Then [the tribune] called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. 24 Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” 25 And he wrote a letter to this effect:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. 28 And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. 29 I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. 30 And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”
31 So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. 32 And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. 33 When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. 34 On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod’s praetorium.
A seminary classmate years ago when to the microphone asking for a point of personal privilege. This is a parliamentary procedure, requesting that the chair allow one to speak in a public meeting. In this case it was at a church convention. He began by saying, “I’m a fifth generation Texas Missouri-Synod Lutheran.” At that, I thought, what am I? I’m not a native Texan, nor was I born into a Lutheran family. I guess I don’t have a leg to stand on regarding his comments. Actually my thoughts were much more colorful, which I won’t share. But you get my drift, I’m sure. He went on to make his point, which was to decry the decisions we had made to that point at our convention.
At the closing service of that convention, the pastor who preached, began his message, “I’m a sixth generation Texas Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod pastor…” And I cheered in my heart. He sure one-upped my classmate. Sadly I did not share my classmate’s view of things. I thought the decisions we had made were spot on. And I took comfort that someone would make that point. Mind you, a sermon isn’t the best place to launch a counterattack of ideas. But I couldn’t help myself. I was pleased at his one-upmanship.
I remember that as I think of how things are being played out with Paul’s accusers; those 40 who had made a vow not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. (I still wonder if they died of dehydration or starvation.) In contrast to that, the tribune calls two centurions who command 70 horseman and 200 spearmen to protect Paul and actuate his escape in the middle of the night. Take that, you 40!
The only problem with all this is that God doesn’t need 40, 70, 200, or 2000 to make good his plans. He can win a victory over 1000 men with one man and a jawbone of an ass (Judges 15:15). There are other examples. I think of David and Goliath, Gideon and his 300 men, the walls of Jericho, and others. It’s not by might but by God’s Spirit that battles are won.
We may be small and weak in the face of the might and impressive glory of the ways of the world. Evil can look insurmountable. We all have our giants we must face. But God’s arm is not too weak to protect us and defeat our enemies. Sometimes it’s an overwhelming show of power as allies line up with us. Other times God simply lets evil collapse under its own weight. But one thing’s for sure: I won’t count on my 40, 400, or 4000 if I am not on God’s mission. And I thank God that he has a plan that will come to eternal fruition, joy, glory, and victory. Jesus has won the victory. We wait for his ultimate deliverance – against all odds.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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