Day 22: Acts 23:11

“Take courage!”

Paul found himself in a situation that, from a human perspective, seemed insurmountable.  He was in a dire circumstance, torn in the midst of a great dissension among the Pharisees and Sadducees in the council.  He felt the threat of death from the forty-plus men who had bound themselves by an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed him.  These members of the fasting conspiracy were not driven by mere emotion to kill Paul, but rather by an extreme expression of religious zeal stemming from their devout beliefs (Sang-seop Yoo).  Given these seemingly impossible circumstances, how was Paul able to be courageous?

The reason lies in the fact that Paul received the promise of God's word.  The Lord appeared to Paul in his distress and encouraged him to take courage, assuring him that he would testify to the gospel of Jesus Christ not only in Jerusalem but also in Rome.  And the Lord faithfully kept this promise. He protected Paul and delivered him from danger.