Monday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 23
23 Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. 24 Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.” 25 Then he wrote this letter to the governor:
26 “From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!
27 “This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety. 28 Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him. 29 I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. 30 But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”
23 Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. 24 Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.” 25 Then he wrote this letter to the governor:
26 “From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!
27 “This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety. 28 Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him. 29 I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. 30 But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”
Commentary:
23:23–24 The entire Roman force in Jerusalem consisted of a single cohort of up to 1,000 soldiers. The importance that Lysias attached to his prisoner is evidenced by his sending approximately half the force to protect him.
23:24 Felix was governor of Judea a.d. 52–59. He was somewhat inept and had his share of weaknesses (see 24:24–27).
23:25–26 Lysias’s letter follows standard Greek form: sender (Lysias), to recipient (Felix), followed by greetings (Gk. chairein). He gave Felix the deferential title Excellency (Gk. kratistos).
23:27 Lysias had no charges to list, other than that all complaints against Paul had to do with “their [Jewish] law” (v. 29) and not Roman law. Throughout the rest of Acts, all the Roman officials testify to Paul’s innocence of any charges against him.
23:24 Felix was governor of Judea a.d. 52–59. He was somewhat inept and had his share of weaknesses (see 24:24–27).
23:25–26 Lysias’s letter follows standard Greek form: sender (Lysias), to recipient (Felix), followed by greetings (Gk. chairein). He gave Felix the deferential title Excellency (Gk. kratistos).
23:27 Lysias had no charges to list, other than that all complaints against Paul had to do with “their [Jewish] law” (v. 29) and not Roman law. Throughout the rest of Acts, all the Roman officials testify to Paul’s innocence of any charges against him.
Questions:
- In Acts 23, we see a plot to kill Paul made by a group of more than 40 Jews. This plan makes it's way back to Paul, and a Roman commander eventually decides to protect him and get him safely to Governor Felix. Then, in verse 25, the commander sends word ahead to Felix in which he exaggerates the whole story to make himself look better. Because of our pride problem, many of us do the same thing. How often do you tend to exaggerate things to make yourself look better to other people? Can you think of an example?
- At this point in his life, Paul has faced the real threat of death multiple times. He's been stoned, beaten, arrested, left for dead... it's been a tough few years! No doubt Paul would've had his moments of discouragement, especially given that it was His obedience to God that put him in these situations. Can you imagine being in his shoes? How discouraged might you be? How have you handled this kind of discouragement in the past?
Pray:
- That God would help you trust Him through the discouragement of life.
- That your life would be about making God look good, not yourself.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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