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Book: Acts
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Acts 23:11 The Lord Stood By Him
I. This had to be one of the darkest hours in Paul's life.
A. His life long ambition to preach the gospel to the Jews has
ended in utter chaos.
1. He did not convince his former cohorts to become
believers as he had hoped and was certain that he could
do.
2. Contrariwise they are so incensed against Paul that 40
of them are taking an oath not to eat or drink until
they have killed him.
3. For the second time in as many days the chief captain
of the Roman guard had to send troops in to rescue Paul
from being torn apart by the mob.
B. The future is very uncertain at this point.
1. He is spending his second night incarcerated in the
Antonio fortress.
2. What will happen next is anybody's guess.
C. He is no doubt discouraged, and depressed.
1. He is probably feeling like a great failure.
2. He is probably kicking himself for mentioning the fact
that he was called to go to the Gentiles, for this
brought an end to his opportunity to witness.
3. He probably felt that his ministry was all washed up,
he had failed miserably in his greatest goal for the
ministry and that was to bring his fellow Jews to the
saving knowledge of Jesus.
4. He had such an intense desire to see the Jews saved
that if it could help he would even be willing to be
accursed from God.
II. The words of Jesus to Paul.
A. "Be of good cheer."
1. This means that Paul was indeed down in spirit.
2. Jesus often spoke words of encouragement saying "Be of
good cheer."
a. To the man sick of the palsy brought to Jesus
by his friends who had to remove the roof to
let him down in front of Jesus He said, "Be of
good cheer, your sins are forgiven."
b. To the frightened disciples when He came
walking to them on the water and they thought
they were seeing a ghost, "Be of good cheer, it
is I."
c. Jesus said to His disciples, "In this world you
will have tribulation, but be of good cheer,
for I have overcome the world."
B. "For as you have testified of Me in Jerusalem."
1. Jesus acknowledged that Paul had testified of Him in
Jerusalem.
a. We might be prone to say, "Yes but not very
successfully, he stirred up the crowd to an
angered frenzy on both occasions.
b. The response to his testimony has nothing to do
with the Lord's acknowledgement of Paul's
testimony.
c. Sometimes we are discouraged because our
testimony for Jesus only brings mocking and
derision, we thus feel like a total failure.
d. We will be rewarded for our faithfulness to
testify for Jesus, not for how many responded,
nor how they responded to our witness. They had
responded to Paul's testimony in a very
negative way, yet the Lord is acknowledging his
witness.
e. Paul had written to the Corinthians, "Your
labor for the Lord is not in vain."
2. We need to remember that we are not as commissioned
salesmen. We get paid for presenting the merchandise,
not for how many units we sell.
3. One man may witness to 100 people and they all receive
Jesus as Savior.
4. Another may witness to 100 people and none receive
Christ. When they stand before the Lord to receive
their reward for their service, they will both receive
the same reward.
5. I am not responsible to bring men to Jesus Christ, just
to bring Jesus Christ to men.
III. "So must you also bear witness at Rome."
A. In effect Jesus is saying your ministry is not over, you still
have to take the gospel to Rome.
1. Earlier Paul had expressed a desire to go to Rome.
Before he had ever begun this ill fated trip to
Jerusalem he had announced his intentions to visit the
churches in Macedonia and Achaia. then he said, "And I
must also see Rome."
2. Jesus is confirming here that Paul will indeed see
Rome, and there bear witness of Him.
B. It will yet be more than two years before Paul will get to
Rome, the Lord often begins to plant his will upon our hearts
long before it is His perfect timing to bring it about.
1. Having made known to Paul the fact that he is to be a
witness in Rome, no matter how dark the days may appear
to be, Paul can still be certain that he will make it
to Rome, and there be a witness.
2. His journey to Rome was under extremely dire
circumstances, he was taken there as a prisoner. The
captain on the ship upon which he was traveling made a
very foolish mistake to try to set sail in the late
fall and beat the winter storms.
3. They were however caught in a very severe storm, for
fourteen days then did not see the sun and were driven
by the winds and tides They finally had all despaired
of their lives.
4. It was then that Paul stood up and said to the
passengers and crew, "Be of good cheer, for there will
be no loss of life, only the ship will be destroyed.
For last night the angel of God stood by me, whose I am
and who I serve, and he told me I must see Caesar,
therefore be of good cheer for I believe God."
C. How many have been the time when a person has been led to
believe that his ministry is over that God comes along and
recommissions them again.
1. Elijah.
2. Peter after his denial of Jesus probably felt that
Jesus would never trust him again.
IV. The Lord stood by him:
A. Not to scold him.
1. Paul, what's wrong with you, why wouldn't you have
better sense than to mention your being called to take
the gospel to the Gentiles.
2. So often when we have failed, we are expecting Jesus to
scold us.
B. Not to say, "I told you so."
1. Earlier when Paul had been to Jerusalem, the Lord had
told him to get out quickly for they would not receive
his testimony, and Paul argued with the Lord, for he
was sure that they would listen to him.
C. To comfort him, "Cheer up Paul."
D. To acknowledge his work for Him. "As you have testified of Me
in Jerusalem."
E. To give him a new commission. "So must you witness of Me in
Rome."
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