Sermon: Acts 23:12-35; "When People Scheme Against You"
Date: October 23, 2016
Pastor: Michael Howard


Scriptures: Acts 23:12-35 (ESV)

12 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.”

16 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.”
18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the
prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he
has something to say to you.”
19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately,
“What is it that you have to tell me?”
20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to
the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more
closely about him.
21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are
lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to
eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting
for your consent.”
22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one
that you have informed me of these things.”

23 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.”
25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:

26 “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.”

31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and
brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the
horsemen go on with him.
33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the
governor, they presented Paul also before him.
34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when
he learned that he was from Cilicia,
35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And
he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.


Cowboy Church of Ennis Texas
A Church of the Western Heritage Culture
Committed to serving people with the Good News of Jesus Christ

website: http://www.cowboychurchofennis.com