Acts 23:16-21 :

But Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul. Paul summoned one of the centurions, and said, “Bring this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to tell him.”

So he took him, and brought him to the commanding officer, and said, “Paul, the prisoner, summoned me and asked me to bring this young man to you, who has something to tell you.”

The commanding officer took him by the hand, and going aside, asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

He said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though intending to inquire somewhat more accurately concerning him. Therefore don’t yield to them, for more than forty men lie in wait for him, who have bound themselves under a curse neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Now they are ready, looking for the promise from you.”

God’s plan was sure to happen simply because that was what God had decided. No matter what kinds of oaths and curses men may place on themselves, God’s desires are the only ones that will actually end up happening. This was true in this story and it is true today.

God caused a “young man” to discover the plot against Paul’s life and to have the courage to go to the jail and tell Paul. He even had the courage to report it to the Romans.

By now, the commanding officer was probably very aware of what was really going on and that Paul wasn’t the one to blame. The problem was that he didn’t seem to have a good way to set Paul free. Now, it was safer for Paul in jail where he could be protected by armed guards! Now we see that the commanding officer was willing to listen to Paul’s nephew and consider what he had to say.