Acts 23:11 – The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
Isaiah 41:10 – So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” It was not uncommon for Paul to hear from the Lord, to be guided by Him. We can safely assume that the Lord appeared to Paul more times than is noted in scripture. We do know that He appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6) to forever change Paul’s path. Then Jesus had, by His very appearance, proved that He was indeed risen from the death and seated at the right hand of the Father and so proving that He is the Messiah. Then Jesus gave Paul instruction what to do next. Jesus kept it simple for Paul, the message was for Paul to go to the city and wait for further instructions. We can be sure Paul would have a lot of questions, and Jesus knew that, but Paul was only given the first step of the journey that would last the rest of his life, and into eternity.
Now we know that God was continuously guiding Paul through visions, speaking to him, having other people speak to him in the name of the Lord, and here again, by personally appearing to Paul to give him encouragement and a glimpse into the future.
At Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus, Jesus only gave Paul one step to take but Jesus also clearly expected Paul’s obedience. Here in this appearance of the Lord to Paul Jesus again didn’t lay out the plan of everything that would take place to bring Paul to Rome, He only confirmed to Him that Paul would be brought to Rome to be a witness for Him. Again Jesus gave him a simple instruction and Paul was expected to be obedient. Of course, our omniscient Lord knew Paul would be.
The Lord did not tell Paul to start marching toward Rome to be His witness, but instead He merely told Paul what would be. We can see that the Lord had been and was setting up all the pieces for him to be brought to Rome. It is clear for us to see how the Lord orchestrated the events for this to happen. Paul did nothing to be saved, but Jesus interceded in his life. Jesus even had arranged for the then blind Paul to have helpers with him who would lead him to the city where Paul would wait for further instruction. (Later the further instruction would come from Ananias.) Here in Chapters 21-23 we see God’s hand moving to bring all events together for His plan for Paul. Paul had arrived in Jerusalem where he had no sooner arrived and been greeted by the elders then they advised him that he could be in danger both from the Jews who knew of him, but also from Jewish converts who had heard that Paul had been teaching against Jewish custom. So Paul agreed to sponsor some young men in their rituals and go to the temple with them. However, in doing that, a lie was spread that Paul was dishonoring the temple by bringing gentiles into it. So that started the uproar against him. Paul then saw the opportunity to witness to his beloved fellow Jews, but they almost tore him apart. Paul had to then be rescued by the Romans whom also had no love for him. Then, as we shall see, a group of Jews formed a conspiracy to kill Paul and so the Roman commander ordered that Paul be taken to Caesarea to be in the protection of Governor Felix and also to put this nuisance out of his life and into the care of the governor. In this we see that it was the Lord, not Paul, who had arranged all these things to bring about His plan for Paul to be His witness in Rome. Our God is so much more amazing than we can fully comprehend!
It would have been easy for Paul to wonder what in the world was happening. Though he had been well intentioned in all he had done he was meeting nothing but opposition and danger. Though, really, Paul clearly knew by this point that being on a “mission from God” does not mean it is an easy journey, but instead will be met by opposition from the enemy. For Paul, who had been through so much for the sake of the Gospel, it would seem obvious that He knew that these events had the very fingerprint of God on them.
Jesus appeared to Paul for two reasons. The first was to encourage him. Paul who expertly knew the of received Old Testament encouragement and likely understood that when God makes an appearance to encourage, it is sometimes because the person has had it rough, or will have it rough, and that usually means something very rough. Paul knew that in our Christian walk we are all called to a path that takes over hills and through deep valleys as well as through the flat meadows. So Christ encouraging him was, as His appearing showed, Jesus was with Him through it all. Paul knew this, but remember that Paul was also just a man. Sometimes we all need to be reminded of what we already know, either by reminding ourselves, by being reminded by others, or even by the very presence of God appearing to us that He is always with us to heal, encourage and empower us to carry on.
The encouragement was to empower him to do what the Lord revealed to him that he must do. Paul, always ready to do the will of God, received the encouragement and looked forward to see how God would lead. What the Lord had not told Paul is that the road to Rome would lead to end of Paul’s ministry, and his life. All this in the divine plan of God for Paul’s life. Paul did not fear this, but embraced all of it that the name of Christ would be lifted up.
Family, from time to time we all need to be encouragement in the Lord. Sometimes, often times, we need it to do what we, in our flesh, would prefer not to do. Even a task we abhor to do, but do not shrink away from, because our ultimate goal is to faithfully serve God. The Lord, like He did with Paul, can use others to encourage us. Still we should, to the best of our ability, seek the face of God, His presence, His peace, His Word, as guided by the Holy Spirit, to provide the encouragement and strength for all that lies ahead of us. Too often, and quite unconsciously, we can set up idols, often from places of past blessings and victories that the Lord has provided for us. It is easy to return to them for peace and comfort rather than to God. The enemy can deceive us into thinking that we are seeking God, and perhaps that is the intent, but we are doing it all wrong. Let’s not return to places where we were blessed and expect to receive the same blessing. It is not the place, but rather God who blessed us (James 1:17). Though we can receive comfort from each other, and should take great comfort in that (it is God ordained), ultimately all good things, all blessings come from God. So let’s not return to the mountaintop expecting that it is holy, or the beach, or the desert, or anyplace in search of the presence and blessing of God. It is not the place that is holy, it is God’s presence there that is holy, it is God who is holy. And God clearly has said that He does not dwell in man built buildings (Acts 7:48), but rather has created His temple within the hearts of all who call Jesus their Savior and Lord (1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19). Yes, let’s go to the only true “hook-up” with God. Let’s go straight to Him through the only path He has provided for us to get to Him, through our beloved Savior and Lord Jesus. Praise God who loves, heals, encourages, and strengthens us! Praise God who is always with us! Praise God who is so good and loves us so! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”