Unstoppable! 'Devious Plans for Assassination' — Acts 23:12-15

Sunday, November 2, 2025

The next morning [after Paul's arrest and protection under Roman authority and after the Lord's assurance to Paul that he would preach in Rome] a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy. They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, "We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way."

— Acts 23:12-15 NLT

Key Thought

Most of us have had people angry with us. Some of us have had people hatch evil plans to hurt us or discredit us. Few of us have had a group of more than forty take a vow to see us dead! We now see how important the protection of Roman law was for Paul in this vulnerable time. This story also reminds us that God has promised to work through all situations to fulfill his mission for us and do what is in our best eternal interest.* The real question when facing trials is whether or not we will trust that God is still at work in our lives and hasn't abandoned us. In the face of discouraging circumstances, we need each other for encouragement, we need commitment for perseverance to keep believing no matter what happens, and we need the prayers of other believers for our deliverance.** That also means other believers need me and you to come alongside them to help them persevere!

* See the first set of Related Scripture Readings.
** See the second set of Related Scripture Readings

Today's Prayer

Dear Father, I pray that you bless with grace those who consider me their enemy. I confess this is not a prayer that is easy for me to pray, but I pray this because the Lord Jesus has called me to do this. My deeper prayer for these people is that they come to know Jesus as Lord, and so I'm asking that my attitude be tuned to the character of Jesus to bring them salvation. At the same time, dear Father, we need your grace and each other's encouragement to persevere. Lead me to fellow believers who need to be encouraged. Use me to help as you work to deliver them from what confronts them. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 23:12-15 NLT — The next morning [after Paul's arrest and protection under Roman authority and after the Lord's assurance to Paul that he would preach in Rome] a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy. They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, "We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, November 2, 2025

What Jesus Did!
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'A Simple Little Execution' (Mt. 27:1-2)
"Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. Then they bound him, led..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'Compassion and Mercy' (Ps. 86:15-16)
"But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Look down and have mercy on me...."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'God Laughs at the Plots Against Him' (Ps. 2:2-4)
"The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. "Let us break their chains," they....."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Confirmation' (1 Jn. 5:6)
"And Jesus Christ was revealed as God's Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross — not by water only, but by water and blood. And..."

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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