A Rose-Red City - Part Four

Paul and Aretas IV

In II Corinthians 11:32-33, Paul recounts that “In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.”

Acts 9:1-27 gives us more background and explanation to Paul’s explanation in II Corinthians. Damascus, Syria is the setting of Paul’s dramatic conversion experience. There Paul’s physical and spiritual eyesight were restored. He was filled with the Holy Ghost and baptized. He did not immediately return to Jerusalem but he stayed “certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.” The gospel is powerful, and overnight Paul went from a persecutor of the gospel to an evangelist promoting the gospel. He went into the synagogues, places where Jews gathered to worship and learn, and “preached Christ.”

As is usually the case, not everyone was thrilled about Paul’s conversion, even though it meant that he was no longer trying to imprison and punish innocent people. So, after a while, “the Jews took counsel to kill him.” People were assigned to lay in wait for Paul, to apprehend him. But “the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket” and he escaped unharmed. This account is similar to how Rahab helped Joshua’s two spies escape from Jericho. “Then she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall” (Joshua 2:15). In Bible days, domestic dwellings were built along the rock walls of the city. Small openings, or windows, made it possible for such escapes.

Aretas IV was the king of the Nabatean kingdom of Petra and the surrounding area. An article in the Jewish Encyclopedia says this about Aretas IV: “Being the most powerful neighbor of Judea, he frequently took part in the state affairs of that country, and was influential in shaping the destiny of its rulers.” Aretas IV was father-in-law to Herod Antipas. It is likely that Aretas IV may have favored this marriage to encourage political harmony with Israel and Rome.

Damascus was under the control of Aretas IV. Apparently, the Jews appealed to the ruling government leaders to assist them in apprehending Paul. Exactly how much involvement Aretas IV had in this plan is unknown, for Scripture and history are silent on the subject. But the connection is clear. The governor who worked under the authority of Aretas IV was in favor of suppressing Paul’s voice as he spoke of Jesus in Jewish synagogues, assured that Aretas IV would approve of his actions. Because Aretas IV, an idolatrous king, would not have been in favor of Paul’s message.

Bibliography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretas_IV_Philopatris
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1752-aretas