This passage tells the story of how Paul was transferred from Jerusalem to Caesarea to face trial before the Roman governor Felix. This marks the beginning of his long journey that will eventually end in Rome. Jesus’ prophecy that Paul would be his witness in Rome was coming true.
As Luke tells the story he also highlights three mysteries of the kingdom of God: The mystery of God’s plan and providence, the mystery of human sinfulness, and the mystery of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. All three of these mysteries are relevant for how God works in our lives today. Let’s take a look at them!
1.) The Mystery of God’s Plan and Providence (23-24)
Paul’s life was simply not safe in Jerusalem. The Roman commander tried to investigate Paul’s case, but he couldn’t get to the bottom of it. And now that he knew about the Jews’ plot to assassinate Paul, he had to get him out of the city. He was already on the political hot seat and could not afford to incur responsibility for the murder of a Roman citizen whom he had taken into custody. So he decides to shift his responsibility of executing justice to Governor Felix in Caesarea.
To ensure Paul’s safety he summoned two centurions to organize an escort of heavy infantry, cavalry, and spearman. 470 soldiers was certainly overkill, but the commander didn’t want to take any chances. He wanted to make sure Paul’s sixty mile journey from Jerusalem to Caesarea happened as quickly and safely as it could. It is amazing to think about the lengths that people go to help others when their own neck is on the line. Paul is permitted to ride on horseback, giving him added mobility in case of attack.
So Paul is on his way to Caesarea. This will be the first stop on his long journey to Rome. Just as in the preceding passage where we saw Paul’s nephew providentially uncover the Jews’ plot to kill Paul, we see God’s providence at work again in this passage as Paul is transferred to Caesarea and makes his way to Rome. When Jesus personally appeared to Paul back in verse 11, he revealed Paul’s ultimate destiny of being his witness in Rome.
Paul knew that God ultimately wanted him to be in Rome, but he had no idea how, when, or under what circumstances that would happen. This highlights the mystery of God’s plan and providence. God revealed only a little piece of his plan for Paul’s life. He told him that he would be a witness in Rome, but he didn’t fill in any of the details. He had to rely on God’s providence to fulfill his plan.
Doesn’t this sound familiar? This is exactly the way God works in our lives today. He always gives us at least a little glimpse of his plan for our lives, but he never reveals all of the details to us. Then he uses his providence to accomplish his plan!
Last week I told you the story of how God’s providence led me to be the pastor of this church. When I was seventeen God revealed to me that he wanted me to be a rural pastor. That was great! At least I had some general guidance and direction for my life, but I had no idea how that would happen. I remember some of those early conversations with God. “Oh, God, I know you want me to be a rural pastor, but now what? How do I do it? When do you want me to do it? What is step one…step two…step three?” I heard nothing but silence. Even though God revealed his ultimate plan for my life, I was frustrated because I didn’t know the specifics. I simply had to wait for his providence to unfold.
From the time God revealed his plan for my life until it actually happened took about eight years. It was a long winding road filled with many twists and turns, but I got here. God’s providence led me from a small town outside Pittsburgh, PA to downtown Chicago, IL, to the North Shore of Boston to what has become my favorite place in the world: Franklin, VT. I picked up a wife and a couple of degrees along the way. I met thousands of incredible people, some of whom I’ve lost touch with and many others with whom I am still good friends. My baseball team allegiance has changed a few times. I grew up a Pirates fan and then I rooted for the Cubs, but indeed God is faithful—I finally saw the light and began to cheer for the greatest team in baseball history—the Boston Red Sox. And when I finally arrived, God blessed me with two amazing children and two fantastic churches.
God’s providence directed all of my steps through the journey, and most of the time I didn’t even realize it. It’s only when I look back on all of the events that I can see God orchestrating them. But what a joy it is to experience the mystery of God’s plan and providence.
How about you? Have you experienced the mystery of God’s plan and providence? How much of his plan for your life has he revealed to you? Sometimes he reveals just a little bit and other times he reveals a lot. Maybe he has revealed his plan for your career, ministry, marriage, or something else? Are you content with what he has revealed, or are you frustrated because you don’t see the whole plan?
Oftentimes God may reveal that he wants you to get married, but he doesn’t tell you who. His providence will lead you to the right person! There was a time in my life when every time I met a good looking girl I would ask God, “Is this the one?” (I couldn’t imagine that God would want me to marry someone I wasn’t attracted to.) He said “No” every time except once! Have you ever heard a couple’s love story? There are thousands of miracles in every one!
Likewise, he may reveal a certain type of career or ministry he wants you to be involved in, but he may not tell you exactly where or when. His providence will direct the events of your life and lead you to the exact place he wants you to be. Paul knew he was going to Rome, but he had no idea how or when he was getting there, but as he waited patiently in that prison cell, God’s providence was about to enact the first step—to Caesarea on horseback with a huge military entourage. As you think through your past, can you see God’s providence at work? As you think about God’s plan for your future, look for his providence to guide you!
2.) The Mystery of the Human Sinfulness (25-30)
Before the Roman commander sends Paul off to Governor Felix in Caesarea, he stays true to Roman custom and composes a letter of explanation to accompany the prisoner. Luke preserves the contents of the letter in verses 26-30. We learn that the Roman commander’s name is Claudius Lysias, and after he addresses the Governor with respectful comments, he briefly describes who Paul is and why he has sent him.
At first glance we may not notice anything peculiar about this letter, but when we take a close look, I believe it shows us the mystery of human sinfulness. It highlights two aspects of human sinfulness—self-centeredness and lying. Let’s look at self-centeredness first. Where do we see Claudius Lysias’ self-centeredness in this letter? In verses 27-30 he uses the personal pronouns “I” and “my” nine times.
He makes Paul’s case all about him. He tries to make himself look better than he actually is. He gives himself a little pat on the back for a job well done and he words his letter in such a way as to get a pat on the back from the governor. He is like a little kid who says, “Look at me, Mommy!” “Look at me, Daddy!” Claudius Lysius shows us that he thought the whole world revolved around him. Human sinfulness is revealed in self-centeredness.
Claudius’ letter reminds me of Toby Keith’s hit on country radio a few years ago titled “I want to talk about me.” Listen to these words:
Uh huh, thats right
We talk about your work, how your boss is a jerk,
We talk about your church and your head when it hurts.
We talk about the troubles youve been havin wit your brother
bout your daddy and your mother and your crazy ex-lover.
We talk about your friends and the places that youve been,
We talk about your skin and the dimples on your chin.
The polish on your toes and the run in your hose,
And God knows were gonna talk about your clothes.
You know talkin about you makes me smile, but every once in a while,
I wanna talk about me, I wanna talk about I
Wanna talk about number 1 oh my, me, my,
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see.
I like talkin about you, you, you, you usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me! (me, me, me,) I wanna talk about me-e-e. (me, me, me)
Have you ever been around someone who believed the world revolved around them? Have you ever been with someone who was so full of themselves that they couldn’t even talk about anyone other than themselves? People like that are difficult to be around.
The reality is that we are all self-centered. It is a symptom of our sinful human nature. When we become Christians Jesus begins to crucify our self-centeredness. As we grow closer to Christ, we recognize more and more that life is about him. May Christ continue to sanctify us and free us from self-centeredness. Let’s all say together: “Life is not about me!” Without Jesus we are slaves to ourselves!
The second aspect of human sinfulness we see in Claudius Lysius’ letter is lying to make ourselves look better than we really are. In verse 27 Claudius Lysius tells a bold-faced lie to Governor Felix. He told Felix that he rescued Paul when he learned that he was a Roman citizen, but he actually saved Paul to protect his own reputation before he ever found out that Paul was a Roman citizen. He also deceived the governor by conveniently withholding the fact that he was about to have Paul unlawfully flogged. You see, Claudius lied to make himself appear honorable and noble on the outside, but underneath he was corrupt and sinful. He portrayed himself as squeaky clean but he was really filthy to the core.
How about us? Do we ever lie to make ourselves look better than we actually are? Do we use deception to try to cover up our dirty deeds? Do we exaggerate the truth so that people will be impressed? Do we withhold information to hide our sinfulness?
It always amazes me how we play these little games with ourselves and God. We commit acts of sin against God, then we try to cover it up and pretend that he doesn’t know. We may be able to hide it from other people around us, but God always knows the truth. He already knows our hearts; he already knows what we are!
If you have been lying to make yourself look better than what you really are or you have been trying to cover up hidden sin in your life, I plead with you to come clean before God. Confess your sin to him and turn away from it. Jesus will only heal our souls when we repent! For the good of your soul, I ask you: Please come clean!
3.) The Mystery of God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility
Once Paul and his huge military escort reached the halfway point at Antipatris, the threat from the conspirators reduced significantly, so all of the infantry turned around and headed back to Jerusalem while the cavalry pushed on toward Caesarea. When they arrived they handed Paul over to Governor Felix and delivered the letter from Claudius Lysius. The governor read the letter and decides to hear the case in Caesarea when his accuser arrived. Cases like this were typically held in the defendant’s home province, but in this case Cilicia was too far for all of them to travel there. So justice is delayed again and Paul remains a prisoner locked up in King Herod’s palace for two years.
According to Roman law they had no grounds to keep Paul locked up, but they break their own rules because it was convenient for them to do so in this situation. This miscarriage of justice was evil on their part and they were morally responsible for their decisions. In these verses Luke highlights another mystery of the Kingdom of God—the mystery of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. How is it that on one hand God can be completely sovereign and in control of every aspect of our lives and yet there are real consequences for the decisions we make? How is it possible that God has already ordained everything we will ever do and yet he still holds us morally responsible for our choices?
God’s sovereignty is clearly seen in how he uses mean’s evil choices to bring about a greater good. In this passage, Claudius Lysius and Governor Felix committed evil by keeping an innocent man locked up, but God used this for good by protecting Paul from the conspirators who were trying to murder him. God has a way of transforming human evil into divine good—human tragedies into divine triumphs.
Has this ever happened to you? Has God ever brought good out of evil in your life? Has he ever turned a tragedy into a triumph?
The mystery of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility is seen most clearly in the person of Jesus Christ. God transformed the greatest tragedy of history—the murder of Jesus Christ—into the greatest triumph of human history—the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the salvation of sinners. Now God still held the men who murdered his son responsible for the evil choices and actions, but he sovereignly used their evil to bring about a greater good—salvation for anyone who would put their trust in Jesus Christ.
We are responsible for every one of our choices and actions, and there are consequences for the sins we commit. And at the same time God is sovereign over all of our choices and actions and brings good out of our evil. How can both of these be true at the same time? I don’t know! It is a mystery! But I know that the Bible affirms both, and I have experienced both and I believe both! How about you?
God’s Plan and Providence—Human Sinfulness—God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility—all three of these are profound mysteries. That means we can’t fully understand them. But we can know this: God is always using his providence to accomplish his plan for our lives! We should never give in to self-centeredness or lie to make ourselves look better than we really are! And although God is sovereign over all of our lives, we are still responsible for all of our choices!