I Know In Whom I Serve - Part 491

How many times have we read the Bible and yet, never seen a particular passage of scripture? The following verses from Acts 23 is one such example. It states:

They came to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have bound ourselves under a great curse that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you tomorrow as though ye would inquire something more perfectly concerning him and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. And when Paul's sister a son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.

Then Paul called unto one of the centurions unto him and said, "Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath a certain thing to tell him. So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee who hath something to say unto thee. Then the chief captain took him by the hand and went with him aside privately and asked him What is that thou hast to tell me? And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the council as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. But do not thou yield unto them; for they lie in wait for him of them more than forty men which have bound themselves with an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.

So the chief captain then let the young man depart and charged him. See thou tell no man that thou hast shown these things to me. And he called unto him two centurions saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea and horsemen threescore and ten and spear men two hundred at the third hour of the night. And provide them beasts that they may set Paul on and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

And he wrote a letter after this manner: Caludius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. This man was taken of the Jews and should have been killed of them; then came I with an army and rescued him having understood that he was a Roman. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him I brought him forth into their council.

But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said Sirs ye should have hearkened unto me and not have loosed from Crete and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angle of God whose I am and whom I serve Saying Fear not Paul thou must be brought before Caesar and lo God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.  Wherefore sirs be of good cheer; for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me.

As we read further, we begin to realize that Jesus is in control of every situation. Indeed, there is a reason that things happen. The good news is that the counsel of God has already determined the outcome. He has already decided the time frame. And like the sparrows, He has good intentions for those who love Him. Ask Jesus into your life today. Stand in the offering plate!