Read Part One HERE
A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XXIII - IX
"Just as I, Paul, thought, the Commander decided it was no longer safe for me to remain in Jerusalem... He, therefore, arranged for me to be taken to Caesarea....We travelled all night and arrived in Caesarea this morning... I have already met Governor Felix... He was given the letter the Roman Commander wrote to him about me... He did read it so he is now somewhat familiar with my situation.... However, he has decided he will wait until my accusers have arrived from Jerusalem before hearing my case.... It may take a few days before they arrive... My accusers may possibly include the high priest Ananias as well as some of the elders.... And among the accusers might be a lawyer named Tertullian.... We shall have to wait and see.... In the meantime I have been placed in king Herod's palace.... Soldiers are guarding me here... What an opportunity to preach the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ to them... For me they are all lost people in need of salvation... Whether they are rough soldiers or highly educated governors like Governor Felix.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Paul's first encounter with Governor Felix....
ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS
PART XXIII - IX
The next morning the soldiers returned to Jerusalem while the cavalry accompanied Paul to Caesarea. Once they arrived there, they right away went to the palace of Governor Felix and presented the Commander's letter to him. Paul was then handed over to the Governor who decided to hear his case as soon as his accusers had arrived in Caesarea. In the meantime he had Paul kept under guard at Herod's palace as you can read in Acts 23:33-35
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 you accusers get here." Then he ordered Paul to be kept under guard in Herod's palace.
So Paul was once again on the road but this time not by his own choice, for her was no longer a free man. He was a prisoner. That meant he could not decide where he wanted to go. His destination had been decided by the Commander. To be honest, Paul was not a free man anyway. He was a bond slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. As such he knew it was not up to him where he should go and when he should go there. And he trusted that being at Caesarea was part of God's plan for his life. For he knew that he was to preach the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ regardless where he might be and under what circumstances. So he was determined to bring that message to those he would be with here in Caesarea.
The question is, how do you see yourself? Do you think you belong to yourself or do you , as a believer, recognise you belong to God as you can read in 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20
".... You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Therefore, honour God with your body."
Do you, therefore, realise that you cannot just do what you want to do and go where you want to go, but that you are here to fulfill God's plan for your life as you can read in Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Read Part Eight HERE
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