The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
July 5
Acts 23:11-35
Commentary by Nick Boork
July 5
Acts 23:11-35
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July 5 ~ Acts 23:11-35
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” 12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.” 16 So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”
19 Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. 21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.” 22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” 23 And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; 24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 He wrote a letter in the following manner:
26 Claudius Lysias,
To the most excellent governor Felix:
Greetings.
27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. 29 I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. 30 And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.
Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. 33 When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Here we see the apostle Paul alone, in a transition from Jerusalem to Rome. Paul had committed no crime except preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was faithfully serving the Lord yet being persecuted, arrested and now death threats were coming from the Jews. However, the night before Paul learned about this conspiracy the Lord Jesus Christ himself appeared to him either in a dream or supernaturally somehow manifested to him it doesn’t really say except that the Lord stood by him and spoke words of encouragement about his future saying that just like he had testified in Jerusalem that he would also now be sent to Rome to testify the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You see, in our darkest hour when we are going through our most severe opposition, just one word from Jesus is all we need to get us through the most severe storm. I tell you, the Lord is faithful to bring to us the right word of encouragement just when we need it to keep going and not give up or lose heart. The pressures and troubles that come with just being a Christian and especially those called to the ministry and the spiritual attacks from evil one can bring you to the breaking point! Sometimes we ask ourselves where is God in all this that I’m going through?
Just because we’re going through difficulties and opposition does not necessarily mean that we are out of the will of God. It may actually be a great indicator that we are in the middle of the will of God for our lives! Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him as a young pastor and new believers saying that everyone who lives a godly life in Christ Jesus would suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:10-12 "But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
Paul said out of them all the Lord delivered me! The good news is that when we are doing our best to pursue God’s plan for our lives, He is so faithful to both intervene in our circumstances to guide us and bring the encouragement we need to keep going. I want to emphasize this point that when you have a divine connection with Jesus Christ and he brings a word of confirmation it imparts to you the kind of encouragement, strength and hope that you need to endure. This is why the apostle Paul wrote: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Paul was looking back over his life and all that God had brought him through when he wrote this verse by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He could see the sovereign hand of God in his life and the lives of other believers that love the Lord. So no matter what we’re going through if we love the Lord the Bible says that God works all things together for our good. This is exactly what was happening with the apostle Paul. God used his arrest, all of the opposition, the death threats and the Roman army for the purpose of getting Paul to Rome so he could preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the highest rulers in the very center of influence being the largest metropolitan city on earth! Truly, God’s plans are to use us all greatly and he has a way of using everything we go through for his purposes.
WHATS THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) The Lord knows how to encourage us right when we need it.
2) Just because you’re going through difficult circumstances doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re out of the will of God. It might be a great indicator that you’re in the center of his will.
3) The Bible teaches us that God is on the throne and uses everything that happens to us for his purposes if we love Him.
4) When we feel like we are powerless and the circumstances around us are out of our control we have to seek the Lord and trust him for his intervention in our lives.
5) I’m so thankful that we serve a God that loves and cares for us. He truly has our BEST interest at heart for our good. As I reflect back over my life of walking with Jesus for the last 35 years I see where he has intervened supernaturally bringing deliverance, provision, healing, guidance and confirmation to encourage me not to give up but keep on going for him. How about you? Has this been your experience? Remember, God is right there with you now.
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” 12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.” 16 So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”
19 Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him. 21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.” 22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” 23 And he called for two centurions, saying, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night; 24 and provide mounts to set Paul on, and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 He wrote a letter in the following manner:
26 Claudius Lysias,
To the most excellent governor Felix:
Greetings.
27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. Coming with the troops I rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman. 28 And when I wanted to know the reason they accused him, I brought him before their council. 29 I found out that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but had nothing charged against him deserving of death or chains. 30 And when it was told me that the Jews lay in wait for the man, I sent him immediately to you, and also commanded his accusers to state before you the charges against him.
Farewell.
31 Then the soldiers, as they were commanded, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 The next day they left the horsemen to go on with him, and returned to the barracks. 33 When they came to Caesarea and had delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. 34 And when the governor had read it, he asked what province he was from. And when he understood that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear you when your accusers also have come.” And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.
OKAY, HERE'S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Here we see the apostle Paul alone, in a transition from Jerusalem to Rome. Paul had committed no crime except preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was faithfully serving the Lord yet being persecuted, arrested and now death threats were coming from the Jews. However, the night before Paul learned about this conspiracy the Lord Jesus Christ himself appeared to him either in a dream or supernaturally somehow manifested to him it doesn’t really say except that the Lord stood by him and spoke words of encouragement about his future saying that just like he had testified in Jerusalem that he would also now be sent to Rome to testify the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You see, in our darkest hour when we are going through our most severe opposition, just one word from Jesus is all we need to get us through the most severe storm. I tell you, the Lord is faithful to bring to us the right word of encouragement just when we need it to keep going and not give up or lose heart. The pressures and troubles that come with just being a Christian and especially those called to the ministry and the spiritual attacks from evil one can bring you to the breaking point! Sometimes we ask ourselves where is God in all this that I’m going through?
Just because we’re going through difficulties and opposition does not necessarily mean that we are out of the will of God. It may actually be a great indicator that we are in the middle of the will of God for our lives! Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him as a young pastor and new believers saying that everyone who lives a godly life in Christ Jesus would suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:10-12 "But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
Paul said out of them all the Lord delivered me! The good news is that when we are doing our best to pursue God’s plan for our lives, He is so faithful to both intervene in our circumstances to guide us and bring the encouragement we need to keep going. I want to emphasize this point that when you have a divine connection with Jesus Christ and he brings a word of confirmation it imparts to you the kind of encouragement, strength and hope that you need to endure. This is why the apostle Paul wrote: Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Paul was looking back over his life and all that God had brought him through when he wrote this verse by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He could see the sovereign hand of God in his life and the lives of other believers that love the Lord. So no matter what we’re going through if we love the Lord the Bible says that God works all things together for our good. This is exactly what was happening with the apostle Paul. God used his arrest, all of the opposition, the death threats and the Roman army for the purpose of getting Paul to Rome so he could preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the highest rulers in the very center of influence being the largest metropolitan city on earth! Truly, God’s plans are to use us all greatly and he has a way of using everything we go through for his purposes.
WHATS THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) The Lord knows how to encourage us right when we need it.
2) Just because you’re going through difficult circumstances doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re out of the will of God. It might be a great indicator that you’re in the center of his will.
3) The Bible teaches us that God is on the throne and uses everything that happens to us for his purposes if we love Him.
4) When we feel like we are powerless and the circumstances around us are out of our control we have to seek the Lord and trust him for his intervention in our lives.
5) I’m so thankful that we serve a God that loves and cares for us. He truly has our BEST interest at heart for our good. As I reflect back over my life of walking with Jesus for the last 35 years I see where he has intervened supernaturally bringing deliverance, provision, healing, guidance and confirmation to encourage me not to give up but keep on going for him. How about you? Has this been your experience? Remember, God is right there with you now.
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
