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.”
“Go tell your mom, I need her out here right now!” I was in the middle of a repair job and had run into a problem that required an extra set of eyes and a third hand. He was too small to provide either. Off he ran. Soon Diane appeared. “What is it?” she asked. “I need your help. See this piece here? Can you hold it while I tighten this screw?” One turn of the screwdriver together with the extra set of eyes and her hand, and all was well. Had he not gone to get her the task would have failed, and a tedious effort would have to start again.
Our son saved the repair job on that day. But that was nowhere near as urgent as the efforts of the young man, warning Paul, being sent to tell the tribune, and keeping his silence about having shared this information. They were hatching a plot-thwarting plan to save Paul.
I doubt the young man woke up that morning thinking that he would be an essential part of this plan. But when Paul’s nephew heard of the plot against his uncle, I’m guessing he realized he had a chance to do something. Perhaps he thought he would tell Paul and that would be it. Or maybe he was ready to go. “What do you want me to do?”
Such an eager attitude toward helping in any way we can place us in positions of kingdom impact. A simple errand, a word of encouragement delivered, a prayer prayed, an offering shared can each reach farther than we might imagine. We might think of seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness as a great challenge. But the challenge may be that of simply responding to opportunities to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (cf. Micah 6:8).
Paul’s nephew did some heroic things. That set in motion a visit by Paul to Rome. Who knows what little things – heroic or not – might have a great impact in the kingdom of God? After all the most heroic thing ever to have occurred in God’s kingdom started when a young maiden said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be to me as you have said.”
David Bahn - Reflections 
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