Acts 23:11

Summary retelling of Acts 23:11

               

The evening after Pau’s visit to the Sanhedrin, Jesus came to speak to Paul.  Jesus told Paul that it was His plan for Paul to testify about him in Jerusalem.  It is also His plan that Paul would testify about Him in Rome.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We now have a third recorded time where Paul receives direct instruction from Jesus (road to Damascus and in Corinth are the other two places).  As I said before, it is easy to feel jealous of Paul at this point.  He has gotten to see Jesus and hear directly from Jesus.  Admittedly, that would be cool.  But also look at what Jesus was asking Paul to do.  Jesus asked Paul to give up his life and live a life of touring evangelism away from family and friends.  Now Jesus is asking Paul to spend who knows how long as a prisoner in jail.

Are you willing to go that far for Jesus?  Are you dedicated to Him enough that you would give up family or even life itself if He asked?

Second Thought:

Jesus reassures Paul that his testimony in Jerusalem was doing the will of God.  For Paul, this still had to feel somewhat painful.  He had devoted years to following the Law and thinking that the Sanhedrin were the greatest people of all time.  Now the Sanhedrin – many of whom he likely knew from his time when he was training in the Law – were unwilling to listen to him.  It had to be difficult realizing that some of your most respected people weren’t really all that respectable when the right reasons are considered.

Have you ever lost faith in someone you once respected as you grew older?  Why?  What does this teach us about being an adult and making sure that we live a life that is according to God’s ways?

Third Thought:

Jesus warns Paul about the future.  Paul is going to testify about Jesus Christ even in Rome.  Of course, since Paul is a prisoner that means that Paul is likely going to remain a prisoner until his case is taken to the highest court in the land.  Paul realizes that he is going to eventually go before the Roman Emperor.  This is difficult for two reasons.  First, it is going to mean many years in prison.  Paul is going to spend many years passing through all the courts of various governors while he works through the system to be sent to Rome.  Second, it’s going to be tough because the Roman Emperor has ultimate authority.  Paul is going to have to have the courage to tell the most powerful human being in the world about Jesus Christ while knowing that the Roman Emperor doesn’t believe in God and could likely take his life for his beliefs.  It doesn’t help matters that the Emperor during the time of Paul’s arrest and journey to Rome is most likely Nero.

Given all this, why is it important for Jesus to pay a personal visit to Paul here?

Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 23:12-15