Acts 23

Councils, the high priest, and brethren;

Sadducees, Pharisees, and scribes;

Dissensions, strivings, and fighting;

The chief captain, soldiers, and blood thirsty killers;

Conspiracies, plots, and lying in wait;

A concerned nephew, Paul, and an army;

Centurions, horsemen, and spearmen;

A letter, a governor, and a palace;

Questions, accusations, and the law;

The dark night, the anticipation, and the waiting...


    Here, in Acts 23, Paul finds himself, right in the middle of all the confusion, turmoil and unrest.
Can you imagine yourself in this chapter of Paul's life?  What would you be feeling while standing
in front of the angry high priest and the divided council?  Fear, intimidation, apprehension?

    Or what thoughts would have raced through your mind as you were being carried away, by night, in the company a 470 man army;  all to protect you from an angry mob of Jews desiring to see you dead?  Paul was tossed from one powerful leader to another, neither knowing quiet what to do with him.

    There is no doubt in my mind, Paul experienced a full spectrum of human emotions and a whirlwind thoughts, ideas and questions.

    When life takes you on a roller-coaster ride;  when it places you in front of warring factions;  when it chews you up and spits you out;  what are you to do? 
Do just what Paul did:  No matter his circumstances; no matter his trial;  he told people about Christ
and the change He made in his life.  Did he do this all in his own strength?  No, of course not.  And neither do you.
In the damp, cold, darkness of the night, the Lord stood by him, saying, "Be of good cheer, Paul." (v11)

No matter what life throws at you, "Be of good cheer."  Jesus is right by your side.  He said he would never leave you and he would never forsake you.

In your trial; in your turmoil;  He is right by your side!


Ronald Waller