The inclusion of this incident regarding Paul’s nephew is one of a group of fascinating Biblical cameos, that includes Naaman’s servant girl and the lad whom Andrew brought. Their names are not recorded, but their deed, small in itself, was mightily important in the Lord’s overall plan of things. They were all available, played their part, and were like the woman in Mark 14. 8, of whom the Lord said, ‘she hath done what she could’.
We don’t know anything of Paul’s family – where his sister lived; how old her son was; how he came to be in Jerusalem; whether he was studying there as his uncle Paul had. None of these facts are necessary – what we do know is, firstly, he was there;secondly, he heard; and thirdly, he told.In a sense this is a summary of what the Lord expects of us today. Then, these three factors combined to the saving of a life. Now, they can combine to the saving of a soul – if only we will tell others what we have seen and heard.
Although Paul had escaped the clutches of the council, the Jews were determined he should be eliminated, and so above 40 men conspired to kill him. They told the council to ask for another interview, and when Paul would be en-route they, with probable loss of life, would attack and kill Paul.
When Paul’s nephew heard this he acted promptly and, doing what he could, he went and told Paul. His easy access to Paul in his cell prompts some to think that maybe his mother was in the employment of the authorities. Paul urged him to take the message via a centurion to Claudius Lysias, which indicates he had developed a degree of trust in a man of authority who had already saved his life twice. The captain interviewed the boy in private, and when he was told of the plot, he immediately believed the boy and acted upon it.
The nephew was dismissed, and we read no more of him. Yet like so many in the hand of God, he was available when the Lord needed him. The challenge to my heart today, surrounded by those who are perishing, is ‘Am I available so that the Lord can work through me to the salvation and blessing of others?’ Is my testimony before men of such sort that they will listen and respond to my witness with earnest sincerity?
