Acts 23:12-22

Have you read these verses?  They tell a story, but they contain no explicit theological truth.  However, most stories give an opportunity to learn from the experiences of others.  Often, although not always, stories illustrate truths that we can apply to our own lives to help us make wiser decisions.  This story does offer us that opportunity.

It begins by illustrating how men can make foolish vows.  The 40 Jews involved in the conspiracy were sure that they would be able to kill Paul; they were wrong.  They took vows that either they would break, or that would result in them dying of thirst and starvation.  We do not know enough about these men to know if they were stupid, arrogant or foolish, but we do know they were wicked. This illustrates that vows are easier to make than they are to fulfill.  We can destroy our reputation by making promises that we cannot keep.

This story tells how a young man, (we do not even know his name), made a huge difference just by doing the right thing.  Yes, the commander also had to do the right thing, but he was only able to intervene because the young man brought the plot to his attention.  If the young man had remained silent, trusting that someone else would take care of the situation, the plot may have remained undiscovered.  Paul’s assassination would have been the most likely outcome.  This illustrates a truth; we do not have to be famous, rich or powerful to have a powerful impact on the world around us; we just have to have the courage to do what is right.

This event was a contrast between righteous and unrighteous choices.  Wicked men will continue doing wicked, until they repent.  Righteous men will do what is right because righteousness is a life choice.  We do not make moral choices in isolation; each choice is a continuation of the choices that we have made before.  Therefore, every moral choice is an important choice.