Acts 23:1-11 Take Courage
Paul before the Council
1Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, “Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.” 2The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. 3Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?” 4But the bystanders said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” 5And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’”
6But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. 9And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10And as a great dissension was developing, the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them and ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.
11But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’”
Gills Exposition says;
nor curse the ruler of thy people whether civil or ecclesiastic; the last mentioned Jewish writer intend of the king, who is the supreme ruler in things civil, and ought to be honoured and loved, served and obeyed, and not hated and cursed, no, not secretly, not in the bedchamber, nor in the thought of the heart, since not only the thing is criminal but dangerous; it is much if it is not discovered, and then ruin follows upon it, Ecclesiastes 10:20.
How many of us have said unkind things about our president?
Ecclesiastes 10:20 Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.
God sees and hears all. He knows what is in your heart. God uses everything for His purpose be it evil or good.
Paul was using scripture to make his case before the consul and made a wise choice of words that brought dissension between the Sadducees and Pharisees dividing the two groups.
We also should use scripture as the basis for our lives in everything we say and do. God gave us the bible to read, study and to guide us through life. Do you use it for guidance?
The Lord tells Paul to take courage; "for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause".
Are you witnessing for His cause? Then take courage for He is with you no matter what the circumstances are.
Was God with Joseph in the pit? Are you in a pit? Take courage!
Was God with Job when Satan was testing him? Are you being tested? Take courage!
Was God with Joseph when he was falsely accused? Are you falsely accused? Take courage?
Was God with David when he battled Goliath? Are you battling Goliath? Take courage!
In everything you do, take courage!
Dear Heavenly Father I ask that You give courage to all those read this today. In everything they do, remind them You are with them. Bless their footsteps and protect them. In Jesus name I pray.
Blessings, David
Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com
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