“You must witness at Rome.” That’s what God told Paul in Chapter 23 and verse 11, but how in the world could such a thing possibly happen? The chief priests and elders wanted to kill him, and a group of assassins had volunteered to do just that (23:15). So great was their hatred of Paul that they vowed to each other they wouldn’t either eat or drink until he was dead (23:12) – and that meant they planned to do something quickly.

And remember, Paul had been arrested by the Roman tribune and was being held on suspicion of somehow causing or inciting a riot. How in the world could he possibly start on a mission trip to Rome while he was being held in custody? And how could he hope to get out of the city of Jerusalem alive?

Maybe some of God’s directions to you seem to be just as impossible: how can I really love my enemies? How can I keep praying for and reaching out to those who show no interest in a relationship with me, or with God for that matter? How can I maintain my own faith in the face of sickness or grief, joblessness or depression, addiction or temptation?

Well, how did God make it possible for Paul to go to Rome? He made sure that Paul’s nephew would just happen to overhear the assassins’ plots (23:16). He made sure that the Roman tribune would listen to this Jewish boy and take his words seriously (23:17-21). In fact, God used the very Roman soldiers who had arrested and imprisoned Paul to provide him an armed escort through the midst of his Jewish enemies, taking him all the way to the coast at Caesarea (23:23-24, 31-33), and eventually all the way to Rome.

And God is still able to use all the circumstances of our lives to protect us and to provide for us and to make it possible for us to accomplish His will. He can always make a way for us to accomplish His will, even where there seems to be no way.

Acts 23:11-35 (NASB)

11 But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
12 And when it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.
13 And there were more than forty who formed this plot.
14 And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.
15 “Now, therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case by a more thorough investigation; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near the place.”
16 But the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul.
17 And Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Lead this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.”
18 So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to lead this young man to you since he has something to tell you.”
19 And the commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?”
20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him.
21 “So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are lying in wait for him who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him; and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.”
22 Therefore the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”
23 And he called to him two of the centurions, and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.”
24 They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.
25 And he wrote a letter having this form:
26 “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix, greetings.
27 “When this man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be slain by them, I came upon them with the troops and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.
28 “And wanting to ascertain the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their Council;
29 and I found him to be accused over questions about their Law, but under no accusation deserving death or imprisonment.
30 “And when I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you.”
31 So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.
32 But the next day, leaving the horsemen to go on with him, they returned to the barracks.
33 And when these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.
34 And when he had read it, he asked from what province he was; and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,
35 he said, “I will give you a hearing after your accusers arrive also,” giving orders for him to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.