Acts 23:23-35 – Then he 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. 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.” 25 He wrote a letter as follows: 26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. 27 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. 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. 29 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. 30 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. 31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. 33 When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 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.
“Then he 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. 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.” The commander, Claudius Lysias, was surely very relieved to be able to pass Paul along to Governor Felix. The threat of Paul’s assassination was a great relief as it expedited Paul being out from under his responsibility. His immediate concern, considering the vow of the murderers to not eat until Paul was dead, was real and needed to take place right away. He ordered an overwhelming force of four hundred seventy to protect Paul and take him to Caesarea that night. We can think of that huge force as the commander making sure that Paul was not killed on his watch. Events with Paul already had started off precariously and he would take no chances with him now being killed. In reality, we know that Paul not had only four hundred seventy soldiers guarding him, but a host of angels also doing the same.
“He wrote a letter as follows: 26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. 27 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. 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. 29 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. 30 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.” So the commander Claudius Lysias sent a letter to the Governor to give a little history of why Paul was being presented to him. We can notice how he conveniently left out how Paul had been illegally treated. In fact, he makes himself look like the hero and faithful servant who stepped in to save the day! We must always take care to hear both sides “of the story.” Proverbs 18:17 “In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone come forward and cross-examines.” Proverbs 18:13 “To answer before listening – that is folly and shame.”
We observe three points that Claudius Lysias made: 1) Paul was a Roman Citizen. 2) Paul had not violated any Roman law. 3) That the Jews were angry enough to kill him and so explosive political matters were involved. These three things the governor would need to know. By reporting what had transpired, the commander was letting the governor know that he had done his due diligence.
“When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 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.” Paul, with his guardians, arrived safely in Caesarea just as Paul knew would happen because the Lord had told him that he would need to testify in Rome. So Paul not only knew he would arrive safely in Caesarea, but he knew that he would also not be killed while he was there, because God had a divine plan for him, so Rome is where he would arrive!
When God gives us a burden to minister in a special way, when He calls us to accomplish a task, then as we are obedient to Him, it will be done. If God calls us to a foreign land to minister to there, then we need not worry, God will accomplish our arrival and He will arrange every one of our footsteps. Until we accomplish what the Lord would have us do nothing can stop us, no accidents, no wild animals, no evil person, not even the devil himself. The only person that can deny the blessing of us serving our God is ourselves. Let us seek God’s will for our life and let’s not let anything stop us from pursuing what God calls us to. Be unstoppable, be invincible, and be bold because we are walking as God has called us to. God would bring Paul to Rome and God will protect and enable us when we tune our ears and hearts to hear and do the will of God. Onward Christian soldiers! Marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle, see His banners go! Praise God! He is always good, always able and He forever loves us! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”