|
Caesarea
You Have Been Released
"And Paul said, ‘I would to
God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become
both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains’"
(Acts 26:29).
Caesarea was the Roman capitol of Palestine, and since it was a
key location, a lot of key events in the Book of Acts, took place
there. For a long time, I thought of it simply as the place where
Paul was in prison, but there’s more:
- Philip went there (Acts 8:40), and lived there (21:8); Paul
stayed with him
- Paul was briefly there, after Hellenists tried to kill him
(9:26-30)
- It was the home of Cornelius the Centurion (10:1-48)
- Peter preached there (10:34-43)
- After Peter was released from prison by the angel (and Herod
could not find him), he went to Caesarea (12:19)
- Paul greeted the church at Caesarea (18:22)
- It was in Caesarea, where Agabus bound himself with Paul’s
belt & prophesied (21:10-14)
- Paul was escorted to Caesarea, with 200 soldiers (23:23-24,
31-33)
- Paul’s defense to Gov. Felix (Acts 24:10-21)
- Paul was imprisoned at Caesarea (25:4); and appealed to Caesar
(25:11)
- Paul witnessed to Agrippa (Chapter 26)
So much happened in Caesarea, but the most extraordinary
occurrence is what happened in relation to the the soul of Paul.
His body was imprisoned, but somehow, his heart was free. This was
the place where Agrippa shook his head, and lamented to Festus, "This
man might have been set free, if only he had not appealed to Caesar"
(Acts 26:32). Yet, he had appealed in the will of God --- this man
in chains, was more free than Agrippa, whose chains were hidden in
his heart.
I’ve been impressed for a long time, that Paul (from a human
perspective), did not need to be in prison. The prophet Agabus
warned him (Acts 21:11) he would be locked up, if he went to
Jerusalem. He went anyway, because he was willing (21:13), and he
knew this was all in the will of God (21:14). It is better to do
God’s will than our own.
The human body of Paul, went to jail in Jerusalem, was
transferred to prison in Caesarea, and by appealing to Caesar, Paul
ended up in a worse penitentiary in Rome - a dungeon; unspeakably
cold, foul, and depressing. Paul’s life was over…..Or was it?
Sometimes, in life, people seem to have lots of money,
acquaintances everywhere, clothes, cars, income - whatever is wanted
seems to be there. And there is indeed, a confidence on the face of
the one who has "everything." You can read about the rich young
ruler, in Luke 18:18-27. Here was a guy who "had it all", and yet
he came to Jesus, because he felt the same emptiness we all have
felt. We need more; we need the Lord. Jesus looked deep into the
heart of the man, and saw that the ruler’s success in life was a
barrier to receiving God.
Jesus told him to get rid of everything, "and
come, follow Me" (Luke 18:22). The disciples were shaken by
this, because Jesus went on to say, it is very hard for the
successful in this world, to EVER enter the kingdom of God. Their
eyes must have been very large, as they asked, "Who
then can be saved?" (They wanted to do well, just like
everybody else). Jesus answered, "The things
which are impossible with men, are possible with God."
Sometimes, successful circumstances, though pleasant in
appearance, can be a "prison" because we are kept from true freedom
in Christ. Remember that Paul does not encourage a physical prison
for us, for he adds "except for these chains,"
in Acts 26:29 - we don’t SEEK bad circumstances. There’s plenty of
trouble in life, but God USES our difficulties to bring us to
liberating faith in Him.
Paul, the prisoner, said, in Acts 26:29, "I
would to God that…all who hear me…might become as I am."
Paul saw life as it really is, and understood that to be in Christ
is freedom, no matter where we are, and no matter what happens. The
"freedom" of the world (such as having a lot of money) can be a
prison in disguise, because we trust in the money, more than we
trust in God. The wheelchair can be God's chariot, if we look to
Him.
It is not money that is our problem, by the way, it’s our
attitudes about such things as money, that can lead to a
separation from God. We are taught that the LOVE of money is
actually our problem (1 Timothy 6:10), because the money becomes an
"idol" and instead we need CHRIST, who died for you and for me. The
jail, the wheelchair, are temporary in nature, and we have
the joyous permanence of true freedom in our Lord.
Jesus, please show me, right now, what I secretly rely on,
instead of you. I give you that which keeps me away from the
kingdom of God, because I want You more than life, more than money.
Take all that I am, all I have; all I have wanted so much. I want
to be Yours, Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
Ron@fridaystudy.org
|
