A SPECIAL MESSAGE OF COURAGE

After Paul was arrested in Jerusalem, he embarked on a series of defenses—or sermons—to a succession of councils, courts, governors, and kings that would take him all the way to the court of Caesar in Rome. But he began with the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, a group that likely still included members who had trained with Paul when he was a zealous young Pharisee by the name of Saul. Though he probably followed Jesus’ advice, “not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves” (Luke 21:14), Paul also drew on his years of education and his understanding of the various groups that made up this council.

With a few well-chosen words, he reduced this esteemed council to confusion, dispute, and violent uproar. Those who were applauding Paul’s provocation argued for more than they knew when they suggested in his defense, “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” (Acts 23:9). In contrast to the confusion of the day, that night, Paul received a message of assurance that set out his path and urged him to have courage for the testimony he would have the opportunity to give before rulers and courts from Caesarea to Rome.

This would be a unique phase of his ministry—testifying to the story of Jesus in a variety of unusual and powerful contexts, as well as writing many of his letters to the churches and people he had worked with in his earlier journeys.

But the messenger was not merely a spirit or an angel; Jesus Himself delivered this encouragement to Paul. The same Jesus he had met on the road to Damascus now directed him on his final journey to Rome. As had Paul’s journeys to date, this next journey would require courage, but he had the assurance that Jesus would be with him all the way.