Acts 23:11-22
Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” (vv. 17-18) I’m impressed with the influence that Paul has with the Roman authorities. A centurion is in charge of 100 soldiers; it’s a fairly impressive position. But Paul is able to call in this centurion and tell him to take the young boy to the commander (the tribune), a man who is in charge of 1000 soldiers. And the centurion does what Paul asks, not even knowing what the message might be. Then the tribune immediately takes Paul’s nephew aside and listens to what he has to say. He has the Roman authorities doing what he asks, simply by asking. Impressive!!
When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul… They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. (vv. 12, 14) At first glance these two verses seem to have the Jews plotting against Paul just as they had plotted against Jesus. However there are two important differences here. First, with Jesus it was the Jewish leaders who hatched the plot to have Him killed. Here it appears to be regular Jews (maybe Zealots?) who are planning Paul’s murder. These “commoners” go to the Jewish leaders with their plan, not for approval but to further what they have already plotted. We know their plan failed, but it is unspoken as to how the Jewish leaders responded to the conspirators’ request. Second, with Jesus it was the Jewish leaders’ plan to have Jesus killed legally by the Roman authorities, leaving themselves clear of any charge of murder. Here, the Jews are taking it upon themselves to murder Paul – presumably with little regard as to the consequences for any one man or for all forty conspirators. So they succeeded with Jesus and look what happened! So what’ll happen to Paul…?? Stay tuned!
Slava Bohu!
This reading makes me think of a lynch mob, with the church standing by doing little to prevent it and possibly supporting. We the church have some repenting to do, just like the Jews in this case.