251 How Many Soldiers?

Hey, last time we left the story wondering what the Tribune was going to do to protect Paul. Yeah, 'cause he's gotta get him out of town and protect him against 40 assassins on the road. 40 dedicated assassins.

So how many soldiers is he going to use?

Well, let's find out today. On more than Well, hey, welcome. This is More Than Inc., and I'm Dorothy. And I'm Jim. And we are picking up at this cliffhanger in the middle of Acts 23.

Last week, we saw Paul learn of a death threat against him, an assassination plot. Even while he was under Roman protection, he was locked away, but they had hatched a plot to ask to see him one more time and were going to lie in ambush and kill him on the way. But that plot was exposed by apparently a young child, Paul's nephew, son of his sister, who had just been hanging around apparently in the cracks and overheard the thing. And so he is treated with great respect by the Tribune when he comes to tell the story. And the Tribune takes him by the hand and asks him privately for the details.

And he believes him. He listens, he believes him. And so God, using this insignificant little kid whom nobody in the plot had paid attention to. To defuse the entire thing. And so that's where we pick up the story now as we enter the middle of chapter 23.

Paul's just been sitting in his cell, knowing he had sent his nephew off to talk to the Tribune. And now the Tribune is left trying to decide what to do. Yeah, the Tribune is clued into the danger.

So how is he going to react to the danger? We have, you know, again, the nephew told the guy, we're talking 40 assassins who have, you know, dedicated their lives. They're not even going to eat until this happens.

So what does the Tribune do to protect Paul against 40 assassins who are determined to snuff out Paul in the process? What does the Tribune do? Because still, the Tribune has the legal responsibility to protect and figure out what to do with this Paul guy who's disturbing the peace, but he's got to do something that's legal.

So that's how we left it last time. What does he do? What does he do? What does he do? So here we are.

If you want to read with us, we're in chapter 23. And, you know, you probably read ahead because. I hope so. But if you didn't, we're starting in chapter 23, verse 23, and we'll see what the tribune comes up with.

Okay, well, and just before we start reading that, this tribune is over probably about a thousand men. A lot of people stationed in Jerusalem. They figure that's enough to keep the peace there.

So pay attention now because we're going to get some numbers coming up in the next couple of sentences. How many of them does he allocate? You want me to read? Sure.

Okay, okay, here we go. Let's find out what he does.

So then he called two of the centurions, centurions in charge of 100, and said, get ready 200 soldiers with 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. That's a lot of firepower. That's a lot of firepower. Can you imagine? That's 470 men.

470, you know, many of them on horseback. That's almost half of his troops. Exactly. But remember, he's defending against a dedicated team of assassins, 40 assassins. But so he's, you know, I won't say this is over the top.

But then he also decides to do it when it's dark. Right. He's doing it, you know, where's it say it? It says third hour of the night. Third hour of the night.

So that's three hours after sundown.

So presumably nine o'clockish. Later. Yeah, nine o'clock, yes. Yeah. And then it goes on in verse 24.

Also, also, I mean, more? Yes. Also, provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix, the governor.

So he wants Paul to ride, actually, which is quite protective. That's quite protective. And not just one, but potentially to swap horses halfway to keep going.

So Paul's never. It turns out they're only going halfway on this first leg. Right. So that's actually the maximum protection he can afford for Paul, because even if a lot of the soldiers around him die and fail, Paul can just say, giddy up and get out of the middle of them.

So this is like, this is the max he can do.

So, so what he decides to do is not just get him out of danger with the religious leaders and the assassins that are on their side, but to get him to Felix, the governor, Felix, the Roman governor of the area. And why?

Well, potentially to have Felix decide the issue because I think the Tribune's finally deciding, I think this is a little above my pay grade. Yeah, so I kind of know how to deal with it.

So let's take him to my boss's boss's boss, which is Felix. And we'll lay it on Felix, but we've got to get him out of town first.

So it's interesting to me that Felix is really well documented. We know exactly when he was governor of Judea, and it was AD 52 to 59.

So that gives us this window that we know when this happened, when this trip took place. Yeah. In fact, in fact, we know so much about Felix. Felix actually was born as a slave. Did you know that?

I didn't know that. I just knew he was not well liked.

Well, he was born as a slave.

So the question is: how does a kid who's born as a slave end up being well enough in place with Rome that Caesar would appoint him as a governor?

Well, it turns out he played the game.

Well, Felix's brother. Became an extraordinarily good friend, tight friend, a favorite friend of Claudius before Claudius became Caesar. That's interesting.

So, this kid, Felix, through his connection through his brother, favorite friend of Claudius, when Claudius become Caesar, then Felix finds his way up, and all of a sudden, the slave boy is a governor. That's Felix.

So, we know a lot about Felix. We know a lot about him.

So, that's where we're going.

Well, I was going to say that the Jews hated him, right? They really did not like him. He was famous for taking bribes. Yeah. Oh, yeah.

He was a very crooked man. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Okay, well, let's see what happens when he takes him to Felix because the Tribune's thinking that's, you know, we're just going to have to put the case in his hands.

Okay, well, he's got to write a letter explaining why he's sending all these soldiers. Which is what you do when you do this. You have to have kind of like an introductory lever about why all these soldiers are here and who this guy is.

So, you know, I'll read that for you. In fact, we have, Luke wrote down the text of the letter for us, verse 25. He wrote a letter to this effect, verse 26. Claudius Lessias to His Excellency the Governor Felix, greetings. 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.

Putting himself in the best light there. He sounds a lot better than what just happened, doesn't he? He doesn't mention anything about the fact. Oh, yeah, well, I bound him first. He discovered by accident that he was a Roman citizen.

We almost accidentally flogged him, but he doesn't add that kind of stuff. But he's looking pretty good in front of Felix.

Okay, he goes on in 28. In the letters, continuing. And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their counsel. And I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 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. That's the end of the letter. Yeah, so he wants him out of his own hair. Wants him out of his own hair. And basically, and then he tells what I've done.

What I've done, which is responsible, is I took him in front of the Jewish leaders. That didn't work out really well. He doesn't tell even how bad that was. But then he does admit that it went so bad that there was a villainous plot to take out Paul. And so I'm bringing him to you.

But I told his accusers they have to make their case in front of you. Right. So it's so tag, you're it.

Okay. Yeah. So, you know, that's a pretty good letter. That's pretty explanatory. It makes him look pretty nice as protector of the peace.

Covers all his mistakes. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So verse 31, we're back in the story now.

So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris, which is halfway up there. Halfway. And on the next day, they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him.

So 70 horsemen. Are still accompanied by the people. Still 70 horsemen.

So that's twice as many as the assassins, almost. And they can make time. They're on horses. Yeah, and presumably we're far out of the danger zone. Plus at this point, halfway to Caesarea, you're largely in the Gentile area.

So, you know, so the Jewish influence is less.

So the dangers may be lessened. But still, like you're saying, we got a lot of horsemen with Paul, and Paul's on a horse himself.

Okay. So verse 33: when they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive. And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's Praetorium.

So, you know what he did right there? He was looking for a way out. He was looking to see if this guy was in his jurisdiction. Jurisdiction, can I pass him off to somebody else?

So, tell me exactly what area you're from again. Yeah, so he says, Silesia, which is where Tarsus is. Silesia is where the bottom of Turkey meets the eastern Mediterranean shore, way up there in that little crook up there.

So, Silesia.

So, he says, okay, he agrees. I'll give you a hearing when your accusers arrive, which makes sense because he's a judge.

So, he's just got to wait for the accusers to arrive.

So what's he do with them? He commanded him to be guarded in Herod's Praetorium.

So he's under constraint. He's under confinement, protective confinement up in Caesarea.

Well, he's where all the soldiers are. Exactly. And yeah, and Caesarea is quite the Roman town. I mean, it was a very favorite kind of, I don't know whether you would like a vacation resort for Rome in a sense. I mean, it was a Mediterranean town of great report, and it had a huge Roman presence.

It still is a nice Mediterranean town. It still is. Yeah, it still is. But I might mention at this point, when they put him in protective custody in Herod's Praetorium, this is the point at which. Paul doesn't ever get out of jail.

I mean, he's in confinement now. This begins, according to the Tallian Acts, at least two years of continual confinement in Caesarea, and followed by about, we figure, two years of confinement in Rome. Yeah, and some changes of governors, too, right?

So he just kind of gets left in jail.

So at this point, Paul's in confinement. He's not out free. And you're thinking, oh, too bad for the gospel. He's not preaching the gospel out.

Well, not too bad for the gospel. This is by God's plan, and God uses it in very effective ways. Yeah. So now we're in prison and we're waiting. We're waiting for the guys from Jerusalem to come and make their case in front of.

Wow, the governor Felix himself.

Okay, so we're moving into chapter 24.

So, verse 1. And after five days, okay, it took them five days to get their act together and get up there. After five days, the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul, and when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Now, wait, let's not do that yet. We have the text of the lawyer Tertullus.

Yeah. Yeah, so he's a hired gun. He's a hired gun. We're not even sure he's a Jew. Yeah.

Yeah. He could be a Greek, he could be a, but he's a lawyer. He's a spokesman. He's, they've taken some days to get their case together. Yeah, but not many days, because it turns out when he got up to Felix, if Felix accepts the case, then they have to send a message down to Jerusalem.

It's at least two days back to Jerusalem. And then they have about a day to put their case together and two days back up to Caesarea. That's the five days.

Okay, so they've hustled theirselves together. They've hustled and they've hired a professional lawyer. A professional speaker. Right. Well, yeah, I was a professional speaker, but someone who's not just Jewish.

Tritulus is a very, very Latin name, very Roman name.

So someone who can actually, who knows the courts and knows how to make a case in front of the governor, a Roman governor. This is a big deal. This is something the Jewish high priest. This is like going into Supreme Court. It is.

You don't go in there defending yourself. It's a good thing. You've got a big gun lawyer.

So they've got the big gun lawyer.

So let's read what Tertullus said. I'll read it for you. This is Tertullus making his case in front of Felix.

So this is what he says: he says. Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation in every way and everywhere, we accept this with all gratitude. Yeah, not so much. You need to hear kissing sounds in the background. Kiss up, kiss me.

Yeah, that's what that is. You know, oh, yo, great Felix, you just do wonderful things.

So, verse 4. But, but to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For we have found this man a plague, a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. and by examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.

Wow.

So he's looking for Paul to be examined by. By binding and flogging in the Roman manner.

Well, and I'll point out as a court of law right here, he's not providing any evidence. He's basically saying, here's our accusations. Oh, by the way, if you question him, he'll say yes to him. Eat it out of him. Right, right.

Because that's what they were going to do back in Jerusalem. You're right. Yeah, we found it. But over the top, he's a plague, like a plague of lung disease, which is a widespread disaster. He's a widespread disaster.

One who stirs up riots.

Well Okay, he's accompanied by rites. This is not the first time he's. Among the Jews, but throughout all the world. Although the world viewed itself as the world's peacekeeper. Right.

And that's probably not too far from the truth either. I mean, we talked about the famous rites in Ephesus. And, you know, so, oh, okay, there's a shred of truth to it. But the way he says it, he makes it sound like, oh, dear governor who serves Caesar in Rome, this guy's going around and completely undoing the Roman Empire. He's a pestilence on the whole empire.

And not only that, not only is he doing that single-handedly, but he's the leader. He's a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

Well, there's a little truth to that as well, because Jesus came out of Nazareth, and Nazarene is of kind of a. What do you want to call it? It's kind of a derogatory name. It's a derogatory name, yeah, because it's an outback. It's kind of a nobody.

It's a Hicksville for a lot of people there.

So here's this ringleader who seems to be able to control all these ignorant people in Nazareth. And so he's in charge.

So he's not only a single-handed danger to the peace of Rome, he himself is the ringleader who's getting a bunch of people to do this.

So clearly, here's the source of disorder in this part of the Roman Empire.

So you need to do something about it.

So he was getting ready to profane the temple, which is the worst thing from our perspective. And so we seized him. That's a total lie. That's a total lie. It's right.

They never did succeed in seizing him. The Romans took him into protective custody on two violent events. They weren't going to seize him. They were going to slaughter him. They were just going to kill him.

Yeah. Yeah. He should have said, you know, he even tried to profane the temple and we tried to kill him. But he doesn't say that. But then in eight, it's just really wonderful.

So you examine him yourself. You know, you'll be able to find out from him about everything which we accuse him. He'll admit. He'll admit to everything we're saying. Just ask him.

He'll admit it under stress. Yeah, you ask him, Felix. He'll tell you this is what he's doing. You know, it's a very lame thing for him to present a case without any evidence at all. I mean, he should have gone through and delineated exactly what happened.

You know, I mean, even in the crowds that are there for the holiday and stuff like that, and the right that comes out of that and protective custody. He doesn't have any evidence. There's nothing to present. He doesn't have anything to present. He has nothing.

So it's just a total lame thing he puts in front of Felix. Felix wasn't there, right? He's miles and miles away. He doesn't have any idea. Right, right.

So. Yeah. So the Jews, verse 9, the Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

So as Tertullus is saying these things, they're all just like that. What he says. Yeah, what he says.

So it sounds like a huge group, a clan of people are saying, this just isn't Tertullus' opinion. This is exactly true. That's exactly it. And we're witnesses to it. We've seen it.

We're one of those people that this guy is a plague to, and we saw the rights.

So they're adding their voices to it right there.

So, verse ten And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied.

So again, see what Tertullus did was he said, ask him. Ask him. Which is for Felix, Felix is going to say, okay, I will. Yeah, let's hear what he has to say.

So that's what he wants. But also, this is a. A well-ordered court hearing, right? Everybody gets a chance to speak. I mean, our court, our justice system comes down to us largely under the influence of the Romans, right?

Everybody gets a chance to speak to defend themselves. You can't be present evidence. That's right. You can't be condemned unless you've heard evidence and been tried before a jury and a judge. Right, right.

And you have to have multiple witnesses, not just one.

So, yeah, there's rules to this entire thing. And this actually follows the course of what our courts do too, because the first thing you do when you're arrested is you go in for a hearing that doesn't have a jury. And in the hearing, they decide whether there's enough evidence to actually take you to trial. But the first thing they do before they actually look at the bulk of the evidence is they ask the person, are you guilty or not guilty? You enter a plea.

Right, you enter a plea.

So this is exactly what he's doing. The governor's saying, okay, you want to enter your plea. You tell me. Are you guilty or not guilty of these things that Trutullus and all these guys hanging around him are saying is true?

So this is the next thing coming out of Paul's mouth. is going to be his plea.

Well, we're not going to spend time letting you know the whole thing. I'm hoping you're reading ahead. But here's how he begins, and I love this. Paul replied, Knowing that for many years you've been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.

Now why would Paul be cheerful?

Well, because he knows he's going to Rome. He knows he's going to Rome. He knows the Lord Jesus stood by him and told him personally, this is my determination for you. You're going to speak my name here, and then we're going to Rome. And he knows, he remembers from either hearing it secondhand from Jesus or hearing it from the scriptures, the Gospels, or that the disciples, that Jesus said, you know, they're going to call you into court.

Don't get excited about what you're going to say. The Holy Spirit will give you in that moment what you're going to say. Jesus said that in Matthew 10. Yes. And I'm thinking also that Paul knows, he knows the scriptures.

He knows the Psalms. I'm thinking 27, the Lord is my light and my salvation. Of whom shall I be afraid? The Lord is the defense of my life. Of whom shall I, whom shall I fear?

Right? He knows where he's going.

So he can speak with confidence, with calm. He's not flustered. Yeah. I'm ready. If I was suddenly pulled in front of a governor of our state or some high-ranking official, you know, or the president or something, and it took me completely by surprise.

I mean, there's, I mean, completely, I would be tongue-tied. I wouldn't. In fact, you did this once. I had to confront the city council here in Jail. Yeah, I remember.

And I had a little warning for that, but I felt kind of tongue-tied. I mean, it was okay. But Paul had those days in the jail cell. He did, but still. Still, you're wowed by the authority and the circumstance.

Yeah, this is a really big deal. And so all those things you're saying were true. Also, you know, what a great assurance because his desire has always been to preach the gospel to anybody, most specifically Gentiles. That's what he was doing across Asia Minor and in Greece and Macedonia. Many Gentiles as well as Jews.

And so here he gets to actually speak to a highly placed Gentile and the entire court of the entire highly placed Gentile. And so, you know, in a Way, this is God saying, I'm fulfilling your desires to preach in front of a bigger audience, and it's just getting bigger and bigger.

So he sees that as fulfilled prophecy. God says you'll be doing this, and look, sure enough, this is what you're doing. And remember, you know, God said through Ananias right after the Damascus Road experience, you know, buddy, you haven't got a clue what it's in store for you, but it's going to include the Gentiles and it's going to include a powerful people. And here you go. And it's also going to include suffering because part of that promise to Paul back in Acts 9 was, I'll show him how much he will suffer for my name.

Yep, yep, that's right.

So he has suffered a lot in beatings and being chased out of town, being imprisoned over and over and over again. But here, now he's been sucked into the Roman justice system. He really doesn't know exactly what's ahead for him. Right, right. But he's a smart enough man.

He's well-trained. He's a Roman citizen. He comes out of Tarsus, which is a very academic. Community.

So Paul's no dummy, but what's fascinating about this is that he should be able to really latch onto the fact that this is all according to not just the prior knowledge of God, but the prior planning of God. And so he's smack dab in the middle of that plan.

So when you're confident of that, it doesn't matter how uncomfortable the situation is, or how intimidating the situation is, or how much you'd much rather be somewhere else right now. He says, but this is appointed by God, and this is exactly what he promised would happen. And so here we are.

So let's move forward. That's right. And, you know, again, and relying on the Holy Spirit to give him exactly the right words, he needs to be able to communicate to this man what the gospel is and why it is, not just defend himself. Like, he's not going to go out there and defend himself and say it's all about me. What's been doing to me has been unfair.

I'm just talking about who Jesus is. And yes, we are a sect of the Jews, but still, you know, he could just be very defensive. And so I think about this in times where I've Been in hot spots like that, and your temptation is to be very clear about defending yourself. Like, I'm innocent, innocent, innocent. All I was doing was this, this, this, and this.

And that should not evoke this kind of response. This is an overreaction. I'm innocent. And so, you make a case to defend yourself. But Paul is in his mind not making a case to defend himself.

He's making a case to defend Jesus and talk about who Jesus is. And that's going to be central to what he wants to say and what he wants Felix to hear here in the high places in Israel in front of the governor.

Well, and if you read ahead to the rest of the chapter and read what Paul's statement actually is, you'll see that he does not deny some of these charges. He owns them to a certain degree, and then he says, but here's what I really want to talk about. Sure.

Because even according to Tertullus, there's a kernel of truth to all of these blown out, you know, words. I mean, he wasn't a plague, but I mean, he did have widespread influence, which a plague does.

So, I mean, there's a lot of truth in all that, and he'll be straight about that. And so, again, even when you're in a hot spot, don't try lying or trying to soft pedal or exaggerate. Just say what's been going on. Don't get distracted defending yourself. Yeah, exactly.

And I think that's the largest temptation we have when we're in hot spots like this is because it does seem really unfair. And so what you want to say is, yeah, it's unfair. Let me just tell you how unfair this is. I didn't do this. I didn't do that.

I didn't do that. Right. But when you're doing that, what you're doing is you're catering to glorifying yourself. Rather than glorifying God. And so, what he's going to do is he's going to glorify God because he realizes for this one moment in time, God has deliberately designed this moment, arranged this moment, including arranging his nephew to intercede for him.

And so, here we are at this point.

So, now the point is with this great opportunity. How do I glorify God? And that should always be our question to ourselves when we're in hot spots like this. How can God be glorified here? It doesn't matter what they think of me.

I want God to be glorified in this.

So, sure enough, like we said before, you know, this is the fulfillment of that right after the Damascus Road experience in Acts 9. I just pulled up again because it's just an amazing prophecy.

So, Ananias answers Paul, who Yeah. By the way, he is blind and he's in the process of gaining his sight. And Ananias answers and says, Lord, I've heard from many about this man, how much evil he's done. And then God answers through Ananias and then passes it on to Paul and says, But the Lord said to him, Go. For he's a chosen instrument, a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings.

and the children of Israel. And I'll show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. And here we go. Here we go.

So come back with us next time, and we're going to hear Paul preach to Felix. You're going to hear him give his presentation to Felix, and you measure with us. Is Paul defending himself or is he promoting the gospel? And that's the question in our minds as we come back.

So I'm Jim. And I'm Dorothy. And we hope you're enjoying this drama because we are. And it's all embodied in this wonderful book of Acts that Luke penned for us, and we'll continue that next time here on More Than Inc. Oh.

There are many more episodes of this broadcast to be found at our website, morethanink.org. And while you are there, take a moment to drop us a note.

Well, I can't wait for this defense. Yeah, Paul's not afraid. He's cheerful. A cheerful defense. What does that mean?

Let's hear it next week.

Okay, we'll see you then. Bye. I need you to be here. Yeah. This has been a production of Main Street Church of Brigham City.