#BibleLesson Expressions of Faith. Acts 23. When to let another speak
16But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul. 17Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18So 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.”
Acts 23:16-18
Devotional 42 looked at one situation when Paul spoke up.
This time, the focus on not talking, at least sometimes when not talking is the best choice.
- Paul is under house arrest pretty much because the Jewish leadership considers him a threat.
- The commander in charge of Roman troops in Jerusalem knows Paul is a Roman citizen.
- Because of that, the soldiers treat Paul much differently than most other prisoners—he’s under arrest in the Roman barracks, not a jail cell.
Several Jews have taken an oath not to eat or drink anything until they kill Paul.
- Word of the plot finds its way to Paul’s nephew.
- He tells Paul.
Paul makes a choice.
- Paul could have called the commander to his room and told him about the plot, after all, he was a Roman citizen.
However, Paul sends his nephew to the commander.
- The commander takes Paul’s nephew to a private area and listens to his report.
- After ordering the nephew to not tell anyone about their meeting, the commander sends Paul to Caesarea under the cover of darkness.
Luke doesn’t explain Paul’s decision not to report the details of the plot himself.
- Paul was never one to worry about fallout caused by something he said.
- Here, he let the person with personal knowledge of the plot testify to the commander.
- For a military mind, first-hand intelligence is more powerful than the best second-hand information.
Next time you’re tempted to steal someone’s thunder by speaking for them, consider the circumstances.
Paul gives this direction to the church in Colossians.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
Don’t take credit when someone else deserves the credit.
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