The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
Satan stirs up fresh fears in great dangers to cloud God's promises, so the Lord renews His word to Paul, not to promise deliverance, but to show that He cares for him even in prolonged affliction. This is the consolation: God has respect to us in our miseries, whether He stretches forth His hand at once or not.
AI summary
Paul's wisdom here was to divide his judges, setting Pharisees against Sadducees and turning one part to his defense. Lawful arts and honest policy to escape suffering are no dishonor to a man willing to suffer for Christ; he uses every advantage he has, from his Roman citizenship to his standing as a Pharisee, yet counts them all dung compared to knowing Christ.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 23:6-11
Christ Himself appeared and stood by Paul to prepare him for further trials and prevent discouragement, a mark of His singular care and love. Paul had testified of Jesus before the sanhedrin as the true Messiah, risen and at God's right hand; now he must bear the same witness at Rome, the chief city of the world.
AI summary