How God Protects His Church

Discover how God protects His church through civil authorities and human goodness. In Acts 23, a Roman commander’s intervention saves Paul’s life, revealing God’s sovereignty over worldly powers.

[Scripture]

Acts 23:23-35 (ESV)

[23] Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. [24] Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” [25] And he wrote a letter to this effect: [26] “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. [27] This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. [28] And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. [29] I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. [30] And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.” [31] So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. [32] And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. [33] When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. [34] On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, [35] he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium. (Acts 23:23-35, ESV)

[Daily Word]

When the commander learned of the plot to assassinate Paul, he summoned two centurions and ordered them to escort Paul to Caesarea. The military force assembled for this escort consisted of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. The reason such a large number of troops was deployed was that the commander did not regard Paul as an ordinary criminal.

God Protects the Church Through the Civil Authorities of This World

There are times when we long to see the dramatic miracles recorded in Scripture take place again today. Yet God most often protects His church and His people through the ordinary circumstances of everyday life. As we see in today’s passage in particular, God protects the church even through the civil authorities of this world. This is because God is not only Lord of the church, but Lord of the whole world.

Civil authority exercised through police and military forces is one of God’s most representative means of guarding His church. The police and armed forces that preserve law and order — keeping thieves away and defending against outside threats — are themselves instruments in the hand of God.

God Protects the Church Through the Goodness and Justice Found in the Human Heart

The commander sent Paul to the governor along with a letter. In it, he explained that Paul was a Roman citizen, that the Jews had been plotting to kill him, and that he himself had intervened to rescue Paul. The commander testified to Paul’s innocence, stating that Paul had been accused over nothing more than matters of Jewish law, and that despite having committed no crime deserving death or imprisonment, Paul’s life was under serious threat.

If the world were completely corrupt and entirely under the dominion of Satan — with everything being driven toward sin — the church would face a far more grueling battle. Yet here, the commander testified to Paul’s innocence and sent the letter to expose the conspiracy against him.

We are people created in the image of God.¹ Therefore, we instinctively pursue what is good and right, and we recognize injustice when we see it. This becomes an opening for the church to proclaim the gospel to the world. The world, too, will acknowledge with a sense of justice the gospel that is delivered with the heart of God — for the gospel not only cares for the poor, but also brings the light of life into the darkest of places.

God Protects the Church Through the Laws of the World

The soldiers now escort Paul safely to Caesarea, just as the commander ordered. Upon arrival, Paul is handed over to the governor along with a letter. The governor’s first question is about which province the Roman citizen Paul is from. When Paul says he is from Cilicia — which falls under the governor’s jurisdiction — the governor states that he will hear Paul’s case once his accusers arrive. In this way, Paul’s innocence is to be determined through a proper trial.

One of the ways God protects the church is through the laws of the world. God will see to it that a righteous church is evaluated fairly and by just standards within society. If we are honest before God, He will cause us to be recognized in the world as well, and through that, God will receive glory. Therefore, the church must always remain transparent, pure, and honest within the will of God.

A Church That Lives in the Righteousness That Pleases God

As a church living in the world today, my hope is that we would be honest within God’s will and possess the righteousness that pleases Him. May this day bring glory to God through the things that delight the Lord. Let us pray together toward that end.

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com