“But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul.”
Acts 23:16 (NLT)
Over 40 Jews took an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. They went to the leading priests and the other leaders in Jerusalem and asked the High Council to pretend they wanted to examine Paul’s case again more fully. They had no desire to try him again. They wanted to kill him on the way to the council meeting.
It’s appalling. A group who professes to follow the law of Moses creates an oath to break the Ten Commandments and murder Paul, and those of the highest spiritual authority in the city sponsor it. The council also agrees to lie, to testify falsely, yet another breach of the law at the highest level. Power through politics and position had so consumed them that their religion and the praise of men became more important than following God.
But, God. The Lord protects Paul and allows his nephew to hear of the plan. The Lord had already told Paul he needed to testify of what God had done in his life in Rome, so this scheme of Satan was not going to succeed. God allows somebody close to Paul to inform him, and that insight spares Paul’s life yet again. The bravery of this young man to speak up changes the whole story.
If our power as leaders in business, church, or government becomes more important than trusting and serving God, then just like these leading priests, we have been misled. We’re distracted. We have agreed with the lies of the accuser. If attacks and suffering and trials have come into your life, yet God has told you there’s something on the other side, then I pray you trust that God will rescue you, redeem you, and restore you. And I pray we would be like Paul’s nephew. When we sense evil coming by the Spirit, may we speak up instead of staying silent, and be the informant, the prayer warrior, or the rescuer.