23. “And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night.”
The Lord had stood by Paul the previous night, assuring him that he would bear testimony in Rome. Thus the Apostle might alone, in perfect peace and safety, have walked by those who lay in wait to kill him. But it was not a time for a display of power. He submits to Roman protection in a display of personal humility and weakness. Paul goes to Cæsarea with no outward show of power, “that the power of Christ may rest upon” him.
24-25. “And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor. And he wrote a letter after this manner.”
The simplicity of faith and quiet submission to the will of God bring Paul to Cæsarea, not tired and worn with walking the long journey, but having been carried there by the sovereign ways of God who always does “exceeding abundantly above” our desires and thoughts.
26-27. “Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.”
How man by nature loves to deal in half-truths—especially when they can be twisted to make him look good! Christians must never give in to this tendency of the flesh to put ourselves always in the “best light.” The blessed Saviour perfect Man was always exactly what He said. “They said therefore to him, Who art Thou? And Jesus said to them, Altogether that which I also say to you” (John 8:25 JND).
28-29. “And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.”
The Lord Jesus was accused before the Roman governor, Pilate, who, well knowing from testimony given that He was an innocent Man, yet delivered Him to death. Here again testimony is given that a man is innocent of any crime against Roman law, yet Paul remains imprisoned. We should not expect any different treatment from a world whose mind has been blinded by its god, Satan (2 Cor. 4:4).
30. “And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.”
If truly righteous, Roman law ought to have taken and imprisoned the Jews who were planning to murder Paul, while freeing the Apostle! The chief captain’s actions show the folly of man’s vaunted legal standards its inability to “judge righteous judgment.” Christians are called to an infinitely higher standard. We are to “walk worthy” of our calling in every area of life (though we are to be subject to “the powers that be”; Rom. 13:1).
31-33. “Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.”
God’s purposes are always accomplished. He ordained that the beloved Apostle would bear witness at Rome. But due to man’s hatred and persecution, along that journey many more would hear the gospel of a risen, glorified Christ. How wonderfully God overrules every failure of His servants and every enmity of those who hate the name of Jesus. We ought to take courage from this, for God can use even our failures and the trials of our lives to bear witness of His power, love and grace.
34-35. “And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall.”
Felix was more responsible than the chief captain, and his actions were more disgusting. He read that Paul had done nothing “worthy of death or of bonds,” yet kept him prisoner in Herod’s hall of judgment. Where Paul came from was of more importance to Felix than what he had done. Such a spirit can easily taint our thinking. God is “no respecter of persons,” nor should we be such. One mark of the spirit of apostasy in Christendom is “having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.” Let’s not think more highly of ourselves than we ought (Rom. 12:3). The humility of Christ ought ever to characterize us.
Chapter 24
1. “And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.”
Alienated in heart from God and His Christ, the Jewish religious leaders try to plan for every contingency in order to gain their wicked end the destruction of Paul and the gospel of Jesus he preached. Hiring a Roman orator, they calculate that his eloquence will sway Felix’s judgment in their favor. To effectively preach God’s truth requires love for Christ and leading of the Spirit, never human eloquence. Paul didn’t preach using “enticing words of man’s wisdom”; rather, his message was given “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. ” May we ever lean in faith on the Spirit of God to grant a necessary “word in season” (Isa. 50:4).
2-3. “And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, we accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.”
How false these Jews were! The peace they desired (which the Romans never gave them) was lost when they cried against the Prince of Peace, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” They rejected the One of whom “the world itself could not contain the books that should be written,” defiantly telling Him, “We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man” (John 8:33). Their pretended thankfulness for the Roman yoke—the fruit of their disobedience—was a pitiful, sad lie.
4-5. “Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.”
As long as “Saul” was making “havoc of the church” and “breathing out threatenings and slaughter” against the body of Christ, these wicked leaders were pleased. But when Paul preached God’s love, grace and forgiveness, he became a “pest” an insufferable plague to the Jewish nation. What a picture of man’s sinful, twisted and dark heart!
Ed.