Taking Courage

Day 186: 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 ‭ESV‬‬

Someone who is unafraid doesn’t need to be told to “take courage.” It isn’t an accident that Jesus meets Paul in a place of fear. He knew what it would take to see this through to Rome.

Courage.

The Greek word here is tharseō. Louw and Nida define it as "to have confidence and firmness of purpose in the face of danger or testing."  Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 305)

Jesus similarly used the same word when speaking to his disciples the night He was betrayed. He said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NASB95)

What Paul was about to face (imprisonment and shipwreck) required more than he currently possessed. He was going to need courage.

Isn’t it fascinating what kind of sign God gives him immediately? Paul’s nephew, whom many believe was between high school and college-age, warns of an assassination attempt that was about to take place.

Courage always comes with a crew, and sometimes that group is comprised of family. This is the only way Paul would make it to Rome, and it’s the only way we will fight this good fight as followers of Jesus today.