4/16/10 Acts 23 - Still tired so the last three post probably have many errors.
What’s Next?
Paul at this point must have been wondering what God was going to do next. Leading up to his arrival in Jerusalem the Spirit was testifying that he would experience bonds and affliction. Now all of that has been evident, what was next? Would Paul be put on trial and be put to death? Would Paul be assassinated? On the next day after the Paul have been beaten and carried away by the Roman commander, the commander organized a meeting of the Jewish Council. Paul stated his innocence before God and the high priest had him struck. Paul questions the high priest justification in striking him, because that action violate the very law that he was being judge by. Paul then uses the doctrine of the resurrection to cause a division within the Council to where they would not be able to come to an agreement, because the two groups represented disagree on the issue of resurrection. This allowed the commander to see that they were unable to justly try Paul, because they could not even agree among themselves to the reason Paul was put on trial. So another great commotion occurred and the commander had to step in again to deliver Paul from this group.
That night Lord gave Paul the next step. First, he tells Paul to take courage. Do you realize how encouraging that must have been for Paul to hear from the Lord, Take courage. Those two words would be enough to withstand anything to come. The Lord then indicates that Paul has sufficiently witnessed His cause in Jerusalem and the next step will be Rome, the capital of the empire.
This word to Paul was not a word to the Jews who in the next passage take an oath to not eat until Paul is dead. Paul is relishing in the words Take courage you are going to Rome, when he hears from his nephew that 40 Jews have taken an oath to not eat until he is dead. Paul must have been thinking I guess they are going break their oath. What confidence there is in the word of God.
We do not need to fear anything. The Word of God gives us enough instructions to lead us in the way we must go. What are you worrying about? Take courage. Even in death threats and suffering we can take courage as to the next thing that is before us. Even when death comes we can take courage because we have the promises like (Jn 14:3)3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. (Ps 116:15)15Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones.
Prayer: Father thank you for your word and the promises that you fulfill. When you speak it will happen. If there is ever a time when I believe your word to say something and it does not happen then it is not you who are wrong, but it is my small mind failing to understand the truth as a promise from your perspective. Lord, give me greater confidence in your word whereby I will take courage at every situation and circumstance that faces me, in Jesus name. Amen.