(Paul Sent to Felix the Governor)
Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.”
Mission vs Method!!
The only way to fully understand the above passage is to read what God told Paul previously; before and during his arrest:
Acts 21:13-14 (ESV Strong's)
Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
Acts 23:11 (ESV Strong's)
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.”
God wanted Paul in Rome to proclaim the Gospel of Christ at the highest level. It is obvious that Paul, like anyone, would want to go there on his own terms. But, God allowed the envy and jealousy of the Jews to put Paul into a prisoner status. He would go to Rome. But, he would go in chains. We may not like the way God moves us around, but we must rejoice that God IS moving us and putting us where He wants to use us. Paul simply wanted to be used by God. He was less concerned about the method and more emphatic about the mission. We should always rejoice about mission over method. Noah rejoiced over mission vs method. Abraham in offering his son Issac rejoiced over mission vs method. David rejoiced over mission vs method as he found himself in caves, hunted by Saul. Jeremiah rejoiced over mission vs method as he sat in a pit for the name of God. Daniel rejoiced over mission vs method as he was tossed into the lion’s den. Mission always trumps method. God puts us where He wants in ways we may not like. But, we will be were God wants us to be to accomplish His mission for us.
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