THE KING’S BUSINESS
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he went (came) and entered into the castle and told Paul.’’ It required no miracle to defeat the plot o f the Jews. But the defeat was o f God just as much as if the whole course o f nature had been stopped. In a very simple and natural way the plot leaked out and got to the ears o f a relative of Paul. It is quite likely he did not Sympa thize with Paul’s views, but he recoiled at the thought o f his being assassinated. Paul’s enemies were caught in their own counsel (cf. Job 5:13; 1 -Cor. 3:19).; This scheme to overthrow God’s purposes and word had failed utterly (cf. Prov. 21:30; Lam. 3-37). vs. 17-22. “ Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him (and Paul called unto him one o f the centurions), and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: fo r he hath a certain thing (something) to tell him. So he took him, and brought him to the, chief captain, and said (saith), Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed (asked) me to bring this young man unto thee. Then (and) the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him (going aside asked him privately), What is it thou hast to tell me? And he said, The Jews have agreed ■to desire (ask) thee theft thou wouldst (to) bring down Paul tomorrow into ( unto) the council, as though they would enquire some what o f him more perfectly (more exactly concerning him). But do not thou yield unto them: fo r there lie in wait fo r him o f them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath (under a curse), that, they Will neither eat nor drink (neither to eat nor to drink) till they have killed (slain) him: and now are they ready, looking fo r a (the) promise from thee. So ■the chief captain then let the young man depart (go), and charged (charging) him, See thoui (omit, see thou) tell no man that thou hast shewed (signified) these things to me.” Paul had faith in God, but that did not prevent his taking judicious pre cautions to defeat the wiles o f his enemies (cf. Matt. 10:16). Both the captain and the colonel had occasion to fear Paul, as they had violated the Roman law in their
vicegerents o f God on earth, and had a right to put those whom they saw fit to regard as God’s enemies out o f the way, even without legal process o f 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 o f God to* be the executioner o f God’s judgments- Doubtless these con spirators thought that they would be doing God a service in putting Paul out o f the way (cf. John 16:2), a solemn warning to all in any age-who would take the judg ments of God into their own hands. This was not the only time that Paul was the object o f such infamous, plots, (ch. 25:3; 9:23, 24; 14:S, 6 ; 20:19; 2 Cor. 11:22, 26, 32, 33). The plot was well laid. It Seemed certain o f success. But it failed utterly. Why? God. (cf. Ps. ,2 :1 -4 ; 64:1-10; 89:10). The wicked always leave God out o f their plans, and so, no matter how cun ningly their plots are formed and how strong their conspiracies 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 hitnself, can appar ently accomplish a good deal in this world, but they are utterly powerless against God. They cannot kill in Jerusalem a map whom God has appointed to go to Rome and bear witness of Jesus there. Paul was follow ing again very closely in the road his Mas ter walked in having a plot formed against him (Matt. 26:4). That the conspirators thought it a perfectly proper and pious thing they were doing is evident from their disclosing it to the priests and elders (cf. Jer. 6:15; Hos. 4 :9 ). They sought the co operation o f the priests, and got it. Ecclesiastics have often stooped to the low est villainy. In our day, they 'do not mur der a man’s body, only his reputation, and their plots are frequently as unprincipled and hellish as that recorded here. v. 16. "And when (But) Paul’s sister’s son heard af their lying in wait, (add, and)
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