Before we explore the plot to assassinate Paul in Jerusalem, let’s briefly recap the last few sermons.
Constant Peril Begins in the Temple
Over the last four sermons, Paul has been in constant peril, beginning with his arrest while worshiping in the Temple in Acts 21:27. Every step he takes from here requires wisdom.
Paul Navigates the Hebrew-Roman World
In our last three sermons, Paul wisely navigated the power structures of the volatile Hebrew-Roman world.
Roman Citizenship and Legal Protection
In the first sermon, Paul wisely used his Roman citizenship to avoid a Roman lash (Acts 22:22-29). The tribune of the Temple Cohort, the Roman chief of police, violated Roman law when he essentially didn’t Mirandize Paul. He didn’t inquire about his citizenship status, nearly “punishing” a Roman citizen without a trial. That violated the Twelve Tables of Roman Law–their bill of rights. My working theory is that Paul gains the tribute’s favor by not further pressing his mistreatment as a Roman citizen. The fruit of that favor is seen in today’s text.
Ananias Reveals the Court’s Injustice
In the second, the tribute, who was not competent to judge Paul’s case because it is a Hebrew religious dispute, brings Paul to the High Priest. The High Priest, Ananias, lets everyone know which way the legal winds are blowing when, before Paul can even make his case, he has him punched in the mouth for merely making an introduction. It is not going to be a fair trial. It is but a kangaroo court (Acts 23:1-5).
Paul Divides the Sanhedrin
In last week’s sermon, Paul is pushed in front of the Sanhedrin, the Hebrew Congress, to give his testimony. His life had come full circle. Twenty-ish years ago, the body sent him out to persecute the Way, and he has been a thorn in their sides ever since. However, this is an evenly divided body, and as much as they hate him, they hate each other more. The Sadducees and Pharisees are bitter political and religious enemies. The Sadducees are sellouts to Rome and materialists who believe this world is all there is (Acts 23:6-8). The Pharisees are Hebrew Patriots who despise Rome, believe in the spiritual realities, and await the Messiah. Paul exploits their differences while preaching the Gospel at the same time. He cries out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial (Acts 23:6b).” Violence ensues from there, with the Sadducees seeking to kill Paul on the council floor. The tribute then is forced to rescue Paul a second time.
A Divine Word of Assurance
We closed our last sermon with Paul in legal limbo. He is back safe in the barracks, but now what? Where will he be sent? The word came to him from the Lord: “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome (Acts 23:11).'” Paul’s journey to Rome begins.
The Plot to Assassinate Paul
Let’s read our sermon text in full for today, Acts 23:12-35.
The Plot to Assassinate Paul in Jerusalem is an official conspiracy, not something made by a few rogue actors. Forty men are acting in concert with the leadership of the Sanhedrin to assassinate the Apostle Paul. The officials ask for a redo while promising to behave. However, Paul will not make the meeting if they have anything to do with it.
“When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near (Acts 23:12-15).'”
Paul’s Family Uncovers the Plot
When Paul split the Sanhedrin, the tribute essentially called a mistrial. He doesn’t plan on having to save Paul a third time. The ruling Hebrews, I think, know that they have missed their chance to have Paul put to death “legally,” and they want him dead, not in prison. Desperate times call for desperate measures, as they say, so forty Hebrews vow not to eat or drink until Paul is dead.
Paul’s family exposes the plot. The son of Paul’s sister—who likely traveled among the Hebrew elite as Paul once did—finds out about the plot and goes to visit Paul in prison to warn him.
“Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, ‘Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him (Acts 23:16-17).'”
Tribune Responds with Strategic Action
Paul sends the young man on to the tribune with the story. “The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, ‘What is it that you have to tell me (Acts 23:19)?'” Now, after listening to the whole sordid tale, a pattern is undoubtedly starting to form.
When he first rescued Paul, the Hebrews were trying to beat him to death in the Temple.
In his second rescue of Paul, the Hebrews were trying to beat him to death in the Civil Capital Building.
Now, there is an assassination attempt planned that most certainly involved the Hebrew leadership.
Paul’s Transfer to Caesarea
Paul is not going to get a fair trial in Jerusalem, nor is he going to be safe there. The tribute’s job is to secure the rights and persons of Roman citizens. His judgment is that the best place to do that is in the Roman capital of Judea, not the Hebrew one, so he makes some surprise arrangements of his own.
“Then he called two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.’ (Acts 23:23).”
Claudius Lysias’ Assessment
The tribune doesn’t understand the nature of the disagreement between Paul and the Hebrews. He does, however, know that from Paul, he generally gets a straight story, and from the Hebrews, he always gets violence. There is a steady elevation in his estimation of Paul, while the opposite is happening for the other party. First, in the letter he writes to the Governor of Judea, Felix, we can sense that he thinks Paul should be released.
“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it was disclosed to me 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.”
Rome Offers a More Just Trial
Second, relocating the trial to Caesarea Maritime levels the playing field. There is no love lost between the Romans and the Hebrews. The Romans only wanted to enforce local customs and traditions if someone disrupted the region’s peace. However, there has to be peace for the peace to be disturbed, and that’s the problem in Judea during this period. The Jews are raucous and rebellious and on the lookout for a Messiah to deliver them from the Romans. Paul can’t disturb Jerusalem’s religious and societal peace because, as far as the Romans are concerned, such a thing doesn’t exist.
Per natural law, the tribute fulfills his role well before the Lord here.
“For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer (Romans 13:3-4).”
The Tribune Rewards Paul’s Virtue
The tribute uses his position to make the situation more just. He rewards Paul’s good conduct, and punishes the Hebrew leadership’s bad. They will now have to make their case before the governor, someone primarily concerned with Roman law, not Hebrew religious customs.
Application
A Living Example of 1 Peter 5
Paul’s integrity and wisdom allow us to see a principle in action from start to finish.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7).”
- Paul wisely uses his Roman citizenship, shows himself gracious in not pressing the matter further
- He maintains dignity during his hearing, humbling himself before a hostile High Priest.
- He doesn’t take the law into his own hands when he learns of the plot against him
- Paul allows himself to be on the receiving end of violence, not on the giving end
- He is open and above board, and his opponents are underhanded conspirators
Exalted Through Christian Virtue
The principles of wisdom, grace, submission, meekness, truth are how God exalts His people. Paul is so elevated in Claudius Lysias’ mind that he uses an overwhelming force at an unorthodox travel time to secure Paul’s life from these unjust and wicked men. Paul rides into Caesarea in a much better position than his opponents with a relatively friendly letter.
“And when it was disclosed to me 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 (Acts 23:30).”
The plot and Paul’s accusers are linked together in the same sentence, while his Roman citizenship is emphasized.
“This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen (Acts 23:27).”
Exaltation Comes Through Humility
All along the way, Paul exhibited key Christian virtues: wisdom, grace, submission, meekness, and truth, and they led to his exaltation in the eyes of the tribune, who
- Physically saved him from assassination
- Secured a more just site for his trial
- And a more just judge for his case
Now, you may never experience this exact scenario; however, the great Christian virtues—wisdom, Grace, Submission, Meekness, and Truth (Honesty-Integrity)—will exalt you, too, if you humble yourself before God and ask the Spirit to bring them forth as the fruit of Jesus Christ.
Subscribe, Like, Share
Finally, at the risk of sounding desperate, make sure to smash all the buttons and share it, puhleez. If you enjoyed Paul’s Testimony Before the Sanhedrin based on Acts 22:30-23:5, then check out some of our other blogs.
Recent Individual Essays:
- Paul’s Testimony Before the High Priest based on Acts 22:30-23:5
- Paul’s Interrogation By The Civil Ruler based on Acts 22:22-29
- Paul’s Defense In The Temple based on Acts 22:1-22
- Remember Jesus Christ: Risen and Royal based on 2 Timothy 2:8
Completed Essay Series: Christ, His Church, & Marriage (4 Essays) or Forsaken For us All (6 Essays)
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