Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight. Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
He wrote a letter as follows: “Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix:
Greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.”

Angry people anger others. We see it time and again. A person doesn’t get the profit or respect or power they planned on, or these things are threatened, and they respond out of anger.

Take the famous story of Robin Hood. Prince John was an evil man, motivated by money and power. He didn’t care about the people, so he oppressed them. And so Robin Hood stole from the people’s oppressors and gave the wealth back to the people. The king responded in anger at this challenge to his authority. As a result, the people became more angry and they helped Robin Hood more.

This is exactly the same type of scenario playing out here with the Jewish leaders and the commander. The Jewish leaders wanted Paul killed. They wanted him killed at any cost. So they, in rage, set about plans to ambush Paul and those protecting him. The commander learned of this and was likely furious that his authority was being subverted. So he sent a large detachment of Roman soldiers, horsemen and spearmen to protect Paul against 40 regular Jewish citizens. This was a show of force and power!

God protected Paul by allowing the Jews’ sinful anger to turn to a mob rage, and as a result to infuriate a Roman commander. Pretty amazing!

Instead of anger, we are called to exhibit self-control, and that is just what Paul did. “The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” (I Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬)

Lord, teach me to trust you when angry men act in rage. You are the one who controls the end results for me. Fill me with your heart of peace and a self-controlled mind that is a beacon of the love of Jesus in the middle of anger all around.