Acts 23:1-15
The chief captain still cannot understand the fury of the Jews against a man in whom he can see no reason for blame. He makes his prisoner appear before the Sanhedrin so that he can find out why. A skilful word from Paul (but was it through the Spirit?) brings the party of the Pharisees onto his side. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was indeed the foundation of his teaching and indirectly the motive for the Jewish opposition. But Paul does not have the opportunity even to mention the name of his Saviour. He has thrown a spanner in the works between traditional adversaries: the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and a very great tumult ensues in the Sanhedrin. Once again, the chief captain has to rescue Paul and put him in a safe place.
But after all these events, the apostle, lonely and discouraged, needs comfort. The Lord Himself stands by His dear servant (v. 11). There is no reproach – on the contrary, He recognizes the witness Paul has just given in Jerusalem. He comforts him and calls him to his true mission: to preach salvation not to the Jews but to the Gentile nations. For this purpose he will go to Rome.
May we also continually experience that "the Lord is at hand" and know that we have no need to be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:5, Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 4:17).