closely, there is no way he had to hear Paul’s defense without hearing about Christ.
However, Felix “was well acquainted with the Way,” but he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe…”(Acts 24:22&26).
Paul’s detention dragged on for years, leaving governor Felix to Festus who succeed him and on to King Agrippa.
An interesting dialogue between King Agrippa and Paul shows how much Paul continued to spread the good news even in chains.
Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” In reply Paul said, “Short time or long – I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for the chains”(Acts26:28-29).
If not of the fact that Paul had appealed to Caesar, Agrippa would have set him free(26:32).
Bottom line: The gospel has to reach everybody – even if it means the messenger has to be in chains!
Prayer: Holy Spirit give us discerning hearts to ignore the chains that tether us for the sake of the gospel. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
20/03/2025.