Murderous Plot Thwarted

In Acts 23 Paul is incarcerated. Behind the scenes dozens of Jews made a murderous plot against him. They asked the chief priests and elders to call the tribune to the council to further investigate Paul. The plan included to murder Paul while he was transported.

A murderous plot by Jews. God's chosen covenant people. Those who devoted their lives to the study and adhering to the Law. The law which specifically forbids murder in Ex 20:13. How could they be so blinded in their zeal to do away with Paul they would violate the command of God? Much harm has been through history at the hands of religious zealots.

It would be easy to identify those Jews as the enemy. Hold up. Look deeper. Look beyond the obvious. Look into the invisible. Satan blinds people. He fills them with jealous rage. He invents murderous plots convincing his puppets the end justifies the means in getting there. Satan constantly works to oppose God.

If Satan had a most wanted list back in Paul's day, Paul had to be enemy number one. God used Paul to turn the world upside down. [Acts 17:6] He fearlessly opposed the Jews and even those oppressed the devil. Paul won people to Christ in large numbers and started churches. He in large part spread the gospel around the world. Satan wanted Him gone. Satan devised the plot to murder this courageous servant of Christ.

Satan still wreaks havoc around the world. Christians are savagely tortured and brutally killed even to this day. Satan's sinister schemes are played out bringing about evil and destruction. At times, it is appear that he is winning.

God would have the last word on the murderous plot for Paul. He will have the last word for Satan in the end times. Paul's nephew just happened to overhear the plot to kill his uncle. He hurriedly told Paul. Paul sent his nephew to tell the tribune. Because of this report, Paul got secretly transported to Felix the governor by night. All of Satan's scheme and the Jews' plot availed nothing. God rescued Paul.

Nothing Satan does is beyond God's sight. For every move the enemy takes God has a countermove. It not coincidence Paul's nephew was in that spot at that time and overheard the plot to kill his uncle. God orchestrated that. God had other plans for Paul. Like going to Rome to testify about Jesus.

Satan's days are numbered. Eventually he will be bound and thrown in a pit for 1,000 years. When he is released he will try to make war on the saints but God will intervene. He will do away with Satan once and for all. Take heart in that truth today.

Revelation 20:7-10 (ESV)
⁷
 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison
⁸  and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.
⁹  And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,
¹⁰  and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.