When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”
16 Now the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. 17 Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” 18 So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” 19 The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” 20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. 21 But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” 22 So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”
Golden Trumpet II | Arbor Gate Nursery, Tomball, Texas | May 2024I don’t know all the details, but there is a sing-song, “Tell me a story. Tell me a story…” (in a child-like voice) chorus in Diane’s side of the family. We didn’t have such a chorus, but we did have a well-worn request: “Tell us a story about the olden days,” we’d say. We wanted to hear our grandmother (“Memaw”) tell her stories. They were grand. Captivating. Spellbinding. A delight to we who knew that Memaw’s stories were every bit as good as the occasional TV show we’d get to see. TV back then was black and white. Memaw’s stories were in full color! What’s more, TV was fiction. Memaw’s stories were true.
I recall all this because of the nature of this brief part of Paul’s story. A plot is being hatched and thwarted right in front of our eyes. And I notice how many details Luke gives us – repeating the conversations, and playing out the events, again quoting the conversations. Every step of the way is chronicled. Luke is not only a physician. He’s an historian. A chronicler. A storyteller.
Luke’s story is important for us. For by God’s providence it has been conveyed through the centuries, copy upon dozens, upon hundreds of copies of this story exist. The estimate is that 550 ancient Greek contain parts or all of the book of Acts. There are so many more of these manuscripts compared to the number of non-biblical manuscripts. It’s a mark of God’s providence. He wants us and many to hear this story.
These were vitally-important stories. And, like Memaw’s stories, they are true. Both Memaw’s and Luke’s stories relate events in this world. But there is another story playing out in the universe. These all are part of a much larger story. It’s not just about 40 or more men taking a vow to kill Paul, the duplicity of the chief priests and council, the young boy messenger and the Roman centurion. Each of them play a part. Each of them have a line in the narrative.
High above all these people, events, schemes, and conversations is the upper story of God’s grace, truth, purpose, and plan. Paul will safely go to Rome. Jesus has indicated that to him (Acts 23:11). This episode is a part of that greater story. But there is an even greater arc that reaches even beyond us today. We read about this. It edifies us. It encourages us. It may even challenge us. But the even grander arc reaches into eternity where Jesus is fully and rightly honored. This is where God’s glorious grace is consummated, celebrated, and centered.
Next time you have an opportunity to support and aid a messenger of Christ, rejoice that you are part of the grand arc of God’s grace. And tell the story to others, putting it into that context.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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