There is a prayer I learned a few years ago that came to mind as I was reading this chapter today.
"Lord, give me the wisdom to know what is right,
the courage to do what is right,
Even when it's hard."
I would imagine Paul whispering something to this effect as his imprisonment goes from days to months to years. I could see where offering Governor Felix a bribe would be a logical solution to this problem. But knowing in hindsight that this would have been a trap, we can see the dangers of such a move.
When life seems to bring few options, taking the time to ask for wisdom is vital. The book of James tells us to ask, and God will give it to all without finding fault. For Paul, the wise move is to wait it out. It is easy, when we face times like this one, to try to take matters into our own hands. The truth is, God will let us. The reality is, without His blessing, things can get much worse.
BAG
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