The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1909-10-07

:. Rome. Evidently the
Lord approve d heartily OF Paul's tes-
timony at Je "usalem. 1t Is clear also
that those vlo fancy that Paul was
headstrong in going to Jerusalem,
and was following his own wishes
and not the leading Of God in doing
SO, are altogether misiudging him.
Quite likely Paul's appeal to Caesar
at later day (ch. 25:1D was sug-
gested by the words that the Lord
spoke to him at this time. A dan
gerous conspiracy and plot was form
ing against him. But God was, az
He always is. beforehand with His
comfort and preparation for the cri-
sis. Human friends sometimes COM
fort us after the trial has arisen. but
1t is God who comforts us before the
need appears. The conspiracy was
strong and apparently dangerous. No
less than forty men were in 1t. They
were determined men, willing to go
any length to compass their purpose.
They would not even stop at murder,
and would put aside everything
even eating and drinking until this
one thing was done. Tiey fanried
that they we're the viceregents of God
on earth, and had right to put those
whom they saw fit to regard as Gods
legal process of any kind. There is
no more DANGEROUS man than the man
who faHcies that 1t is for him to Judge
who are Gods friends and who are
His foes, and that he himself is ap-
pointed OF God 70 be the executioner
OF Gods judgments. Doubtless these
consDirators thought that they would
he doing God a service in nuttine
Paul out Of the wav (Jno. 1921. a
solemn warning to all in any ago who
would take the judgments of God
into their own hands. This was not
the only time that Paul was the OBJ
iect of such infamous plots tch. 25:3:
1928. "a: 14-5. G; 20:19: 2 Cor. II:
laid. 1t seemed certain of success
But 1t failed utterly. Why? God
FPS. 2:1-4: GALLO; Jsa S9:1O).
Paul was Just as safe after this plot
was formed as he was before (Rom. s:
Sd. Forty desperate men, backed
up by the powers that be. and in
league with the devil himself. can an.
parently accomrlish a good deal ir
this world. brt they are utterly pow.
erless against God. They cannot Kill!
In Jerusalem a man whom God has
appointed TO go 70 Rome and bear
witness of Jesus there. Paul was fol-
lowing again very closely in the road
his Master walked in having such a
plot formed against him (Matt. &c:
~. That the conspiratnrs thought II
perfectly proper and pinTs thing
that they were doing is evident from
their disclosing 1t to the priests and
elders (cf. Jer. 6:15: Hos. 81. They
sought the cooperation of the priests,
and got it.
II. Gods Exposure and Defeat of
the Plot. 1922. 1t required no mir
acle to defeat the plot OF the Jews.
But the defeat was of God Just as
much as IL the whole course of nature
had been STOPPED. The plot leaked
out and got to the ears of a relative
Of Paul. Very likely he did not SYM
pathize with Paul's views. but he re-
coiled at the thought of his being as
sassinated. Paul's enemies were
caught in their own counsel (cf. Job
5:13; Cor. 3:19). This scheme to
overthrow Gods purposes and word
had feiled utterly (cf. Prov. 21:3O;
Lam. 3:30. Paul had faith in God,
but that did not prevent his taking
tudicious precautions to defeat the
wiles Of his enemies Matt. 10:16).
The captains and colonel both had oc.
casion to fear Paul (ch. 22:25-29.
They were both earer to do some
thing to gain HIS favor. Probably
when the colonel took tie ycung man
30 courteously by the and and led
him to one side he hope he had come
to suggest bribe for y 'ui's deliver
ance (cf ch. 24:26). T''us his fears
and his cupidity wor 4 together
with other things to rure Paul's
rescue (cf. Rom. 8:28). 'he plot not
only failed, it resulted - furthering
Gods plans and fulfill His word
1t started Paul on the | to Rome,
and brought him In Caesarea.
where he had the opport' 'ty OF bear
ing witness for Christ ,ore Felix.
Festus, Agrippa. Drusil and Ber-
nice. 1t resulted also In at impris-
onment to which we owe many pre-
cious epistles. Again G. made the
wrath of men to praise p Cps. 76:
10). 1t Is not at all lik " that the
conspirators kept their ord about
not eating or drinking un / they had
killed Paul. From the almud we
learn that in such a case the rabbis
had power to absolve the. So will
every plan that is formed against
Code faithful Rou