84 Acts 23:12-35 Schemers, Sharks, and a Snitch

June 15, 2025

Christopher C. Freeman

Title: Schemers, Sharks, and A Snitch Text: Acts 23:12-35 FCF: We often struggle trusting God when enemies surround us. Prop: Because man makes their plans but God guides their steps, we must trust the Lord. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 23. In a moment we’ll begin reading from the LSB starting in verse 12. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. After Paul narrowly escapes the clutches of the Sanhedrin, Jesus comes to him in the night and comforts him. He tells Paul to have courage because just as he has declared the gospel in Jerusalem he must also go to Rome and do the same. But we are still two and a half years away from Jesus’ promise being fulfilled. In the remaining 5 and a half chapters of this book, we will see God’s hand of providence working to have His apostle arrive in Rome at precisely the right time for him to be there. An apostle of God is never early, nor is he late, but arrives precisely when God needs him to. And that all begins with the episode today. Because of the events recorded in today’s text, Paul’s trip to Rome will be put on God’s time table. So, let’s stand to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Sovereign Lord, You know the plans of the wicked. You have seen their devices and You know their hearts. You have measured the pride of men vying for power while they use others to get it. In a world that seems to be spiraling out of control, where the wicked prosper and the righteous fall, You have your eye even on the sparrows. Not one of them falls down dead without Your knowledge and You have ordered all things for the good of Your people – who are far more valuable than the birds. The Son has given us infinite worth by sending the Comforter to indwell us. Father use Your Spirit to give to us insight into Your word today to see Your good plan for Your children … even amid and through the plotting and power grabbing of ungodly men. Open our eyes today we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Transition: Proverbs 16 kept flitting through my mind as I studied this passage. Let me read that to you now, by way of an introduction, even before we dive into the text of Acts 23. The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own sight, But Yahweh weighs the motives. 3 Commit your works to Yahweh And your plans will be established. 4 Yahweh has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. 5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. 6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of Yahweh one turns away from evil. 7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to Yahweh, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little with righteousness Than great produce with injustice. 9 The heart of man plans his way, But Yahweh directs his steps. With these words in mind, look with me at verse 12. I.) Mankind makes their wicked plans in secret, but we must trust the Lord. (12-15) a. [Slide 2] 12 - Now when it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 - And there were more than forty who formed this scheme. i. Right on the heels of Paul being rescued out of the hands of the Jews… AGAIN… we find that the very next day he is right back in the fire. ii. The first scene of this episode opens with a group of 40 Jews who come up with a plan to do something especially vile. iii. Through our study of the gospel of Matthew and the book of Acts, we’ve seen the first century Jews do a lot of wicked things. Chief among them the betrayal and murder of their own Messiah. iv. Although the events of this text do not compare to the murder of their own God-King, it certainly has a rather sinister stench about it. v. Why is this so wicked? vi. First, we must understand the nature of a curse. 1. The words translated “bound under a curse” is one word. It is the word Anathematize. It means to submit to divine destruction for failure to uphold their end. 2. Even to submit to eternal Divine punishment if they eat or drink anything before they kill Paul. 3. May God cast me in hell if I eat or drink anything before I kill Paul. vii. Secondly, we must understand the foolishness of this curse. 1. First, there are two ways they fail this curse. Either they eat or drink something before they kill Paul, or they never kill Paul and die of starvation. 2. Second, this curse is only succeeded by them committing an act which God expressly forbids in the decalogue… You shall not murder. 3. Particularly heinous in the Mosaic law was someone who premeditated murder. 4. God hates hands that shed innocent blood and a heart that devises wicked schemes. Prov 6:16-19 viii. 40 Jewish men form this wicked plan. But they are not alone… b. [Slide 3] 14 - They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have bound ourselves under a curse to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 - So now you, along with the Sanhedrin, notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more carefully; and we for our part are ready to slay him before he comes near.” i. They inform the chief priests and elders of Israel about the curse they have placed on themselves. ii. If the chief priests and elders were righteous, they would have these men thrown in jail. They would have at least refused to aid them. iii. Instead, they help to facilitate the plan. But what is the plan? iv. To go with the Sanhedrin to the Roman commander and notify him that the Sanhedrin would like a do over on the trial. They want to look more carefully at his case. v. This is, of course, a lie. vi. Add that to the growing list of sins that God hates wrapped up in this plot. vii. The plan then, is that while he is enroute to the Sanhedrin’s chambers, these 40 men will accost and kill Paul. viii. Which is a plan that isn’t without risk. Paul certainly would have some sort of Roman escort. It is possible that some of them may die or be executed for their hand in this. ix. This is the length to which these Jews will go to kill Paul. c. [Slide 4] Summary of the Point: Luke once again shows us the agency and responsibility of men. These 40 Jews, the chief priests, the elders, the Sanhedrin, all form this conspiracy, these secret plans whispered in empty halls with murder on their lips. God doesn’t intervene here. He doesn’t snap his fingers and snuff out the breathe of these conspirators. He doesn’t prevent them from thinking of these sinful deeds. He doesn’t kill them in their sleep. God allows wicked men to be wicked. To make their plans. However much we make of God’s absolute Sovereignty we must not cross the threshold as some have in saying that if God doesn’t want me to do something, He can stop me from doing it. This is true… but God often doesn’t stop men from sinning. Nor can we say that God can’t judge me for my actions if He Himself has orchestrated them to accomplish His purposes. Just ask Pharoah about that one. God permits, at very least, the perception of human agency and responsibility to ensure that He is never the first cause of someone sinning. They are. These men are responsible for their wicked deeds. So what must we do in response? We must trust the Lord. God has promised to never leave us, and to preserve us. But that doesn’t mean He will not allow men to form and even execute wicked plans against us. Trusting God doesn’t mean we’ll never experience hardship… it means we trust that God even uses hardship for our good and His glory. Transition: [Slide 5(blank)] The plan has been made and the stage is set. It seems like no one will be able to stop them from killing Paul this time. It looks like Jesus’ promise will end up being false. Of course, we know that cannot be true. So how does God frustrate the plans of the wicked? II.) God providentially guides the steps of all men, so we must trust the Lord. (16-35) a. [Slide 6] 16 - But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of their ambush, he came and entered the barracks and reported it to Paul. i. Debate abounds on how exactly Paul’s nephew heard about this plan. ii. In reality the options are almost endless. Luke doesn’t think the details relevant to convey – only the fact that this young man heard of the plot. iii. We also get a rare look at the family of Paul here. iv. It is supposed by many that Paul’s family rejected him after he became a Christian. Some even suggest that Paul was probably married and his wife was granted a divorce because of his conversion to Christ. This is all conjecture of course. v. But we do know at least that Paul’s nephew, the son of his sister, is living in Jerusalem. If he has also turned his back on Paul it seems odd that he would take an interest in preserving Paul’s life. vi. Perhaps catching wind of such a wicked plot turns his heart toward helping Paul. Perhaps he has converted to Christ. Much of this, again, is conjecture and not details that Luke chooses to share. vii. But what does his nephew do? viii. He does the righteous thing and informs Paul immediately. ix. Let this be a lesson to all, informing others of someone’s plan to do evil is not narcing or snitching or in some way a betrayal to those doing wicked things. We must be on the side of righteousness not tribalism or even loyalty to other human beings. Let God’s kingdom and righteousness be your only loyalty… even if it costs you friends or associates. b. [Slide 7] 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 Sanhedrin, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more carefully about him. 21 - “So do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of them—who have bound themselves under a curse not to eat or drink until they slay him—are lying in wait for him and now they are ready and waiting for the promise from you.” i. In this rather lengthy section of scripture, not a lot actually transpires in the narrative. ii. Luke establishes the chain of information for us in that Paul calls a centurion to take his young nephew to the Roman commander with an urgent piece of information. iii. Notice that Paul does not tell the centurion what the boy told him. iv. A couple reasons for this. 1. It would probably be more believable coming from the boy than from Paul 2. It keeps fewer people knowing about the plot and the fact that Paul now knows about it. v. So the centurion takes the boy to the commander. vi. The commander takes him to a private place, probably because he understood that the information he was to convey needed to be spoken privately. vii. After this Paul’s nephew informs the Roman commander of the scheme of these 40 Jews and the Sanhedrin who have conspired together to kill Paul before he arrived. viii. Again, it is helpful for us to remember that Paul is a prisoner of the Roman Empire. He is probably not in some kind of formal custody. Perhaps simply protective custody. But custody nonetheless. ix. And for the commander to allow a prisoner to be accosted and killed under his watch would have made him look like he wasn’t doing his job. x. Thus, we do not have this commander shaking off this information as if it matters little to him. xi. Quite the contrary. c. [Slide 8] 22 - So the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.” 23 - And when he called to him two of the centurions, he said, “Make ready two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to proceed to Caesarea by the third hour of the night, 24 - and provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” i. The commander first instructs the young man not to tell ANYONE that he told the commander this. ii. He doesn’t want the fact that he knows about this to get back to the schemers. iii. Immediately the Roman Commander makes plans to get Paul out of Jerusalem. iv. If these Jews are going to start plotting and scheming while Rome protects him, then it seems best to get him out of Jerusalem. v. The Commander makes quite the plan to see Paul to safety. vi. He gathers 470 soldiers in total to escort Paul the 60 miles to Caesarea. He does so on the third hour of the night, which would be around 9pm. vii. He also makes sure that Paul rides on a mount and charges the whole company to bring Paul safely to Felix the governor of Judea. viii. But The commander also sends his own account to the governor. ix. In order for a proper transfer of a case and to submit a chain of evidence to that trial, this would probably be a normal practice within the Roman Empire’s legal proceedings. x. As such, some questions have arisen as to how Luke could have gotten his hands on this letter. And the fact of the matter is that this letter would have followed Paul all the way to Rome as part of the case notes. And certainly, at some point Paul or Luke would have either heard it presented or gotten to see it himself. xi. Therefore, we don’t need to doubt the authenticity of the letter, nor do we need to assume Luke is summarizing what the commander says. He probably heard it read several times, and potentially even was able to make a copy of it himself. d. [Slide 9] 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 up to 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 Sanhedrin; 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 speak against him before you.” i. Here we learn the name of the Roman commander who has been God’s agent of rescuing Paul through these various attempts on his life. ii. He identifies himself as Claudius Lysias. A Greek name, indicating to us as we’ve said before that this man was no doubt from a wealthy Greek family who purchased his future within the Roman Empire. Starting with his citizenship and even his position as a Commander in Judea. iii. He sends his account of all that has happened and his account is very interesting indeed. iv. The first point is a rather self-aggrandizing version of the story Luke told. 1. The Jews did not actually arrest Paul, they were simply beating him and the Lysias stopped it. 2. Furthermore, Lysias makes it seem like he rescued Paul because he had learned that Paul was a Roman citizen. With a little logic and reasoning we could easily determine that this would be quite difficult to do in the midst of the Jews arresting him and trying to kill him. 3. Again, this doesn’t quite jive with Luke’s version of the story. But we can see why Lysias would want to fudge a few details to get himself out of trouble. 4. To admit that he allowed a riot to break out on the temple mount only a couple flights of stairs from the Anatolian fortress would not be good for him to report to the higher ups. 5. We also see he does not mention how he ACTUALLY found out Paul was a Roman citizen, which was in the midst of binding and almost flogging him. 6. This is as much a political letter as it is a legal document. Lysias is portraying himself as a great hero to try to score some points with his superiors. v. The second point is fairly consistent with what Luke recorded. 1. Lysias did want to determine the real reason he was in trouble with the Jews. 2. Lysias’ perspective on that Sanhedrin debacle was essentially that Paul had said something about their law that was a controversial issue. 3. His assessment, which is quite vindicating for us reading Luke’s narrative, is that this is nothing deserving of death OR imprisonment. Lysias essentially says that Paul is innocent of anything Rome might find against him. 4. We might wonder why Paul will have to wait over two and a half years to be released from Roman custody if the Roman officer in charge thinks he should go free… but we will see that there is a lot more political intrigue left to go in the book of Acts. vi. The third point is consistent except it reveals not only that Lysias has saved Paul once again, but that he plans to tell Paul’s accusers to go to Caesarea to state their case before Felix. vii. We’ll talk more about Felix next week. He is a rather… interesting character to say the least. e. [Slide 10] 31 - So, the soldiers, according to 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 - When these had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. i. So, we see that the soldiers followed Lysias’ orders and took Paul by night to Antipatris, which was a military fort about 37 miles from Jerusalem. ii. Travelers from Caesarea and Jerusalem would often stop at this place for rest and provisions. iii. Traveling this far in one night, over half the journey to Caesarea, means they were BOOKIN. iv. Given the conditioning of a Roman soldier and the fact that they would travel a road which would be relatively unpopulated at night, it seems that they could cover the 37 miles in around 4-6 hours. This would put their arrival time at around 2am the following morning. v. After resting the remainder of the night, the next day the soldiers traveling on foot went back to Jerusalem, because at this point the danger on Paul’s life would have been mitigated. vi. Only the 70 horsemen rode on with Paul to Caesarea. The remaining 23 miles could easily have been covered in an hour or two on horseback depending on the pace they wanted to set. vii. After arriving they finished their orders by giving the letter to Felix and presenting Paul to him. viii. This means that probably about the time that Lysais informs the Sanhedrin that Paul has been transferred to Felix in Caesarea, is about the same time that Paul is presented to Felix in Caesarea. f. [Slide 11] 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. i. Felix seems to be a good governor, at least initially. ii. He reads the letter and asks Paul from which Roman province he hails from. iii. The reason for this question is probably two-fold 1. First, to determine if he had jurisdiction over this person. a. We see a similar thing happen to Jesus and Pilate. Pilate, finding out that Jesus was from Galilee, sent him to Herod. b. If Felix could offload this case to someone else… he probably would. c. But Paul being from Cilicia would mean that he would still be within Felix’s jurisdiction since Syria and Judea would have fallen in the same authority at this time. 2. Second, probably to check on the status of Paul being a Roman Citizen. a. As we said before, Roman records would be kept of citizenship, primarily in the cities or provincial capitals of your birthplace. b. No doubt Felix desires to make certain that Paul was indeed a Roman citizen. iv. Having heard that Paul is within his province he assures him that he will hear his case after his accusers arrive. v. In the meantime, Paul is to be held, again – in protective custody, in Felix’s own home. A sprawling estate called Herod’s Praetorium. vi. He is still a prisoner of Rome, so he is kept in the Praetorium, but he is probably afforded many liberties, including having his traveling companions either stay there with him or able to visit often. vii. This is why as we go forward into chapter 24, the pronoun “we” will begin to be in use again. Informing us subtly that Luke has joined the apostle. g. [Slide 12] Summary of the Point: In the last point we saw that God allows men to make evil plans. But in this point we see that God not only allows men to plan their wicked deeds… He even orchestrates and uses these wicked deeds to get His apostle one step closer to Rome. In this we see Proverbs 16:9 come screaming through. Men make their plans but the Lord guides their steps. These wicked Jews inadvertently forced the Roman commander to move Paul out of Jerusalem where he would eventually be moved to Rome, as the Lord Jesus said he would. By their wicked scheme, the Lord ushered His apostle to where He wanted him to go. In this the application is the same. We must trust the Lord. The role of many prophets in the Old Testament was to call the current Israelites to remember what God had done for them in the past so they could trust Him for their future. Occasionally our Lord recalls to us things we have experienced in our lives and traces His fingerprints on those events to show us how He has guided us to the exact spot we are in. Can I submit to you that in those cases, God provides merely an example of what He ALWAYS DOES! Meaning that even when we cannot see His hand guiding the events of our life to His design for us – that doesn’t make it any less true. Thus we must trust the Lord! For all our ways are known to Him for He has planned them from before the foundation of the world. Conclusion: So, CBC, what have we learned today and how then shall we live? What are some basic applications for faith and practice we get from this text? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 13] Once again, we are confronted with the paradoxical truths that mankind operates with free agency and responsibility for his actions, but God is in absolute and sovereign control over all things in His creation, including the decisions and choices of men. While we may be tempted to steal from one of these truths to help the other, this truth has long been summarized in Proverbs 16:9 and is on display in our text this morning. Man makes his plans but the Lord guides His steps. Mankind has free agency and responsibility to choose his path according to what has been revealed to him. But as the saying goes, you don’t know what you don’t know. God’s eternal decreed will is hidden and therefore, He who has ordained every day has also orchestrated every event to accomplish the counsel of His will. In the text today we see God allow and orchestrate the wicked schemes of men to move His apostle toward Rome. So what is our response? What is our responsibility and our agency? It is to trust the Lord, that He is good, and that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. What are some specific expressions of these rules for faith and practice? 1.) [Slide 14] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that God orchestrates even wicked schemes and political power grabs to accomplish His perfect will. a. Again, I’ll try not to spend too much time on this, since this seems to be a point that Luke will beat into our heads for the remainder of the book of Acts. b. But still, it is worth noting, that not only sins of passion but even premeditated sins, sown in secret, to do terrible things, are orchestrated by God to accomplish His purposes. c. Even self-serving political opportunists, like Claudius Lysias who clearly just wants to climb the ladder of power, even this is orchestrated by the Lord to accomplish His will. d. Everything in this text serves to get Paul to Rome safely. Even the selfishness of Lysias and even the bloodthirstiness of the Jews. e. If God can work even these things to accomplish His will, do you think He can’t do the same in your life? f. Have you ever had 40 men devise a plot to kill you? Have you ever had political opportunists use you as a bargaining chip for personal profit? Ok… don’t answer that. 😊 g. But seriously, God orchestrates all things to accomplish His will. h. And what is His will for His people? i. Because whatever they are we know that… 2.) [Slide 15] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God’s purposes cannot be hindered by wicked schemes of men. a. His will for His people, is their good. b. He will do the same for you if you are His child. c. Even the wicked schemes of men cannot keep God from doing what He wills and accomplishing the good of His people and His own glory. d. That is truly comforting indeed. e. What does that mean for us in how we live our lives? 3.) [Slide 16] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must not fear what men may do to us. a. No matter what wicked men conspire to do to us – God wins every time. b. That doesn’t mean we’ll be spared pain or heartache… but aside from earthly things – what can men truly take from us? c. The only thing that endures in the kingdom that is to come are treasures made by kingdom virtues. Righteousness, holiness, love and faith all endure and the greatest of these is love. d. If we can store up treasures of love as we bless those who curse us as they take everything earthly away from us… we are untouchable. e. To live is Christ and to die is gain. They can only release us to be with our King. f. But some of us have not even learned to stop fearing their words. Let alone their fists. g. May the Lord strengthen us and chase fear away in the knowledge that His perfect will for us is our good and He always accomplishes this in all that we experience. h. This not only motivates us not to fear… but also to… 4.) [Slide 17] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must trust the Lord regardless of our circumstances. a. If God is truly absolutely sovereign and has promised that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose… b. Not only should we not fear… c. But we should completely trust Him in whatever situation He has us in. d. No matter how dire, no matter how sinister, no matter how hopeless. e. We know that God has written this story already. And our end… is good. f. This life is only the warm up. It is only the proving grounds. It is only the test. g. The Kingdom that is coming and that is actually already here… that Kingdom will last forever and in that kingdom all the pains we have suffered will not be worthy to be compared to the glory of His grace. h. My friends… Stop being afraid… and instead… i. Trust the Lord. 5.) [Slide 18] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored” God’s redemptive program is bigger than the individual souls of men. It is an entire Kingdom. a. In this text, God begins the process of getting Paul to Rome so he can share the gospel there. b. Through that ministry the gospel will go all the way to the Emperor’s throne. c. The gospel isn’t just about the souls of men or freeing us from the penalty of hell. d. God has chosen before the foundation of the world a bride for His Son. e. From heaven He sought Her and purchased Her with His blood. f. He has left His Spirit with Her as a guarantee of His return g. And One day He will ride in on a white horse with a new name on His thigh and take her as His own and that day the Wedding Feast begins and their union will have no end. h. My friends, salvation isn’t just about you being saved from hell. i. It is literally the story of a prince, a white knight, rescuing a girl from the slums and making her His queen. j. It is the inspiration for every fairy tale that has ever been told. It is THE ground zero of these stories. It is the Perfect Template. k. It is about God reclaiming a people for His Eternal Kingdom. l. People who had been killed, enslaved, destroyed by sin and death. m. His people are scattered across the whole world and they are from every tribe and nation and skin color and social background. They are the rich and the powerful – and they are the poor and lowly. They are men and women from the remotest jungles to the burning LA streets. n. God’s people are scattered everywhere and He will not let one of them go until they all hear His call and come into the fold. o. That is why Paul is where he is. That is why plots are formed against him. That is why he will spend the next two years in prison and shipwrecked. p. So that He can go to Rome and preach the gospel. q. And perhaps… Perhaps Theophilus, Luke’s recipient, is one soul saved by Paul’s ministry in Rome. r. Wouldn’t that be poetic? s. Luke says that he wrote these things so that Theophilus may be assured of the things that he has believed. t. What if this whole story is not only how the gospel went to the uttermost parts of the earth… u. But what if it is a story of how the gospel went to Theophilus. Lost. Hopeless. But chosen in Christ before the foundations of the world were laid. v. So God sent Paul to preach the message that saved him… As God does with all His children whom He has chosen for His Son. w. Are you one of these? Are you part of the bride? x. How would you know? y. Come see an Elder today. We’d love to talk to you about it. [Slide 19 (end)] Let me close with a word of prayer from John Downame, a man who lived during both the late reformation era and the early puritan era. Lord, since you have promised to be with me in my afflictions, let me ever be afflicted rather than at any time be without you. It is better for me to embrace you in times of trouble, and to have you with me in the fiery furnace of affliction, than enjoy all worldly prosperity and to be without your company. It is better for me to be in trouble while you are with me than to reign and revel, feast and flourish in worldly pomp—and be without you. It is a far greater good to embrace you in tribulation and to enjoy your company in the fire of affliction than to be in heaven itself, deprived of your presence. We pray for you to give us You… in Jesus’ name… Amen Benediction: Therefore, since you have received a kingdom, which cannot be shaken by the Lord who said, 'My cities will again over flow with prosperity, the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem'. May the same Lord fill you with gratitude by which you may offer service acceptable with reverence and awe. Until we meet again… Go in peace.