Suffering & Acts 23:11

“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."

Paul, after two days in Jerusalem was exhausted, undoubtedly feeling as David, and later Jesus did:

I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
-Psalm 22:14-15

Granted he had been saved once again from death by the Romans but he was still confined and under arrest. Over the past two days Paul had survived two beatings. The first took place just outside the temple after Paul had been seized and dragged outside after being falsely accused of “teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place (the temple)” and of bringing Greeks into the temple (Acts 21:28). The Roman soldiers literally had to carry Paul away “because of the violence of the crowd” (Acts 21:35). The next day before a meeting of the chief priests and the council Paul was punched on the mouth for claiming to have a clear conscience then had to be taken away again by the Roman soldiers because they were “afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them” (Acts 23:10).

So here Paul is, back in the barracks in Jerusalem, physically battered, discouraged and uncertain if he is even going to survive. Then Jesus Himself shows up at Paul's side and says “Take courage, for as you have testified to the acts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Read what Jesus says carefully and understand what He is saying to Paul.

At first glance we may read Jesus' words and be relieved that He is finally going to step in and rescue Paul from the suffering and beatings he is having to endure. Much of the theology of today teaches that as Christians we will be rescued from all suffering and hardship. We are wrongly taught that if we believe in Jesus He will provide us with health, wealth, and prosperity and that if we aren't seeing those things come to pass in our lives then we just need to have more faith. We like to believe in a God that will serve us what we want, when we want it. We are told that if we pray enough, read our Bibles enough, and give enough of our time, money and resources God will give us the stuff we've always dreamed of having. This, of course, is a complete lie manufactured by sinful men who desire a god who will serve them. This is not the God of the Bible.

Read again what Jesus says: “Take courage, for as you have testified to the acts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” Jesus tells Paul to “Take courage.” Why does Paul need to take courage? Because Jesus tells him “as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” What has just happened to Paul over the last two days in Jerusalem? Two beatings and imprisonment! Jesus is not coming to take Paul's suffering but to tell him to get ready because what he just endured in Jerusalem he now has to go do the same in Rome!

It's not like this should be any surprise to anyone. Recall what Jesus said to Ananias about the conversion of Paul:

"Go, for he (Paul) is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my
name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
For I will show him how much he must suffer
for the sake of my name" (Acts 9:15-16)

Jesus is doing what He promised He would. He is using Paul to carry His name to the world amidst “afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger” (2 Cor. 6:4-5). As Christians, should we expect any different?

The point of Christianity is Jesus, not us. That means we suffer, even to the point of death so that the good news of who He is goes out to the world and He receives all the glory. As Christians, we should all say with Paul “For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).