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Acts 23:11

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

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.

Acts 23:11 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 23:11

Theological / Devotional

The Lord stood by him. This Being was apparently Christ Himself (cf. chs. 9:5, 6; 22:17–21). The outlook was dark indeed, and Paul doubtless remembered the servile acquiescence of Pilate to the wishes of the Jews in the case of Christ. Divine assurance at this juncture would mean much to Paul and give him courage for the trials of the next few years.

Be of good cheer. No doubt as Paul reflected upon the events of the past two days he must have begun to question the wisdom of his fixed purpose to visit Jerusalem (ch. 20:24) in the face of repeated warnings of what was to happen to him there (vs. 22, 23), of his consenting to participate with other Jewish Christians in ritual purification (ch. 21:20–28), and of his conduct before the Sanhedrin (ch. 23:1–10). His thoughts must also have turned to the future. Was his work for Christ ended? Was his desire to witness to the gospel in Rome to be thwarted (Acts 19:21; Rom. 1:13)? As he poured out his heart in prayer the Lord appeared personally, with comfort and assurance.

Also at Rome. Paul already had purposed to visit Rome (see ch. 19:21).

By SdaBc