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 they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore you with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though you would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he has a certain thing to tell him. So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto you, who has something to say unto you. Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that you have to tell me? And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire you that you would bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. But do not you yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from you”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse twenty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared how the chief captain, “let the young man depart, and charged him, see you tell no man” where we read:
So the chief captain then let the young man depart,
and charged him, See you tell no man that you have showed these things to me.
The verse begins, “So the chief captain then let the young man depart, ...” Luke began with the words, “so the chief captain” which means “therefore, wherefore, consequently and on this account the chiliarch or Roman commander of a cohort” “then let the young man depart” or “at that time allowed and permitted the youthful male, Paul's nephew, leave or go forth from him”. Luke shared how the “chief captain” allowed “Paul's nephew” to leave him after he told him about the conspiracy against “Paul”.
The verse continues, “... and charged him, See you tell no man that you have showed these things to me.” Luke added the words, “and charged him” which means “and ordered and commanded Paul's nephew”, “see you tell no man” or “divulge or speak to no person whether male or female” “that you have showed these things to me” which means “about telling the chief captain the information about the conspiracy”. Luke shared how the “chief captain” not only allowed “Paul's nephew” to be dismissed, but also ordered him not to tell anyone that he told him the information about “Paul's” conspirators.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “Roman commander” allowed “Paul's nephew” to leave him after he shared about the over forty men who were under a “curse” until they killed his uncle “Paul”. There was a condition for “Paul's nephew”. He was not to tell anyone that he told him the information that he brought to the “chief captain”, and we can imagine because the conspiracy was so determined, it was important not to have anyone else know about the scheme. God was going to preserve and rescue “Paul” from his current situation because He desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus. “Paul” was God's chosen instrument through which His good news would come, and because “Paul” was not finished with his mission, he was to be rescued. Every person who believes and trusts in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. This invitation is for everyone, and those who are wise yield themselves to Him.
Next time Luke shares how the chief captain, “called unto him two centurions”, 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".
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