Acts 23:12-24:27

Humans left to their own free decisions tend to destroy things. We do good, we do bad. That’s what freedom leads to either good decisions or bad decisions. But, when a sovereign God invades a free world, He can either control everything, control nothing, or work within the world. What a sovereign God decides to do does not alter His sovereignty. If He chooses to act, He is sovereign. If He chooses not to act, He is sovereign. But, what causes Him to act or not act? That’s the question.

We have an unstoppable God with an unstoppable plan using an unstoppable Church.

The plan is the bridge between the unstoppable God and the unstoppable Church.

The boss of a company can have complete control yet work with imperfect employees. The boss can allow the people to make mistakes as long as it does not stop the business from moving forward. If the threat to stopping the business arrives, the boss will ensure the business moves forward.

Sovereignty is not about what He does or doesn’t do but instead what He can do now or will do later. If you are suffering today, you can believe God can do something right now, or God will do something later. Paul is a man who is suffering from the religious leaders and the political leaders. Yet, God’s plan is for Paul to go to Rome. So, God makes a way.

Acts 23:12–24:27 CSB

12 When it was morning, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who had formed this plot. 14 These men went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse that we won’t eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, make a request to the commander that he bring him down to you as if you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly. But, before he gets near, we are ready to kill him.” 16 But the son of Paul’s sister, hearing about their ambush, came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander, because he has something to report to him.” 18 So he took him, brought him to the commander, and said, “The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has something to tell you.” 19 The commander took him by the hand, led him aside, and inquired privately, “What is it you have to report to me?” 20 “The Jews,” he said, “have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the Sanhedrin tomorrow, as though they are going to hold a somewhat more careful inquiry about him. 21 Don’t let them persuade you, because there are more than forty of them lying in ambush—men who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” 22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have informed me about this.” 23 He summoned two of his centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready with seventy cavalry and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Also provide mounts to ride so that Paul may be brought safely to Felix the governor.” 25 He wrote the following letter: 26 Claudius Lysias, To the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings. 27 When this man had been seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I arrived with my troops and rescued him because I learned that he is a Roman citizen. 28 Wanting to know the charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down before their Sanhedrin. 29 I found out that the accusations were concerning questions of their law, and that there was no charge that merited death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed that there was a plot against the man, I sent him to you right away. I also ordered his accusers to state their case against him in your presence. 31 So the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris as they were ordered. 32 The next day, they returned to the barracks, allowing the cavalry to go on with him. 33 When these men entered Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 After he read it, he asked what province he was from. When he learned he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing whenever your accusers also get here.” He ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s palace. 1 Five days later Ananias the high priest came down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus. These men presented their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus began to accuse him and said, “We enjoy great peace because of you, and reforms are taking place for the benefit of this nation because of your foresight. 3 We acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with utmost gratitude. 4 But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true. 10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I am glad to offer my defense in what concerns me. 11 You can verify for yourself that it is no more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. 12 They didn’t find me arguing with anyone or causing a disturbance among the crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or anywhere in the city. 13 Neither can they prove the charges they are now making against me. 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men. 17 After many years, I came to bring charitable gifts and offerings to my people. 18 While I was doing this, some Jews from Asia found me ritually purified in the temple, without a crowd and without any uproar. 19 It is they who ought to be here before you to bring charges, if they have anything against me. 20 Or let these men here state what wrongdoing they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin, 21 other than this one statement I shouted while standing among them, ‘Today I am on trial before you concerning the resurrection of the dead.’ ” 22 Since Felix was well informed about the Way, he adjourned the hearing, saying, “When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered that the centurion keep Paul under guard, though he could have some freedom, and that he should not prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs. 24 Several days later, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus. 25 Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix became afraid and replied, “Leave for now, but when I have an opportunity I’ll call for you.” 26 At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would offer him money. So he sent for him quite often and conversed with him. 27 After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, he left Paul in prison.

What it meant to them:

God acted through a young nephew.

Acts 23:22 CSB

22 So the commander dismissed the young man and instructed him, “Don’t tell anyone that you have informed me about this.”

God worked through a Roman leader.

Acts 23:24 CSB

24 Also provide mounts to ride so that Paul may be brought safely to Felix the governor.”

God worked it out.

Acts 23:11 CSB

11 The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.”

Acts 28:16 CSB

16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

What it means to us:

God can work things out.

God is sovereign.

God will work things out.

God has acted through His Son to work things out.

When things don’t look like they will work out, remember God will.

Freedom is not the absence of sovereignty, it’s the presence of gracious sovereignty.

God gifts us freedom, but does not leave us to ruin. That’s why He sent His Son. Every plan, every work of God points to Jesus of Nazareth. For Paul, God isn’t orchestrating his blissful retirement or peaceful vacation. God is orchestrating a plan to get Paul to Rome to preach the gospel. God is not working in our chaos to accomplish our plans. He is working in the midst of chaos to accomplish his plans.

If we are always looking for a God to bring our chaos under control so that we can further our plans, we have falsely identified ourselves as gods. If we are seeking the God to bring chaos under control so that He can further His plans and secure our goodness, we have met our savior.

That’s the beauty of the gospel: what we think saves us in this chaos is what is killing us, yet in chaos we killed the one who saves.

Main Point: God will.

Gospel Response:

We’ve talked much about what God is doing in your life and what plans are ahead of you. But, when you see clearly what God has for you, we can expect others to want to try and stop what God is doing in and through you. When we are being attacked, we must remember that God can and will see His unstoppable plan come to completion.

Recommit to God’s plan.

Entrust a difficult situation to God.

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