Paul Led by Night - Acts 23:31

Luke the beloved physician wrote how Claudius Lysias, “wrote a letter after this manner” concerning Paul the apostle, “Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sends 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. Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to you, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before you what they had against him. Farewell.”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse thirty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the soldiers, … took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris” where we read:

Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.

The verse begins, “Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, ...” Luke began with the word, “then the soldiers” which means “at that time the Roman warriors”, “as it was commanded them” or “in the manner and way the soldiers were ordered and commissioned” did the following. Luke shared how the “soldiers” who were commissioned to protect “Paul” obeyed their directive and did the following.

The verse goes on to say, “... took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.” Luke continued with the words, “took Paul” which means “carried, brought and led Paul whose name means small or little”, “and brought him by night” or “and carried and led Paul within the time when the weary give themselves up to slumber” “to Antipatris” which means “toward Antipatris whose name means for forefather and was a city situated between Joppa and Caesarea, in a very fertile region, not far from the coast; rebuilt by Herod the Great and named Antipatris in honor of his father Antipater”. Luke shared how the “soldiers” who were charged with protecting “Paul” carried and led him during the nighttime to the city of “Antipatris”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “soldiers” who were given the commission to protect “Paul” obeyed their orders and led him by nighttime to the “city of Antipatris”. Step by step God was behind the scenes leading “Paul” to “Rome” so he could share His “gospel” there. God loves everyone in the world, and that is why He sent “his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life”. (See John 3:16) “Paul” was on his way to “Rome” through “Claudius Lysias” and “Felix”, and as we discover this full mission of God, we shall see His determination to offer salvation to every person who receives His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Luke shares, “on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him”, 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".