Acts 23:16-22

And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he … told Paul.

Paul’s sister’s son

From this subject we learn--

I. That humble and nameless individuals are sometimes of great service in the world. There are anonymous ministries in life that are of unspeakable importance. The agent is unknown or forgotten, but the deed lives forever. As ships meet during night at sea, a moment together, and then never to cross each other’s path again; as a figure appears upon the canvas of a moving panorama, for an instant arresting every eye, and then never to be looked on more; so, in the page of history, and in our own observation, some individuality suddenly appears in the foreground, and fills an important mission, and then as quickly vanishes, and is forgotten. Well, perhaps, some of you are at times tempted to a feeling of discouragement, because you are never likely to occupy a position of prominence or distinction. Outside of your own family your name is not known, nor ever likely to be. Never mind that. You may do splendid work notwithstanding. The craving for notoriety is often a serious drawback to real usefulness. Many a noisy and fussy philanthropist is doing a far less solid and valuable work than some quiet and unobtrusive Christian. It has often been said, that there are few things better fitted to humble a young man than to be thrown into this great world of London; for, however conspicuous he may have been in the place he came from, here he is at once lost in the mighty throng. And yet, if a man has anything in him, and especially if he has the grace of God, he will not be long without finding scope for its exercise; and often the opening turns up in the most unlooked for quarter.

II. The value of promptness in action. Had the youth before us paused an hour or two, in all human certainty the apostle would have been slain. It is a life-long disadvantage to many a youth that he is so slow and lethargic in his movements. In these busy days in which we live time means money; and the young fellow who looks as though he were half-asleep will be left far behind by his more agile companion. The proverb, “Slow and sure,” sound though it often is, is responsible for a good deal of wasted time; for there is many a case in which “prompt and sure” would be a wiser adage. Sir Walter Scott wrote: “Beware of a propensity which easily besets you--I mean what women call dawdling. Let your motto be Hoc age. Do instantly whatever is to be done, and take your recreation after business, never before it.” Remember, however, that despatch does not mean hurry. Hurry is the mark of a weak mind, despatch of a strong one. When a regiment is under march, the rear are sometimes thrown into confusion because the front are lazy and irregular; so the whole arrangements in a house of business may be thrown out of gear, because the lads who do the initial work are dilatory. The dawdler, like a squirrel in a revolving cage, has the appearance of being busy, but accomplishes no results; has a hundred irons in the fire, but few of them are hot, and with the few that are he only burns his fingers. It is said of one who came to great distinction in the House of Commons, that the first occasion of his opening his mouth in that assembly was when, as quite a young man, he rose and gave prompt expression to his views. He sat down nervous, and afraid he had made a blunder. In a few minutes a little piece of paper was handed to him with two words written on it by the greatest statesman of the day--“You’ll do.” The incident yielded him so much stimulus that he retained that morsel of paper as one of his greatest treasures; it was preserved as an heirloom in the family; and today may be seen in the hall of the mansion, handsomely mounted and framed, pointing the lesson to all young men who enter, to be prompt, decisive, and courageous: “You’ll do.” We live in a prompt universe, and all through the handiwork of God we find that time is kept to a second. I am the more anxious to impress this upon you, because there is an epidemic of laziness abroad. Look down the advertisement columns of the newspapers, and how often you will read, “A young man desires a light situation.” Ward Beecher got a letter from such a youth, asking him to find him an easy berth. He replied as follows: “If you wish an easy berth don’t be an editor. Do not try the law. Do not think of the ministry. Avoid school keeping. Let alone all ships, stores, shops, merchandise. Abhor polities. Don’t practise medicine. Be not a farmer nor mechanic; neither be a soldier nor sailor. Don’t work. Don’t study. Don’t think; none of these are easy. Oh, my friend, you have come into a hard world. I know of but one easy place in it, and that is the gravel.”

III. The play of natural affection. The youth was probably a Pharisee; but natural affection triumphed over the bitterness of religious animosity. The chivalrous spirit of the young man was roused; and, by all means, his uncle, in spite of his heresy, must be saved. We applaud the lad for this. He was better than his creed. Perhaps the apostle had him in mind when he wrote to Timothy, “If any have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home.” His own nephew set a good example. Some of you, perhaps, might do well to take a leaf out of his book. I have known men who, when they got on a bit, seemed to forget that they had any relatives in the world. But there is not a finer sight than that of a young man who has got on well in the world sending substantial help to a widowed mother, or taking in hand the education of a younger brother, or saving so much from his weekly wage or quarter’s salary, to help some other relative who was in need. Verily I say unto you, such a man shall in no wise lose his reward. (J. Thain Davidson, D. D.)

Paul’s sister’s son

1. When Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he did not himself sit helplessly down and wonder how in the world Uncle Paul would get out of his troubles.

2. He went straight at work to frustrate it, and his first step was to inform Paul of its nature. It is seldom a kindness to conceal a friend’s danger from him.

3. He carried out the undertaking nobly. None of Paul’s family were on intimate terms with the word “fail.”

4. When brought before the chief captain, he doubtless dreaded the meeting, but he was received courteously, questioned carefully, and dismissed pleasantly. A Christian duty is seldom so formidable a task as at first sight we fear it may be.

5. The young man and Paul himself were treated with marked consideration by those around them. Which goes to show that even in the dim light of a dungeon it is easy to recognise pure characters and lofty aims.

6. Paul’s sister’s son was dismissed with a caution against indiscriminate talking, and, so far as we know, he always heeded it. If some modern Church members would only give attention to his example in this regard! (S. S. Times.)

Paul’s sister’s son

The incident teaches us--

I. That unknown men may be immortalised--By association with a good cause. All unknown to himself, this unknown youth was identifying himself with the cause of Christ, and thus obtains a few lines in the Christian book which has made him famous in every clime. No matter how humble a part a man may play in God’s Church or in the cause of humanity, there is a record kept which will one day be read out before an assembled universe.

II. That feeble instrumentalities may be capable of the mightiest service. This youth could mot have done what his uncle afterwards did, but without his nephew’s help Paul himself would have been unable to do it. We may thank Paul’s sister’s son for Paul’s testimony at Rome and for some of his great Epistles. And, as this narrative shows, he got prompt credit for it, which is not usually the case. And yet where would commerce, e.g., be but for young men? We wonder at the stupendous business done by a certain house, and admire the genius of its head; but where would he be but for the army of clerks, apprentices, etc., who are behind him? Is the comparative stagnation of the Church due to its neglect of young men?

III. That the best-constructed schemes may be foiled by insignificant incidents. Nothing could have been better laid than this plot. No means likely to ensure success were omitted. Craft, power, and prestige were on the side of the conspirators. But “murder will out.” A hint was somehow dropped, somewhere, and by some means was wafted to the ears of Paul’s nephew--that was all. God has strange ways of frustrating wickedness. He does not need the aid of thunder nor lightning. A mysterious line in a letter, the prattle of a little child, a trifling accident occasioning a moment’s delay, the unaccountable misdirection of a message are enough.

IV. That evil once discovered should be unmasked. The prompt action of this young man cannot be too widely imitated. When opportunity serves, the wrong-doer of course should be confronted with the hope of his reformation. But there are circumstances in which evil should meet with a summary and public exposure. Knowledge without revelation may be guilty complicity.

V. That good men should take precautions for their own safety. Paul might have been indifferent, relying on the Divine promise; but God’s promises are often fulfilled by the use of means. The best men often display lamentable carelessness about interests which are dear to Christ and the Church. But no one ought to be above advice to take care of his health, and defend his reputation.

VI. That duty once undertaken should be bravely carried through. Paul’s nephew probably little expected so august an interview, and very likely would have shrunk from it if he had. But plucking up courage, he told the grim warrior all he had related to his gentler uncle. Let no man, having put his hand to the plough, look back. (J. W. Burn.)

The chief captain took him by the hand.--

How to treat young men

The scene is a graphic and touching one. Paul’s nephew was taken with his great secret into the presence of the chief captain who, with the frankness and affability of a true gentleman--noticing no doubt the shyness of the youth for the first time in the presence of a man of rank--took him by the hand, drew him gently into a quiet corner, and having thus put him at his ease, invited his confidence. The conduct of this Roman aristocrat towards a young Jew is not without its bearing on the Church today. Let us take each act and draw out the lessons.

I. He took him by the hand. Young men want taking by the hand, not by the hair, not by the neck, not by the shoulders. Understand this--

1. Literally. What an amount of good a little more hand shaking would do. It would be more effectual than many sermons and many prayers. Young men impervious to expostulation or appeal might easily be won by the kindly pressure of a hand. Yet how sadly seniors stand aloof, satisfied with a nod, or a “Good morning,” or even with less. They are willing to put their hands anywhere rather than into those of their young brothers--ready to undertake all the work of the Church, which would lose nothing, but gain much, if some of it were entrusted to younger hands.

2. Metaphorically. To take one by the hand means--

(1) Welcome.

(2) Brotherliness.

(3) Encouragement.

(4) Confidence.

These are all that young men want; let them be ungrudgingly rendered, and the Church of the next decade will have different results to show. The cry is, How to retain our young men? The answer is simply--Take them by the hand.

II. He went aside with him. It would do no harm, but much good, if young men were taken aside into--

1. The homes of the elders of the Church. Thousands of useful lives are thrown away through the friendlessness of young men plunged into city life. They know no one, they have nowhere to go, no one cares for them, and so they wander into the haunts of sin. What a blessing if their senior brethren would ask them home occasionally for a social hour!

2. The official meetings of the Church. They would then see its inner working, and thus be trained for more effective service. As a rule young men know nothing, and consequently care nothing, for the machinery of the Church, and so eventually lose all interest in its work.

III. He asked him, what is that thou hast to tell me? Young men should be asked--

1. About their temporal interests. This need not be done obtrusively or so as to excite suspicion of curiosity. But many a young man is yearning for someone to open a conversation which shall lead to a statement of difficulties, or a request for advice.

2. About their souls. How helpful to a youth when wandering into the ways of sin or on the brink of making the great decision, for some older brother to say, “Would you like to have a talk on religious matters?”

3. About the welfare of the Church. Young men sometimes fail to fall in with existing or projected schemes, because they have schemes of their own. The Church would do no harm if it were to draw them out, even though their projects should be declined.

Lessons:

1. Young men are the hope of the Church--a trite saying but fatally disregarded.

2. Let the Church make the most of its young men. (J. W. Burn.)