Acts 23:25-30 He wrote a letter as follows: 26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. 27 This man (Paul) 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.
 
ROMAN law required a letter accompany a prisoner when a commander sent a prisoner to a superior authority. When we read the letter in verses 28-30, we can wonder, “Why didn’t Claudius Lysias simply take Paul away from Jerusalem and release him?” Claudius admits there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. Wasn’t that sufficient to release Paul?
   Claudius was as most of us – afraid to stand on the truth. But he had good reason to be afraid. He had witnessed the lawless Jews’ violent acts, and he could have been worried they would attack, even try to kill him, too. But Rome’s authority over Judea and Jerusalem was absolute. Why would Claudius fear an angry mob?
   The Jews’ violence and the Roman’s fear illustrate the depth of the war between good and evil. There is no crime or evil idea that is too terrible for the depraved mind to consider and to do. The atrocities against humanity from ancient times into today’s news headlines is beyond comprehension to the Christian mindset. Some of you have lived through terrible oppression from people who find satisfaction in threatening, accusing and even killing others. We were reminded this morning of 37 Christian children killed by Islamic terrorists in Uganda in 2023.
   Today at his writing, Pastor Paul in Upper East Ghana contends daily with violent, deadly warfare between tribes. People he knows have randomly murdered. Buses bombed, dads murdered and families afraid in their homes are daily news. He can only care for as many as possible when there seems to be a pause in the attacks.
   How does the Christian respond to this? Perhaps those of you who have experienced such violence can tell us. Might you pray, “Deliver us from evil.” Do you seek strength in knowing you are from God and have overcome the spirit of evil because you know the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
   The deep aggression against God’s goodness will not stop until God intervenes with his almighty power. Truly the only way to stop evil is to stand against it. The devil cannot kill God’s Spirit.     

Acts 23:22-24 The commander dismissed the young man and cautioned him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.” 23 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 mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
 
THE young man was Paul’s nephew. He had overheard a plot to kill Paul. Now he has told the Roman commander guarding Paul. In response 470 highly trained Roman soldiers were ordered to protect Paul on a nighttime journey of 74 miles (120 kilometers) from Jerusalem to Caesarea. This is a fast-paced journey! Why did the Roman commander so urgently expend these large resources to protect one man? The reason is that the commander was obedient to his high command. He was fulfilling his duty to defend Rome’s law.
   Under Roman law, Paul had the right to full protection. Roman law demanded any accused person be tried before a jury. No one was to be punished or imprisoned without a fair trial. Rome, a pagan nation, demonstrated the principles of God’s law: Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. In contrast, the Jews were a lawless gang. Israel’s law keepers were Israel’s law breakers.
   Israel’s great sin throughout the centuries was to reject God’s righteous rule for their own violent desires. In each generation, these words defined Israel’s disobedient heart: Judges 21:25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. Many times this chaos had destroyed Israel. It would destroy Israel once more when God sent Rome to Jerusalem in 74 AD to destroy the temple and end the Pharisees and Sanhedrin’s rule.
 
God Protects You

IN Rome’s protection of the citizen Paul of Tarsus, we find an illustration of God’s kingdom protection for us. You, dear Christian, are a citizen of the kingdom of God. Paul wrote it this way in Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
   Even though Paul was not in Rome, he had Rome’s protection. In a like manner, even though we are not in heaven, we have God’s protection. The Holy Spirit, protects us from the devil’s destruction. Our life remains with God.
   All of Rome’s authority protected Paul. All of heaven’s authority protects you. In faith trust God for your life now and forever. Be strong and courageous. “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)  
 

Acts 23:12-15 The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”
 
THOSE who stirred the crowd against Paul now wanted to raise the sword against him. Imagine you go to the law officers in your community and you tell them, “My neighbor is stirring up trouble. Send for him. Then I and my 39 friends will kill him.” How grievous a sin the murderous crowd could conspire with the chief priests and elders. They claimed be the keepers of the law! Yet they conspired against God’s command, “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:13)
   Tragically, this was the Jews’ continuing response to God’s true Word. For centuries, Israel’s rulers had conspired to kill the prophets. Jesus grieved his city’s violence against his prophets: Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”
The devil hates the truth because it will send him into the eternal pit. Revelation 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
   Be alert to the Evil One’s methods to cancel God’s redeeming promises. The Spirit stepped in to cancel the killers’ plot.
 
Saved
 
Acts 23:16-21 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So the centurion took him to the commander. The centurion said, “Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?” 20 He said: “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”
 
WE don’t think of Paul having a sister and a nephew. Perhaps he had several siblings with children. God used this young man to speak up and defend his uncle. When Satan attacks spiritually and physically, be alert and prepared to help family and friends know the danger that lies in their path.    

Jesus is Near
 
Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
 
LUKE tells us several times in Acts of the very personal ways Jesus and the angels appeared to the apostles and evangelists. They needed to know where to go and what to do. They also needed to know the LORD God is near them as they face life and death circumstances.
   We can imagine Paul felt great relief and comfort that night under Rome’s protective guard in Jerusalem. His life had been on the line for two days as the Pharisees and Sadducees tried to condemn him. Then suddenly Jesus, his Lord, Savior, Commander and Teacher stood near to him!
   Jesus didn’t stand at a distance. He stood near Paul in the same compassionate way Jesus had ministered to so many people during his incarnation. God came to earth to be present with his people. Then the crucified, risen, ascended Lord had promised the apostles, “Surely I am with you.” (Matthew 28:20d). He promises his presence with all who faithfully believe, follow and teach his commands.
   Jesus words would have comforted and strengthened Paul even more. “As you have testified about me in Jerusalem.” is Jesus’ affirmation he is pleased with Paul’s faithful testimony in the face of danger. Paul is a warrior battling for people’s souls. In response, Jesus gave to Paul a new battleground: “You must also testify in Rome.” The Sovereign Lord is sending his faithful apostle to continue to wage war for the kingdom.
   Paul must have been very relieved, satisfied and hopeful. The Lord had come near him to tell him, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)
   Jesus wants you to tell people about him. Perhaps you’d rather not. You don’t want people to reject you or even become angry because you talk about Jesus.
   We must remember Jesus is fully aware people will refuse your testimony. He wants you to know he is with you. Our Servant King urges you to tell of his goodness and grace.
     To be God’s child is an eternal privilege. Our response is to speak his goodness into others’ lives. Your Sovereign Lord assures you he will be near you when you faithfully testify, “Jesus saves.”    

Acts 23:6-11 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.) 9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.
 
THE circumstances seemed hopeless. Paul defended his position. The Jews accused. How would this endless cycle of conflict end?
   God stepped in and gave to Paul a way to divide his accusers. Jesus said he would help his apostles defend against their enemies: Mark 13:9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”
   Paul became aware Pharisees were in the accusing mob. He declared, “I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee.” Now they are listening more intently. Then Paul spoke the gospel: “I stand on my hope in the resurrection of the dead.”
   Suddenly the Sadducees and Pharisees turned to their endless debate: The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Paul was now innocent in the Pharisees’ view: “We find nothing wrong with this man,” They even defended him with, “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”
   Paul had friends, but the violence must have even heightened. The Roman commander removed Paul to protect his life. How sad it is to witness such hatred among men who say, “We follow God’s law.”
   How do you respond to arguments? Do you pray God will give you the words to speak his truth? 

Acts 22:4-5 Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God's high priest?” 5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
 
ANANIAS, the high priest, had ordered Paul punished without a trial. Paul had responded with righteous judgment, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!” Paul had been correct that Ananias had violated a law. But he did not know he, too, had disobeyed one of God’s commands.
   Paul was not aware Ananias was the high priest. We may find this odd, but Paul had not been in Jerusalem for about 20 years. There is also evidence from several points in his writings that Paul had poor eyesight. Facial features are very difficult for a person with low vision to see.
   Was ignorance of Ananias’ position an excuse for Paul’s error? No, Paul realized he had broken God’s command, “Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.” (Exodus 22:28). His confession of the law is his confession of his sin.
   Paul understood this law applied to the Christian life. He wrote in Romans 13:5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This means,  “Submit to authorities because it is God’s law.”
   God’s law is a response to the sins of the world and of Isreal, specifically. Genesis tells of many ways people rebelled against authority. This was true of the families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And Moses’ rebellion against Egypt’s authority caused his 40-year exile. God wanted peace among his people, so they would show the world a good and right way to live. Even if one disagrees with his rulers, he must honor their position.
   This is essential in the structure of our homes, churches, regions and nations. We must understand God has established these entities as a means of order for our daily lives. Yes, there are appropriate times to resist laws that oppose God’s laws. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.” (Acts 4:19) Appeal and resist unjust laws with respect for the governing authorities. Many times we can do so, using procedures that allow for laws and rulers to change. Violent, judgmental efforts to change unjust laws may create more rigid controls.
   There is a time to submit to authority and a time to resist. Seek God’s wisdom to know what time it is.  

Acts 22:2-3 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
 
JOSEPHUS is an historian whose history of the first century Jews has helped confirm the Bible’s accounts. He wrote that Ananias, high priest from 48-58 AD, was a “profane, greedy and hot-tempered man, hated by many Jews because of his pro-Roman politics.” (Life Application Bible Commentary).
   Ananias and the Jews had accused Paul of speaking against our people and our law and this place (Acts 21:28) But now Ananias broke the Jews’ law. Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
   God’s law also said: Leviticus 19:15 Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. Justice requires a process: credible witnesses, proper trial, fair judgments. For some reason Ananias wanted to judge Paul, “Guilty!” without reason.
   To this point in the story, Paul’s defense had been to tell of his obedience to God’s call on his life. He had told of the great transformation the Lord Jesus had done. But his patience became righteous anger, calling Annanias, “You whitewashed wall!”
   Jesus had said the same thing: Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.”  
   The Jews were hypocrites against Jesus. They were hypocrites against Paul. They pretended to be true to God’s laws, but they lied and plotted to remain in power. The truth had become a curse to their depraved hearts.
   Was Paul correct to judge Ananias and the others as he did? First, he responded to the law. It was illegal to punish another without a trial. So, yes, Paul was correct. One needs to call out lawbreakers. We know when we or another breaks a commandment. Our task is to correct people with humility and love.
   The church, too, must be willing to tell the culture, “This is against God’s law.” Far too many laws are passed in our countries that reject, ignore and dismiss God’s law. We know the church can’t pass civil laws, but we must work to influence those laws. Unified as one body, under one Spirit, one Lord, one faith and one baptism (from Ephesians 4:4-5) we can be a powerful voice for justice. We must help the world know that God condemns the laws and customs that break his commands.
    We’ll examine Paul’s response further in the next lesson. He may not have been completely correct in his response to Ananias’ cruel words. 

Acts 22:30-23:1 The next day, since the commander wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him stand before them. 23:1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
 
IN the gospels’ accounts of Jesus’ trial before the Jews and then Pilate, two sets of rules are in conflict. The Jews’ ruling Sadducees and the Pharisees charged Jesus with blasphemy, so they could execute him. The Romans didn’t care about that. The Romans executed people for rebellion against their authority. Pilate had not heard evidence to know exactly why the Jews wanted Jesus dead. So he asked the Jews, “Why? What crime has he committed?” The Jews had no just answer. Their only response was to shout all the louder, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:23) Pilate wanted to keep the peace and his position. He submitted to the violence, and Jesus died.
   Will this Roman commander submit to the Sadducees’ and Pharisees’ violence against Paul? Paul had a Roman citizen’s rights to a fair trial. Would it make a difference to the Jews?
   Paul once again attempts to witness God’s work in his life. The day before he had addressed the hateful mob as “Brothers and fathers. (Acts 22:1) He looked directly, purposefully at them without apology and began with, “My brothers”. He did not say, “I’m a Roman citizen, so listen to me!” He wanted very much for the Jews to stop accusing him and to listen to him as a man who was one of them.
   Paul sees his life as an obedient response to God’s will. He believes with all his heart he has fulfilled his duty to God. His conscience is clear. Paul stands before the Jews as Jesus did, innocent of all charges. Jesus’ primary purpose was to obey the Father’s will. Paul’s purpose was to obey the Lord Jesus’ commands. He makes no apologies for his faithful work for his Lord and Savior.
   Christians must know we are first and last responsible to God’s commands. When Paul wrote to Corinth, he knew many in the church thought they were wise by the standards of the age (1 Corinthians 3:18b). They were rejecting his and others’ teachings. The church was dividing into groups that preferred one leader over another.
   But Paul did not defend himself against their judgments. He told them, as he told the Jews, “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Corinthians 4:4) Twenty-one times in his epistles Paul wrote of his clear conscience. He was ready to stand before God’s judgment. Perhaps one of Paul’s unspoken questions to the to the Jews was, “Are you ready for God’s judgment?”  
   Why, exactly, do you do what you do and say what you say? Is it to please people? Or do you please God? Are you prepared for Jesus’ return?   

Acts 22:23-24 As the Jews were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.
 
PAUL’S pointed and logical defense of his obedience to the LORD God had fallen on deaf ears. Evil seemed to say: “What’s your choice, Paul. Do you want to be left to the mob to be beaten? Or do you want to go with the Romans, who will flog you?”
   In a manner similar to Jesus, Paul had become a target for the Jews and a disturbance for the Romans. No one stood up to say, “This is a man God has anointed for the salvation of all, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (from Romans 1:16). Violence was the means to “justice”.
   It was good Paul knew his rights: Verse 25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”  26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the commander and reported it. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “This man is a Roman citizen.”  27 The commander went to Paul and asked, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” “Yes, I am,” he answered. 28 Then the commander said, “I had to pay a big price for my citizenship.” “But I was born a citizen,” Paul replied. 29 Those who were about to question him withdrew immediately. The commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put Paul, a Roman citizen, in chains.
   Paul’s Roman citizenship alarmed the Roman commander. He also should have been gravely concerned he threatened a citizen of God’s kingdom. The commander, too, had heard Paul’s testimony, but he paid no attention to God’s power. He was not like Cornelius, the Centurion who called Peter to come to his home to preach the gospel and baptize his family (Acts 10). He was not as the Roman who sought Jesus’ healing for his servant (Matthew 8) or the Roman soldier who had witnessed the earthquake and great darkness over the land at Jesus’ death to confess, “Surely this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54)
   The evidence of God was available to all who heard Paul’s testimony. Still, no one believed: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. (Romans 1:21-22)
   Do you know God? Thank him that you do and celebrate your knowledge. Pray for those who do not know him. 

Acts 22:17-22 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking. ‘Quick!’ he said to me. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 ‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” 22 The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He’s not fit to live!”
 
PAUL continued to defend his faith in Jesus to the silent, pensive mob. Would they accept him or destroy him? Would this be a moment of triumph? Or would Paul suffer as his Lord had suffered before the mob who had called, “Crucify him!”
   Paul continued to testify of the early days of his changed life as Jesus’ apostle. He told the Jews of Jesus’ word to him as he returned from Damascus to Jerusalem.
   Jesus told him to go. But Paul argued with Jesus. He was sure the Jews would accept him and respect him because he had helped kill Stephen. But Jesus had commanded Paul, “Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”
   When Paul said, “go to the Gentiles” the restless crowd erupted. They did not condemn Paul for helping to kill Stephen. That was a noble act for a Jew! But they wanted to kill Paul because he had gone to the Gentiles.
   Why? Jews had long associated with Gentiles. And they accepted Gentiles who wanted to convert to Judaism. But when Paul said, “Go to the Gentiles.” the Jews knew Paul spoke of his teaching Gentiles were equal with Jews. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) The crowd had heard enough. They rejected Paul’s testimony of Jesus’ transforming work. They rejected Jesus.
   A few violent men can destroy the common good. There were thousands of new Christians in Jerusalem. The apostles and new believers showed God’s love, caring for people’s physical needs. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. (Acts 2:43)
   Just as had happened for centuries, the Jews’ hard hearts rejected the LORD God’s passion to bless his people. This set them on a pathway to utter destruction.
   Jesus had warned his followers to be prepared for Jerusalem’s destruction (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). That warning became a terrible truth in 70 AD. Rome completely destroyed the city and the temple. God shut the door on the Jews’ disobedience. The temple will not reopen until the day Jesus returns to restore Jerusalem and Israel to the day when all whose names are written on the Book of Life will dwell with God. (from Revelation 21:27)