The Surprising Way That God Can Work (Acts 23: 11-35)

For an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free  for listeners everywhere at;
patreon.com/JeremyMcCandless

Subscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.
https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

Welcome Message:  Today, we look into a moment from the life of the Apostle Paul that illustrates a key truth about God's ways—they are often surprising and beyond human expectation. If you’ve ever wondered how God works when all seems lost, this episode is for you.

As we follow Paul through one of his darkest hours, we'll witness God’s providence at work in unexpected ways, bringing encouragement, protection, and the fulfilment of His purposes.

Episode Notes:

Key Themes and Insights:

1. Paul’s Deep Discouragement
2. God’s Direct Encouragement (Acts 23:11)
3. God’s Providence Through Human Means
4. How God’s Deliverance Works
5. God Uses Imperfect People

Key Lessons:

• God’s Encouragement Through His Word:
• God’s Providence in Everyday Life:
• God’s Sovereignty Is Unshakable:

Application:

1. Recognize God’s Encouragement
2. Trust God’s Providence
3. Believe in God’s Sovereignty

Paul’s story reminds us that God’s ways are higher than ours. He speaks encouragement, uses people, and works through events to fulfil His plans. Even when life feels overwhelming, God’s providence is at work—sometimes quietly, sometimes unexpectedly, but always perfectly.

Thank you for joining us today. May you find courage in knowing that God is at work in your life, just as He was with Paul. Until next time, keep seeking, keep trusting, and keep walking in His ways.

Create Harmony

This is a podcast about setting an intentional rhythm, savoring life’s blessings and...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Chapters

• 20:58 [Ad] Create Harmony
• 21:45 (Cont.) The Surprising Way That God Can Work (Acts 23: 11-35)

Transcript

The Surprising way Good Can Work. (Acts 23:11-35)

Transcript: 

If I were to ask, “How does God work?” what would you say? It would be fascinating to gather answers from people because I am sure we would find many and varied experiences even amongst us as a community of believers united in a decision to seek and then follow Christ.

Everyone has ideas about how God operates, but I want to suggest something that may surprise you and that is that  often God works in ways that are quite different from what we expect. In fact, I would go so far as to say that sometimes God’s methods appear to be the opposite of what we would assume or even desire.

Today, we’ll examine a moment from the life of the Apostle Paul where he faced deep discouragement, and we’ll see how God intervened to encourage him, but in an unusual way. The passage today offers a powerful case study in God’s ways of bringing hope in the midst of trials….

Please turn with me to Acts 23, starting in verse 11.

11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty men were involved in this plot. 14 They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 15 Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”

16 But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.” 18 So 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.”

19 The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

20 He said: “Some Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul before the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about him. 21 Don’t give in to them, because more than forty of them are waiting in ambush for him. They have taken an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, waiting for your consent to their request.”

22 The commander dismissed the young man with this warning: “Don’t tell anyone that you have reported this to me.”

Paul Transferred to Caesarea.

23 Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. 24 Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”

25 He wrote a letter as follows:

26 Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

27 This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.

31 So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. 32 The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. 33 When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. 34 The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace.

(Acts 23: 11-35)

This is a lengthy passage, filled with critical details, some of them narrative, and some strategic. But behind this account lies the deeper insight of it revealing how God was working.

But to understand how God brought encouragement to Paul, we must first recognize his state of mind. 

At this point, Paul was undoubtedly discouraged. Most scholars agree on this.

Consider his recent journey:

On his way to Jerusalem, he was repeatedly warned that trouble awaited him.

Once he arrived, he tried to follow the advice given to him by the Christian leaders there by following temple rules to demonstrate goodwill toward the Jewish believers there, but it backfired.

A violent mob nearly beat him to death.

He was then arrested and he tried to address the crowd, speaking to them in their own language—but they rejected his testimony.

Nothing seemed to be going right. Everything Paul attempted appeared to end in failure. Even his effort to reconcile with the legalistic Jews incited a riot, and his testimony before the Sanhedrin just resulted in confusion and chaos.

Is it any wonder that Paul might have felt defeated, dejected, and without hope?

He stood, it seemed, alone. But—and here is where the story turns—God was not finished. God had a plan to encourage him, and the way He worked reveals His heart towards him and indeed towards us as well.

This is one of the darkest periods in Paul’s life for years. He had hoped to give faithful witness in Jerusalem, but when he arrived, he legalistic Jewish believers who held him suspect because of his contact with the Gentiles.

Now his hopes of convincing the leadership of the people had gone up in smoke, and his dreams of effective testimony to the Jews lay in ashes at his feet. His vision for a successful witness in Rome began to fade.

He was physically, emotionally, and spiritually tired. Even the most optimistic person can feel alone after a battle. Paul was in the depths, sitting in the Antonia Fortress, utterly humiliated, dejected, dispirited, and alone.”

Have you ever felt like that? Sometimes, we all just want to curl up under a blanket, close out the world, and forget our troubles. What would Christ do for Paul in this valley of despair? What would He do for us in a similar moment?

All of this forms the backdrop for what happens next in Acts 23:11, where we read:

“The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, Paul, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.’”

In the midst of this discouraging situation, the Lord works. He communicates encouragement to Paul. In this case, it’s quite dramatic—the text says, “the Lord stood by him,” indicating that Paul saw Him. Notice the first words of the Lord: “Take courage.” This tells us plainly that Paul was discouraged, and the Lord’s immediate response is to lift his spirits.

The Lord affirms Paul’s faithfulness: “You have testified about me in Jerusalem.” Despite all appearances, Paul’s witness had not been in vain. But even more striking is the promise that follows: “You must also bear witness in Rome.” God wasn’t done with Paul. The journey wasn’t over.

This is how God works to encourage His people. He speaks to us. In Paul’s case, it was a direct and visible encounter with Christ. For us, God speaks through His Word. When discouragement weighs heavy on our hearts, we find strength by turning to Scripture. Consider a passage like Isaiah 43:2:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

When you are discouraged, immerse yourself in God’s promises. Read His Word. Let His truth remind you that He is present and faithful.

Notice one more thing from Acts 23:11—along with encouragement, the Lord gives Paul more work to do. The Lord doesn’t tell Paul to quit or rest indefinitely. Instead, He says, “You must also bear witness in Rome.”

There are two promises embedded here:

Safety in the present: Paul wouldn’t die in Jerusalem. God would see to it that he makes it to Rome.

The reward for faithful service is often more service.

This principle runs throughout Scripture. Faithfulness leads to greater responsibility. The Christian life is not about quitting when things get hard; it’s about pressing on, trusting that God is in control.

Augustine put it beautifully in his book called, ‘Confessions’.

“Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.”

In moments of despair, God calls us to trust Him—trust His mercy, love, and providence—and to keep moving forward.

But just as the Lord reassures Paul, new trouble arises. Acts 23:12 tells us:

“When it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.”

Imagine hearing about this plot after already being discouraged! Paul’s life was in even greater danger. The conspirators—more than forty of them—hatched a deadly plan to ambush and kill him.

And yet, as we see in verse 16, the plot is exposed:

“When the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.”

This verse surprises many readers. Paul had a sister? And a nephew? Yes, although this is the only mention of them in Scripture. How did the young man learn of the plot? The text doesn’t tell us. 

Some speculate that loose talk among the conspirators or the involvement of family friends may have leaked the plan. Remember the Sanhedrin had seventy members. Add forty conspirators, and that’s 110 people involved and aware of this. If many were married, the circle widens further.

Secrets are hard to keep when so many are in the know.

The important point is that God providentially worked through human means, this time, Paul’s nephew to thwart the plot.

This reminds us that while God’s encouragement often comes through His Word, but His deliverance frequently comes through His providence. He uses people, circumstances, and events to fulfill His purposes and protect His people.

When we are in the valleys of life, God speaks encouragement, provides protection, and calls us to trust Him. He is always working, even when we can’t see it.

A secret is just something you tell one person at a time, and that kind of hot gossip spreads quickly—but only one whisper at a time. Regardless of how it happened, word leaked out, and Paul’s nephew somehow overheard the deadly plot. He went straight to Paul with the news.

Paul immediately called one of the guards and said, "Take this young man to the commander; he has something important to report." The commander listened, warned the young man to keep silent, and then took action.

It’s ironic—by then, the entire city probably knew something was brewing, but still, the commander said, "Don’t tell anyone you told me."

The circumstances are quite shocking: forty men had banded together with an oath to neither eat nor rest until Paul was dead, even calling down a curse on themselves if they failed. But here’s a key point: no earthly plot, no matter how dark or desperate, can thwart God’s purposes.

God’s is always sovereignty in all circumstances

Consider what we already read: the Lord had told Paul he would testify in Rome. That promise guaranteed that no scheme in Jerusalem would succeed in ending his life. 

This is a profound truth about God’s ways—He sometimes works through circumstances to fulfill His will. In this case, He used an overheard conspiracy and a young boy’s intervention to carry out His plan.

God didn’t need dramatic miracles to save Paul. Instead, He used ordinary human actions, showing that His providence often unfolds quietly but with perfect precision.

It’s vital to remember as long as God has a purpose for a servant, nothing can harm them.  The point is God uses people and circumstances

In this passage, God encouraged Paul directly through His word, telling him to be of good cheer. But He also acted through circumstances by exposing the plot and using the Roman commander’s military resources. 

In Acts 23:23, the commander gave orders: "Prepare 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen to go to Caesarea at the third hour of the night." That’s a force of 470 soldiers, nearly half the Roman garrison stationed in Jerusalem all dedicated to escorting Paul. Why so many? The commander wasn’t taking any chances.

The third hour of the night, around 9:00 PM, ensured the mission would begin under cover of darkness. Their destination was Caesarea, the Roman provincial capital, where Paul would be safe.

The text also records the letter sent by the commander to Governor Felix. Notice how the truth gets polished:

"This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them. But I came with troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen."

Does that match what actually happened? Not quite! The real story is that the mob had nearly beaten Paul to death when the Romans intervened. Only later did they discover his Roman citizenship. The commander, however, presents himself in the best possible light—claiming he rescued Paul because of his citizenship.

It’s a subtle but telling example of human nature: even in official correspondence, self-interest colors the truth. Yet, despite human failings and half-truths, God’s sovereign hand remained at work, ensuring Paul’s journey would continue according to His divine plan.

At any rate, the commander sends his letter and though we know the timeline was not quite so heroic. He conveniently rewrites events to make himself look good. But in verse 29, he does something important: he admits Paul has done nothing deserving death or chains, acknowledging that the accusations concern questions of Jewish law. Yet, out of caution and necessity, he sends Paul to the governor with a significant military escort.

The soldiers set out at night. By the next day, when they reach a safer region, most of the guards turn back, leaving the horsemen to finish escorting Paul to Caesarea.

Paul arrives safely, and the governor, after reading the letter, questions Paul’s origin. His curiosity isn’t mere small talk—he’s ensuring proper jurisdiction. Once he confirms Paul is from Cilicia, he agrees to hear the case once Paul’s accusers arrive, keeping him in Herod’s Praetorium in the meantime.

This brings us back to the heart of the matter: How does God work in difficult situations? He speaks through His Word, works through circumstances, and uses people—sometimes in surprising ways.

Here, God uses a Roman commander who twists the truth to achieve his own ends. God doesn’t endorse the commander’s dishonesty, but He does use him as an instrument to accomplish His divine purpose.

God’s methods often challenge our expectations. He works not only through faithful, but also sometimes through the unwitting, sometimes even though unethical actions of others, to bring about His will. 

That is a truth that should encourage us. Remember verse 11—God told Paul to take courage. Paul had every reason to trust God despite the danger swirling around him, for nothing could thwart the Lord’s plan.

We see this perfectly illustrated here. God works through His Word, events, and people, and even unsaved people can be instruments of God’s providence.

Now, before I wrap up, some of you may be wondering: What happened to the 40 conspirators who vowed to kill Paul?

We aren’t told, but it’s likely they found a loophole to break their vow. Pharisees were known for their clever ways of interpreting oaths to escape obligations.

Whatever happened to them, their plot ultimately failed.

The real takeaway is this: God encouraged Paul, and He wants to encourage us.

Discouragement is part of life, but God speaks through His Word, orchestrates circumstances, and places people in our path to remind us to press on.

That’s what God does for us. He wraps His arms around us, guides us through our trials, and whispers through His Word and Spirit saying, “Don’t stop. Keep going. Don’t quit.”

So, take courage. Whatever challenges you face, remember that God is working—through His Word, through circumstances, and through people. And He’s saying, “Keep going. Don’t give up.”