Unstoppable! 'Letter to Governor Felix' — Acts 23:23-26

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

A Year with Jesus - Holy Week

Spend some time with Jesus this week preparing for Resurrection Sunday.

Read More

[After hearing of the plan to kill Paul,] the commander called two of his officers and ordered, "Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix." Then he wrote this letter to the governor:

"From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!"
— Acts 23:23-26 NLT

Key Thought

As the commander developed a plan to protect Paul from the plot to assassinate him,* the commander made preparations for Paul to get safely escorted away from the dangerous situation around Jerusalem and to Caesarea. As a Roman city with a strong Roman army and governmental presence, Paul would be safe there. His legal case could be heard more fairly. So, the commander did what he was legally required to do: Protect Paul as a Roman citizen and provide documents for his transfer and legal handling by Roman authorities. From the commander's point of view, he was "just doing his job." God used his faithfulness to his job to deliver Paul and begin the process that would lead the apostle to Rome as the Lord had promised him. I wonder how many times God has blessed others by our faithfully "just doing our job." If God could use a Roman commander in this way, he can certainly use you and me!

* See Acts 23:12-13, 19-21 for details.

Today's Prayer

Heavenly Father, please use my life and my influence at work and play and among friends to lead those around me closer to Jesus. May my life display his love and grace as I seek to work with integrity and influence others toward Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 Corinthians 10:31-33; Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:15-17, 23-24
  • Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Peter 3:15-16

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, November 6, 2024

A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
"As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by human beings but chosen by God and precious to him — you also, like living stones, are being..."
A daily guide from the gospels that challenges readers to live for Jesus.
"And immediately, even as Jesus said [to Peter, James, and John that his betrayer had arrived], Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a..."
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
"Dear Father, Fill me with your heavenly wisdom, which involves alertness to problems and opportunities, avoidance of addictions, fullness of your..."
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Illustration

Illustration of Acts 23:23-26 NLT — [After hearing of the plan to kill Paul,] the commander called two of his officers and ordered, "Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o'clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix." Then he wrote this letter to the governor:

"From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!"

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.