Little ears do hear. And they hear all too well – well enough to make a big impact sometimes.
This was true of the ears belonging to the apostle Paul’s nephew. He was a kid in a place where he could somehow overhear men plotting an ambush to assassinate his uncle, whose missionary travels had spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ far across the Roman Empire.
I have to think that this boy was something like 10 years old. I say this because the actions of the centurion who heard his report: “… 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?’” (Acts 23:19).
What this boy told the captain was what he heard after Paul’s raucous visit to the Sanhedrin, the regional council of Jewish religious and community leaders.
The captain was trying to get answers as to why there was such a feud regarding this man, one he felt bound to protect after discovering he was a free-born citizen of the Empire. What’s more, he feared that he may have violated this citizen’s civil rights when he was strung up for a flogging before a formal condemnation was determined.
You may find it surprising that the Roman legal code actually practiced a measure of habeas corpus – the Latin term for the proper treatment of those facing criminal proceedings.
Another Riot
At the Sanhedrin gathering, things spiraled out of control almost immediately. Paul surveyed the council members. He addressed them with a measure of honor: “… Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1).
This seems like a fairly inoffensive statement, right? Wrong – the high priest was agitated at once and ordered those standing near Paul to smack him across the mouth.
It was a clear violation of council decorum. These so-called officials, however, were prone to breaking their own rules. Some 30 years earlier the same council played fast and loose with judicial processes to contrive a charge of blasphemy against Jesus and to push Him into the clutches of Pontius Pilate and to the Cross at Calvary. The Innocent One was betrayed by the system of justice and was executed.
Paul was wise to what was going on there in the Sanhedrin. He knew this council was steeped in division, especially related to a fundamental issue of doctrine that one sector held dear. “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
The very mention of Resurrection set off a fierce debate fueled by those who were not Pharisees. The Sadducee party “says that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.”
Paul stood in the midst of the wrangling and wrestling that exploded among the members. Things got so heated that the Roman captain again felt compelled to act on behalf of his new favorite Roman citizen. Soldiers were summoned and they hurried in to collect Paul and bring him back to the safety of their barracks.
Bound for Rome
Away from his accusers and under guard, Paul experienced two critical visitations – one from the Lord and the other from his sister’s son. The first Visitor brought words that gave definition to his next mission trip, the second visitor helped to set that trip in motion.
“…the Lord stood by him and said, ’Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome’” (Acts 23:11).
Enter the nephew. Providence would have him be where Paul needed him to be to listen and learn of a devilish conspiracy. Some 40 men bound themselves under a vow to fast and to kill. They presented themselves to the council members saying that none of them “would taste food until they had eliminated Paul.”
All that the council needed to do was make the request that Paul be brought in for another examination. Seemed like an airtight plan to get rid of a man they regarded as a pest and enemy of their people.
But little ears were careful to hear.
Before the next morning, the captain had managed to usher Paul out of Jerusalem to Antipatris and into the custody of governor Felix. A substantial military escort was organized: “[The captain] called two of the centurions and said, ‘Get ready 200 soldiers, with 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night.’”
Paul even had a horse of his own to carry him. It all came together at the word of a boy who paid attention and decided to speak up. Share on XPaul even had a horse of his own to carry him. It all came together at the word of a boy who paid attention and decided to speak up.
And so now the course was set for Paul to reach Rome. It would take years for the voyage to be completed as the wheels of imperial justice turned slowly, but Paul would get to the capital city as we can read in the last verse of the book of Acts:
“He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:30-31).
There will be more to say about these last words when we finish our study of Acts. Every story’s climax and conclusion has to have a starting point. The origin of Paul making it to an audience with Emperor Nero began with the presence of a lad in the company of a crew of killers.
Take Heed What You Hear
The Bible seems to be full of stories like this. A mother among the Israelites in Egypt chose to keep her son alive someway, and so Moses was set afloat in the Nile in a tar-covered basket. A girl taken prisoner and put to work in Naaman’s home told of the prophet Elisha and a Syrian general got his healing from leprosy. A cupbearer and food taster to the Persian king heard that Jerusalem was without walls. He said a prayer and was sent to rebuild Zion for the future generations.
A boy on an outing came to listen to Jesus with five loaves and two fish. Thousands were fed as Jesus blessed what He found in this lunchbox.
Let us be wise. Let us be aware. Take heed to what you are allowed to hear.
Each one of us has the potential to change some part of the world. Never, ever despise the small thing that the Lord has put into your hands or your heart to do.
He is our wise, faithful, and true God. All honor, all power, and all glory belongs to Him.
What will the Lord allow you to hear today? Praise Him for every word.
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