More than Forty Made a Conspiracy - Acts 23:13

The beloved physician Luke wrote how “certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse thirteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “there were more than forty which had made this conspiracy” where we read:

And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

The verse begins, “And they were more than forty ...” Luke began with the words, “and they” which means “and the men who banded together under a curse” “were more than forty” or “were greater in number than forty”. Luke shared how over “forty” men were bound under the “curse” to not eat or drink until they killed “Paul”.

The verse goes on to say, “... which had made this conspiracy.” Luke continued with the words, “which had made” which means “who formed and produced” “this conspiracy” or “the swearing together or plot to kill Paul”. Luke shared how over “forty men” swore and plotted against “Paul” with their “curse”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “more than forty” men conspired together in a plot to kill “Paul”. They vowed through a “curse” upon themselves that they would not “eat or drink” anything until they extinguished “Paul”, and we can see how this was not a small faction against him. Regardless of their “conspiracy” or “plot” against him, God was “Paul's” protection, and no one could touch him without the Lord Jesus allowing it. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to save them from the penalty of sins which is death. He died on the cross in their place, and now everyone who yields to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise carefully examine the plot and determination of this group of over forty men and realize they are nothing compared to the God of the Heavens who preserved and protected His servant “Paul”.

Next time Luke shares how the men said, “We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".