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THE KING’S BUSINESS
and preparation for the crisis. Human friends sometimes comfort us after the trial has arisen, but it is the Lord who com forts us before the need appears. The con spiracy was strong and apparently danger ous. No less than forty men were in it. They were determined men, willing to go to any length to accomplish their purpose. Wednesday, April 18. Acts 23:14, 15. These men who had entered into a con spiracy against Paul would not even stop at murder, but would put aside everything, even eating and drinking until their object of getting Paul out of the way was accomplished. They fancied that they were the vicegerents of 'God on earth and had a right to put those whom they regarded as God’s enemies, out of the way, even with out legal process of any kind. There is no more dangerous man in the world than the man who fancies that it is for him to judge who are God’s friends and who are God’s foes, and that he himself is appointed of God to be the executioner of God’s judgments. Doubtless these conspirators thought that they would be doing God a service in putting Paul out of the way (cf. John 16:2), a solemn warning to all in any age who would take the judgments of God into their own hands. This was not the only time that Paul was the object of such infamous plots (ch. 25:3; 9:23, 24; 14:5, 6 ; 20:19; 2 Cor.ll :22, 26, 32, 33). The plot was well laid. It seemed certain of success. But failed utterly. Why? God. (cf. Ps. 2:1-4; 64:1-10; 89:10). The wicked always leave God out of their plans, and so, no matter how cunningly their plots are formed and how strong their conspir acies may be, they are doomed to utter failure. Paul was just as safe after this plot was formed as he was before (Rom. 8:31). Forty desperate men backed up by the powers that be, and in league with the devil himself, can apparently accomplish a great deal in this world, but they are utterly powerless against God. They can not kill in Jerusalem a man whom God has appointed to go to Rome and bear wit-
of his hearers would recall and reflect upon the strange scene of that morning and the words of Paul that gave rise to the contention, and probably more than one in later years were converted to Paul’s Christ through his words on this occasion, and through their own subsequent reflec tion upon them. But as for Paul himself, he was in great danger for the moment, and again the Roman colonel comes to his deliverance. Tuesday, April 17. Acts ,23:11-13. It looked very dark for Paul, and if Paul had been at all like most men he would have had a very heavy heart, but Paul was not like most men. Nevertheless, he was human and needed comfort, and in the night that} followed the Lord Himself came and stood beside Paul, bringing him just the message that he needed, “Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified con cerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” Possibly Paul had been tempted to think he had made a mis take in going to Jerusalem against the pro test of his friends. Whatever he may have thought, what Jesus said was sufficient to banish all such thoughts as that. Evidently the Lord approved heartily of Paul’s testi mony at Jerusalem. It is clear also that those who fancy that Paul was headstrong in going to Jerusalem and was following his own wishes and not the leading of God in doing so are altogether misjudging Paul, and it is more than likely that Paul’s appeal to Csesar at a later date (ch. 25:11) was suggested by the words that the Lord spoke to him on this occasion. As the Lord had revealed it to Paul that he must bear witness concerning Him at Rome, Paul could rest assured that he would not be killed in Jerusalem, no matter how shrewdly and persistently his enemies might plot to that end. The next day showed just why the Lord appeared to him and comforted him on this night. A dangerous conspiracy and plot was form ing against him, but God was, as He always is, beforehand with His comfort
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