How forlorn Paul must have felt after he had preached about his conversion to his nation and they utterly rejected his message (Acts 22:1-21). God had warned Paul years earlier when he wanted to preach to his people that they would not receive his testimony, and twenty-five or so years later, their attitude still had not changed. The next day after he had preached about his conversion was no different. The centurion who had charge of Paul wanted to hear an exchange between him and the council so that he could know what wrongs they accused him of, but the centurion learned nothing new and the meeting broke up with the council itself divided about Paul. At this point the centurion had to have his soldiers physically remove Paul from among them and bring him into the castle. He was afraid they would tear Paul to pieces (Acts 23:10).
Paul had reached one of the low points in his life. It was then that God spoke to him to strengthen him: “Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:11). Notice that God did not tell Paul, “I told you so” or “this is the result of your disobedience”. He warned him of the afflictions and bonds which awaited him there. He did not forbid him to go.
Paul’s status had changed. He no longer had a choice where he would go or what he would do; he was at the whim of Roman authorities. The loathing his nation had for him brought about the bonds and afflictions he had been warned would happen. Luke’s remaining history of Paul will cover about four or five years more of his life. Paul will be in prison all those years. He will be identified during this time as “Paul, the prisoner” (Acts 23:18).
Paul went to Jerusalem with his eyes open. God had warned that were he to go, bonds and afflictions awaited him. He desperately wanted to preach to his people, no matter the cost to him. While he mentioned his being a prisoner many times in the later epistles he wrote, he never complained of the lot which had fallen upon him. He knew the price he would pay.
God did not chasten him; He encouraged him. Paul had testified of Jesus in Jerusalem, and by God’s grace he would live to preach “another day”. God assured him he would also testify of Christ at Rome! He bore his burden with a good spirit. His letters to churches and brethren were filled with encouragement, exhortations to remain faithful, and sometimes he urged them to “rejoice” as he expressed his own joy in Christ. Here are some of the things he wrote:
- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
- “For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you and the love which ye show unto the saint, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16).
- “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20).
- “I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you, always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy, for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-4).
- “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea and will rejoice” (Philippians 1:18).
- “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 3:1).
- “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say Rejoice. Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your heart and thoughts in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).
- “Not that I speak In respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:11-13).
- “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give to me at that day: and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
These verses, and many others, show the confidence and hope God’s assurances gave Paul. They sustained him to the very end of his life because, “I know him, whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12). The confidence Paul received from God’s assurances to him enabled him to labor effectively despite all the hinderances which would have kept others from functioning. That same confidence and peace can be ours — if we believe His Word.
Jim McDonald