Friday, June 7, 2019

Opportunity and safety is provided by the Lord

Acts 23:12-35
The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed PaulMore than forty men were involved in this plot.
But when the son of Paul’s nephew heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”
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. Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
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.
Forty men vow to kill Paul when he is taken to the Council for further questioning. But Paul's nephew alerts the tribune in time for a counter-plan.
The Romans administered the province of Judea from the port of Caesarea. The size of the escort provided for Paul and his fiends on the journey - heavy-armed infantry cavalry, light-armed troops - is an indication of the unrest in the province. Paul's emergency transfer turned into a weary two-year imprisonment, punctuated by three hearings of his case, without resolution.
Why?
Men formed a conspiracy to kill Paul, but heard by Paul's nephew, it is opportunity and it is God's arrangement to save Paul. Even the commander immediately order soldiers delivered Paul safely to Governor Felix.
This is two year imprisonment of Paul, but there was not resolution.
How?
God's plan is beyond our plan and mind. Opportunity is provided by the Lord.



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