Sometimes People Make Stupid Promises: Acts 23:12-35

    The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here."

 

    But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

 

    Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him." So he took him to the commander.

    The centurion said, "Paul, the prisoner, sent for me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you."

 

    The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, "What is it you want to tell me?"

 

    He said: "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. Don't give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request."

 

    The commander dismissed the young man and cautioned him, "Don't tell anyone that you have reported this to me."

 

    Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, "Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix."

 

    He wrote a letter as follows:

 

Claudius Lysias,

 

To His Excellency, Governor Felix:

 

Greetings.

 

    This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.

 

    So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, he said, "I will hear your case when your accusers get here." Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.

 

Sometimes people make stupid promises.

 

Stupid promises happen when people think they have more power, influence, and control than they do. Stupid promises are often the result of faulty passions and desires. Most of all, stupid promises are made when people aren’t listening to God.

 

That’s what happened to these men who promised to kill Paul. Actually, they promised not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. There were forty of them, and they had a plan. It seemed like a good plan for killing Paul. There was just one problem: They couldn’t overpower or outwit God.

 

God used simple, ordinary methods to keep Paul safe. Paul’s nephew overheard the plan. He told Paul. Then he told the commander of the Roman soldiers. And the commander sent Paul, heavily guarded, out of harm’s way with a letter commending him as a “Roman citizen” who had not done anything that “deserved death or imprisonment.”

 

Paul was safe. His accusers now had to go inconveniently out of their way to bring their case against Paul. And Paul would have the opportunity to present the gospel to the Roman governor. All because God worked to overcome a stupid promise.

 

We aren’t told how many of those men kept their vow. Personally, I hope they saw God’s mighty power working against them and repented before their Lord and Christ.

 

Father, I know what it is like to get really worked up and angry over the things other people say and do. But this is a great reminder that my anger can easily lead to foolishness, stupidity, and unrighteousness. Please guard my heart against anger. May I bring the things that trouble me to You and to Your Word. Guide me through Your Word and through Your Spirit to know how to respond. May I never find myself in the position of fighting against You. When I make promises, may I gladly subject them to Your will, and seek to make only promises I think You will carry out through me. And when I’m wrong, may I repent. You are so forgiving! Thank You that You protect Your servants.