College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Acts 23:12-30
g.
The plot for Paul's life and his escape. Acts 23:12-30.
And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
And they were more than forty that made this conspiracy.
And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.
But Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.
And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.
So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee.
And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me?
And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.
Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.
So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.
And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:
and he bade them provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
And he wrote a letter after this form:
Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.
This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:
whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.
And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.
Acts 23:12-15 Paul's escape from the council only stirred up a greater hatred. It was the very morning following his experience with the Sanhedrin that more than forty men agreed together neither to eat nor drink until they had slain Paul. These forty thought even as Paul thought so long ago that they were doing a service to God in this murderous act. When they came to the high priest and elders to secure their cooperation in this nefarious scheme they expressed no shame. Indeed, they seemed to expect approval and congratulations.
Acts 23:16-18 This was not the first or the last time murder was employed as a means of quelling apostasy. The place was worked out in the secrecy of the forty men but soon others heard and at a certain place the name of Paul struck a responsive chord of interest in the mind of a young lad who heard it. He stopped to listen more fully to the gossip that involved the name of one so dear to him. What he heard made his heart leap within him. These men were assassins and this was a plot of murder of his own uncle. That afternoon Paul had a visitor. How surprised and glad he must have been to see his nephew. But in a moment Paul's face took on a serious expression as he heard his nephew tell him
Uncle, they are plotting to kill you. I heard men saying that tomorrow morning the priests are going to ask Claudius Lysias to bring you down before the council as if they would inquire more accurately concerning your case, but men will be lying in wait on the way and they will rush upon you and kill you.
Immediately upon hearing of this Paul acted in the wise way he was wont to. He called one of the ten centurions or captains near by and asked him to take his nephew to the chief captain for he had something to say to him.
879.
How was the plot to kill Paul like Paul's previous persecution of the church?
880.
How was the intenseness of the hatred of the 40 men expressed?
881.
Who averted the disaster?
882.
Who escorted Paul's nephew to Lysias?
Acts 23:19-22 See how kindly and gently the chief captain treats this young lad. As nervous and shy as the boy would be he took him by the hand and led him aside to hear what he had to say. When Lysias heard of this plan he saw in it a great danger, not only to justice but to his own office. So great was the danger that 470 soldiers must be called to help.
883.
How did the chief captain show his kindness to the lad?
Acts 23:23-30 As once before, there was only one recourse to save his life and that was to leave Jerusalem. This time Paul was to ride out on horseback.
There was to be a letter to accompany this impressive appearing group. The centurion in charge was to take it to the governor Felix to explain the case history of the prisoner.
If you will read carefully the letter in Acts 23:26-30 you will notice a subtle lie or two told by Lysias to cover up his hasty actions. He says (in Acts 23:27) that he rescued Paul from the Jews having learned he was a Roman. Now you know it wasn-'t until after he had taken him into the castle that he learned he was a Roman.
The tribune makes no mention of the attempted scourging. So has man attempted through any and all means to appear righteous before his fellow-man.
884.
What real danger did the tribune see in the plot on Paul's life?
885.
Name the two falsehoods that Lysias put in his letter.