Acts 23:16-22

Summary retelling of Acts 23:16-22

               

Paul’s nephew hears about the ambush and desires to tell Paul about it.  Paul hears about the plan and asks a centurion to escort his nephew to the military leader.  The centurion takes the nephew to the military leader and the leader asks the boy to tell him the message.  The boy tells the military leader everything that he knows about the plan of the Jews.  The boy confirms that the Jews are ready to strike as soon as the opportunity exists.  The military leader orders the boy to tell nobody about the fact that he has delivered the message to him.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

God protects Paul once more.  Hopefully by now you are no longer surprised by the many ways that God can protect those who follow His ways and do what He asks of them.  Life is not ever easy, but God does have the ability to protect us.  Furthermore, God uses Paul’s nephew to protect him.  An unlikely boy is the person through whom God brings salvation once more to Paul.  God is indeed good, and he does work in mysterious ways.

How many ways can you remember that God has brought about salvation only here in the book of Acts?  What about the rest of the Bible?  What about your own life?

Second Thought:

Part of this story also is a lesson on trust.  Paul trusts the centurion with the life of his nephew.  The centurion trusts Paul that his nephew has a message worth interrupting the life of the military leader.  The military leader trusts that Paul’s nephew is talking about the truth.  God may work in mysterious ways, but at some level we have to at least trust in Him and the people He puts in our life.

How do you trust in God?  Who has God put into your life that you have grown to trust?

Third Thought:

The military leader has a plan.  He acts on that plan.  He surges forward and puts that plan into action.  He is not afraid of the plot against Paul, but rather he plans to act decisively to counter against it.

How is this story also preparing us to hear about courage?  In what way is trust and courage often linked together?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 23:23-25