Acts 23

“Take courage, for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness as Rome also” (v11).  From a human point of view, Paul was in trouble.  He had been beaten by his Jewish brethren, “rescued” by Roman soldiers, and was now in chains.  Yet, Paul spoke about Jesus (ch 22) to the rioters and then preached “the hope and resurrection of the dead” to the religious Council (ch 23). 

Paul lived to please Jesus, not a human definition of success. Without gaining his freedom nor seeing thousands saved that day, he heard the Lord’s “well done.” (v11).