WEDNESDAY November 15, 2023
News of an Uproar
And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
Acts 21:30-31
Do you remember the prophecy of Agabus? His prophecy concerning Paul’s persecution was now coming to pass. Even though Paul was suffering persecution, he was still in the perfect will of God.
Just at the right time, God stepped in to deliver Paul. The commander of the garrison, Claudius Lysias, was informed of the Jewish unrest. He would have had 1,000 men in the praetorian cohort, which was the occupation forces at Fort Antonia adjacent to the Temple grounds. Among them were centurions who were each in charge of 100 Roman soldiers.
When the news came of a riot happening in the city of Jerusalem, the commander of this garrison immediately deployed his men. The Jews were not allowed to have any kind of an uproar in the city; otherwise, the Romans would immediately come and take control. If necessary, they would use lethal force.
Imagine, God used a Roman commander to save Paul’s life! In His sovereignty, God was not going to allow him to die in Jerusalem. Paul would later die in Rome. You see, even though the Jews’ intent was to kill Paul, God intervened. Just as God intervened in the life of Paul, He intervenes in our lives, too. He steps in. That is of great comfort. When I travel on a plane, ship or by car, I am never afraid for my life because I know that I am in the hands of God! He is in control of my life. I do not have to worry about it. I know that when it is my time to depart from this world, it will happen according to God’s divine plan.
“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure....’ ”
~Isaiah 46:10-12~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
