Acts 24:22
But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.”
Tag: God’s Providence
In the above passage we read about Paul standing before the Roman Governor, Felix. The Jews had attempted to kill Paul and a Roman Commander (known as a “tribune”) had made sure Paul was safely taken to Felix, to be judged. Felix, a pure political hack, was more than willing to hear the case. Notice the reason he kept Paul under guard:
Acts 24:26
At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.
The Roman Commander, the Tribune, was Claudius Lysias. He was the one who wrote the letter to Felix and sent Paul to Felix under guard:
Acts 23:26
“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.
In the above passage Felix is trying to decide the truth of the matter and decides to let Lysias to testify to the facts of the case. God is using a Roman Tribune to protect Paul. God had already told Paul not to fear because God wanted Paul in Rome to testify of the grace of God in the Gospel message:
Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
In this story, God also used Paul’s nephew to warn Lysias of the plot to kill Paul:
Acts 23:16-17
Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.”
Notice how God uses a young boy and a Roman centurion to accomplish a plan He has for His messenger, Paul. God is a sovereign God who orchestrates our lives to accomplish His plan for them. Each step along the way is God bringing something about in that plan for our lives and His over arching plan for the Kingdom. If we rest in those plans, we can find the peace we are looking for in our lives. When we resist those plans and disobey His Word, we lose out on the peace He has for us. Just as the Jews did in this story who are trying to stop Paul and his message rather than repent and believe in Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment