Lesson for October 1

1916

Plot that Failed.

LESSON TEXT — Acts 23.

GOLDEN TEXT — They shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith Jehovah, to deliver thee. — Jer. 1:19.

The stirring events of this lesson occurred in the Castle Antonia and the Sanhedrin hall, near the temple court of Jerusalem; also in Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judea, on the Mediterranean coast, in the year A. D. 57, just at the close of Paul's third missionary journey. The lesson pictures two successive days of strange adventures in which Paul was concerned, a narrow escape and the unexpected providences used in his deliverance. The day was inaugurated by Paul's magic words "I am a Roman citizen," which caused the commander, Lysias, to release him from the threatened scourging, and made him more than ordinarily careful in his treatment of Paul.

I. Before the Elders (vv. 1-12). By referring back to chapter 21, v. 13, we find the charge which really underlay all of Paul's trouble, his preaching, in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul's defense is interesting. He gives us a rehearsal of his Christian life, laying emphasis upon its blamelessness and the fact that he is not an apostate Jew. The high priest speaks to silence him, but not gently. Although Paul for a moment seems to give way to his justifiable indignation, he quickly reveals his reverence for the rulers of the people. He then divides the Sanhedrin. Read carefully chapter 22:6-7, and compare with verses 17 and 18. The Sanhedrin could not explain this testimony of Paul, and were seeking to put aside the whole question. An interesting discussion would be to consider the insult to Paul. Was his indignation right and rightly expressed? Another question, the matter of Paul's apology. Just for what did he apologize? Is it ever wrong to speak evil of rulers? These were indeed days of stress and storm. Was Paul justified in dividing the Sanhedrin in order to conquer their opposition to him? Again, how God used these incidents in the furtherance of the gospel is a suggestive lesson for us all. It has been hinted that Ananias was not in his priestly garments, and therefore perhaps not readily recognized by Paul. Paul may never have seen him, as he was elected high priest after Paul had left the council. It is interesting to note that it is not said that anyone struck Paul or that Paul did not apologize for his words or deny them to be true, but only for their being spoken to the high priest. Read in this connection what Christ said to the Pharisees (Matt. 23:27). Paul apologized because he had broken the law found in Exodus 22:28. In the trial of Christ one of the officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, whereupon Jesus answered him, saying: "If I have spoken evil,. bear witness of the evil, but if well, why smitest thou me?" On the other hand, when Jesus was ill-treated by the common soldiers, he opened not his mouth.

II. The Plot and Deliverance (vv. 12-35). Paul's prospect was not a pleasant one. In his darkness God appeared to his faithful servant to cheer him (v. 11). Perhaps Paul was tempted to think he had made a mistake in coming to Jerusalem over the protests of his friends, but evidently the Lord heartily approved of his testimony there. A dangerous conspiracy was forming against him, but God was, as he always is, beforehand with his comfort and preparation for the crisis. We have often speculated as to what became of the forty men who entered into it (see v. 12) — whether they actually lived up to their oath. If they did, they must have died of starvation. They were determined men, willing to go any length, and fancied they were doing the will of God. There is no more dangerous man than he who fancies that he must be the judge as to who are God's friends and who are his foes, and that he is the appointed executioner of God's judgment. The plot was well laid, and seemed certain of success, but it failed miserably. (See Psalm 2:1-4; 64:1-10; Isaiah 41:10). The wicked, who leave God out of their plans, no matter how cunningly they plot, are doomed to failure (Rom. 8:31). These plotters co-operated with the priest. Ecclesiastics have often descended to the lowest villainy. Men are not murdered today, though their reputations are often blasted by unprincipled and hellishly impelled professed followers of the lowly Nazarene. Paul had friends in this city. His nephew's discovery and revelation, and the Gentile soldier, a colonel, effected his deliverance. In the boy's heart there must have been great admiration for the uncle. It would be well for teachers of boys to have them repeat in their own language this boy's story. Paul was not safe in Jerusalem. The Roman governor recognized the nature of the conspiracy, and the desperate character of the Jewish fanatics. and therefore sent him under a strong guard to Caesarea, which was reached after a journey on horseback, lasting through the night and the following day.