Bible Reading: Acts 23
Acts 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Paul was locked up again. He was in Jerusalem this time and had been in the Jewish council that day. He had caused a great stir by appealing to the Pharisees that he too was a Pharisee. He said he was on trial for the truth of the resurrection of the dead. This caused a great dispute between the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Roman guards were afraid Paul would be torn in pieces, so they took him and locked him up to protect him from the crowd.
As he waited in jail, wondering what his fate would be, there were a group of forty men who entered into a vow saying they would neither eat nor drink until Paul was dead. They concocted a plan to have him murdered the next day. He did not yet know about this, but the Lord Jesus knew. While Paul waited that night, the Lord stood by him. What a wonderful thought! At this moment of uncertainty and questions, Jesus came to encourage Paul.
He first told Paul to be of good cheer. What an odd thing to say to someone who has a price on their head and is in prison! But that is totally consistent with what Jesus taught us.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
For a follower of Jesus, it is no surprise that we are going to encounter tribulation. Next, Jesus commended Paul for being a witness for him in Jerusalem. Paul had taken the commission of Jesus seriously and he was a witness. When Paul had an opportunity, he told people of Jesus Christ. He was faithful to the Lord in Jerusalem. Now Jesus had more plans for Paul. He would be a witness in Rome. This was Jesus’ plan and it would come to pass.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This word of Jesus would come to pass. There are going to be many uncertainties in the coming days for Paul. But there is one thing he knows – Jesus said he is going to Rome. He will go to Rome. This promise will sustain Paul in coming days. Do you stand on the promises of God? What has the Lord spoken to you in his Word that has been your encouragement through tough times? When Satan attacks and doubts and fears come, the Word of God will sustain you. Believe his promises and know that he has said:
Hebrews 13:5b for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
In Christ,
Rody
