Take Courage

Today’s reading: Acts 23:11-35

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.” - Acts 23:11

Paul will be making a serious shift in how he does ministry from here until his death (martyrdom) in 67 or 68 AD (about an eight-year span).

What is the first word out of Jesus’ mouth to help prepare him for what he was about to face?

“tharseo” — which can be translated as “to be of good courage” or “to be over-bold” or “to have confidence and firmness of purpose in the face of danger or testing”.

During his final act, Paul would go on to write Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians, 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy.

Yet all of this was going to necessitate a confidence in his purpose.

Can you hear Jesus speaking the same kind of word over you today? Let’s be honest. To follow through on all that God is going to ask us to do from here will require a great deal of “tharseo” that only comes from Jesus.