Thoughts for the Day

The Plot to Kill Paul

In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who joined in this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food until we have killed Paul. Now then, you and the council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you, on the pretext that you want to make a more thorough examination of his case. And we are ready to do away with him before he arrives.’

Now the son of Paul’s sister heard about the ambush; so he went and told the tribune. ... the tribune dismissed the young man, ordering him, ‘Tell no one that you have informed me of this.’

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready to leave by nine o’clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Felix the governor.’ He wrote a letter to this effect:

‘Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with the guard and rescued him... When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.’ So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him during the night to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor. On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, ‘I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.’ Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod’s headquarters.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I have had to cut some of today's reading, though it's still very long, but we need to explore how Paul ends up in Roman hands that will finally lead to him sailing to the one place he wanted to go, to Rome, though under different circumstances to those he expected.

Paul has stirred up a hornets nest by trying to explain why he is claiming Jesus as the Messiah and preaching to both Jews and Gentiles. Rumour had spread that he was encouraging Jews to abandon the Law of Moses, and had even brought a gentile man into an area of the Temple forbidden to them. Paul's carefully reasoned arguments make no difference, and once he is re-arrested by the Roman tribune Lycias his opponents hatch a plot to kill him. 40 men put themselves under a vow, called a cherem. An oath is taken that ends with the words "May God curse me if I fail to do this." Without the action of Paul's nephew things might have ended differently.

The tribune sends Paul north to Caesarea. with a huge escort. He's not prepared to have a Roman citizen killed by a mob. We should remember that the 'command centre' for the area is not Jerusalem, instead it's in the palace built by Herod the Great at Antipatris some 85 miles away. Much of this amazing palace with its huge swimming pool fed from the sea was still there 10 years ago when I visited, though it was gradually being invaded by the sea.

The Governor of this province was Felix, originally a slave, but with a brother who was one of the Emperor Nero's favourites! Felix was considered to be "cruel, licentious and base" according to the Roman historian Tacitus.

Lord Jesus Christ
Your servant Paul must have felt that
he was being thrown from the frying pan into the fire,
yet because he was sure of Your support
in the shape of the Holy Spirit,
we know he will use the opportunity to pass on the Gospel.
When we find our circumstances difficult
may we be aware of Your support
and still continue Your work.
Amen.