No Charge Against Him

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.