THE KING’ S BUSINESS
919
treatment o f him (ch. 22:25-29). They were both eager to do something to gain his favor. Probably when the colonel took the young man so courteously by the hand and led him to one side he hoped that the young man had come to suggest a bribe for Paul’s deliverance (cf. ch. 24:26). Thus his fears and his cupidity worked' together with other things to secure Paul’s rescue (cf. Rom. 8:28). The plot not only failed, it resulted in furthering God’s plans and fulfilling His word. It started Paul on the road to Rome, and brought him into Caes area, where he had the opportunity o f bear ing witness for Christ before Felix, "Festus, Aggrippa, Drusilla and Bernice. It resulted also in that imprisonment to which we owe so many o f Paul’s most precious epistles. So here we see again God making the wrath o f men to praise Him (Ps. 76:10). One wonders what the forty conspirators did when they found the bird had flown. Did they keep their oath not to eat or drink till they had killed Paul? It is not at all likely that they did. W e learn from the Talmud that in such a case the Rabbis LESSON ( 1 ) The Conspiracy of the Lawless, vs. 14-18. O f what would this visit to the priests sadly remind Paul? 9:1,2. What Galatian principle would it con firm? Gal. 6:7. Were there here forty Judases? Mat. 26:14, 15. Who was the inspiration o f the forty? Luke 22:3 ; John 8:44. What evil bond bound the slayers o f the band? 8:23. Which would you chose, Paul’s bonds or theirs? 22:25; Phil. 1:13. What predicted “great curse” were they and the whole nation now under? Deut. 29 :24-28. What was the law o f forswearing one self? Numbers 30 :2. From verse oiig o f what Psalm, should the priests have answered? Psa, 1.
had power to absolve them. The plot had failed completely and so will every plan that is formed against God’s faithful ser vants fail even when it seems to succeed (Isa. 54:17). : vs. 23, 24. “And he called unto hint two (add, o f the) centurions, saying (and said), Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour o f the night; ( : ) And provide them beasts (and he bade them provide beasts), that . they may (might) set Paul , on (thereon), and bring him safe unto Felix the governor." “Bring him safe unto Felix the governor,” the colonel said. Yes, “Bring him safe unto Felix the governor,” but Why ? The colonel never dreamed why, but God had His purpose, that purpose was that the Roman Governor might hear the gospel and have an opportunity to be saved; and the wonderful interview o f Acts 24:25, that has been blessed to the conversion o f so many people resulted. O Roman col onel, you spoke far wiser than you knew that night. OUTLINE What crime is involved in such compact? v. 13, W ere these priests and counsellors adepts in deceit? Matt. 22:15; Luke 20:19, 20; Psa. 116:11. Was such a plot unusual? Psa. 37:12. As national representatives, whom did the counsellors involve with themselves? Mai. 3 :9. Did forty funerals follow the failure to kill Paul? vs. 13, 21. Would Jephthah have broken his fast with his oath? Judges 11:35. How did Israel once find a way to nullify a dreadful oath? Judges 2 1 : 1 , 6 , 20, 21 . Was Solomon’s prayer fulfilled in the fall o f Jerusalem? 1 King 8:31. What text shows the folly o f plotting against God’s own? 2 Kings 6 : 12 . Can such plots finally succeed ? Matt 16:18.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker