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W O W - T H E B I G P I C T U R E
by Thomas Nelson Publishers
Jewish Leaders Conspire to Kill Paul
-- Acts 22:23-23:35; Psalm 133:1-3; Proverbs 25:11-12
Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into
the air, the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and
said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know
why they shouted so against him. And as they bound him with thongs,
Paul said to the centurion who stood by, "Is it lawful for you to
scourge a man who is aRoman, and uncondemned?" When the centurion heard
that, he went and told the co mmander, saying, "Take care what you do,
for this man is a Roman."
Then the commander came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman?"
He said, "Yes."
The commander answered, "With a large sum I obtained this citizenship."
And Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."
Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him;
and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a
Roman, and because he had bound him.
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.
Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I
have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." And the
high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on
the mouth. Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed
wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command
me to be struck contrary to the law?"
And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God's high priest?"
Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest;
for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your
people.'"
But when 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. 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."
Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest
Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go
down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the
barracks.
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good
cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must
also bear witness at Rome."
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. 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."
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."
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."
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." He 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.
Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by
night to Antipatris. 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, he said, "I will hear
you when your accusers also have come." And he commanded him to be kept
in Herod's Praetorium.
Acts 22:23-23:35
WORSHIP:
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing-
Life forevermore.
Psalm 133:1-3
WISDOM:
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.
Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.
Proverbs 25:11-12
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