Preach the Gospel Boldly — Acts 23:12-22 Daily Word

Discover how apostle Paul boldly proclaimed the gospel despite facing a deadly Jewish conspiracy. Learn how God’s protection and wisdom enabled Paul to continue his mission even in great danger. While proclaiming the gospel, the apostle Paul faces a deadly threat from fierce Jewish opposition. God reveals the conspiracy through Paul’s nephew and places him under the protection of the Roman commander, guiding Paul so that he may boldly continue to preach the gospel even in the midst of great danger.

Preach the Gospel Boldly

[Scripture]

Acts 23:12-22 (ESV)

[12] When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. [13] There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. [14] They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. [15] Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.” [16] Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. [17] Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” [18] So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” [19] The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” [20] And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. [21] But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” [22] So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.” (Acts 23:12-22, ESV)

[Daily Word]

Among the Jews who harbored anger toward Paul, forty men formed a conspiracy to kill him. They swore an oath that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul, and they plotted behind the backing of the chief priests and elders. Their plan was to request that Paul be brought before the council, so that they could ambush and kill him on his way there.

The field of gospel proclamation is no easy place

When we share the gospel, we sometimes encounter difficult realities. This is because the field of gospel proclamation is not yet the kingdom of God, but a world that opposes the Lord’s gospel. Therefore, those who receive the gospel do not always receive it with joy, nor is prosperity and victory guaranteed simply because we preach it. In such circumstances, it is easy to become discouraged, which is why we need both greater boldness and wisdom.

The help that God has prepared

In the passage, a young man suddenly appears to help Paul, informing him of the wicked plot by the Jews who sought to kill him. Paul then asks this young man to be taken to the commander. In this way, those who proclaim the gospel continually experience the guidance of the good God who sovereignly rules over all things.

Paul is pressing forward with boldness, trusting in God’s guidance. This is because God had already told Paul to take courage and had promised that he would carry out his mission in Rome.¹Acts 23:11 — [11] The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11, ESV) Therefore, even when a crisis came upon Paul, it did not become a decisive obstacle for him.

This is precisely why we can boldly proclaim the gospel even when our circumstances are far from easy. God guides every situation according to His will. Above all, God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, but will provide a way of escape and give us the strength to endure any trial. Therefore, the best we can do in the reality before us is to serve the Lord with all our faith.

The Evangelist Under God’s Protection

Paul’s nephew exposes to the commander the plot to kill Paul. God caused the scheme of forty conspirators to come to the attention of the commander who led a thousand soldiers, thereby keeping the one who proclaims the gospel under the protection of God.

Our spiritual battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places — and it is by no means a light matter. Yet remember this: no matter how cunning those enemies may be, they cannot break through the almighty power of the Lord. Do not forget that our duty is to rely on the power and wisdom of God, and I pray that today would be a day in which you lean fully on the Lord as we pray together.

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com