Context: Paul has been arrested and stood before the counsel of Sadducees and Pharisees.  The counsel had a sharp disagreement and turned violent, so they led Paul back to the barracks for the night.

Acts 23:11 – “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.’”

Observations:

• The Lord stood by him and said:
• Take courage… – a command given by God to His people consistently throughout scripture.  Courage is not the absence of fear.  It is moving forward in fearful situations knowing God is with you.  A wise man once said: “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
• …As you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.

Application: I must meet personally with the Lord, so that I can hear Him speak words of courage and direction into my life.  I want to be ready to share “the facts” about Jesus with my own people and with others.

How has God spoken words of courage into your life?