Acts 23:11 kjv
And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Acts 23:11 nkjv
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
Acts 23:11 niv
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."
Acts 23:11 esv
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 nlt
That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, "Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well."
Acts 23 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 18:9 | The Lord said to Paul in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not be silent." | Divine reassurance |
| Acts 20:24 | But I do not account my life of any value nor as dear to myself, so that I may finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. | Paul's life purpose |
| Acts 26:17-18 | "I will deliver you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you— to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God..." | Commissioning |
| Romans 1:15 | So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. | Desire to go to Rome |
| 2 Corinthians 12:9 | But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." | Grace in weakness |
| 2 Timothy 4:17 | but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear. | Lord's support |
| 2 Timothy 1:12 | ...for I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day. | Confidence in God |
| Isaiah 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. | God's presence & help |
| Jeremiah 1:8 | Do not fear them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD. | God's protection |
| Psalm 27:14 | Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! | Waiting on God |
| John 15:16 | You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide... | Jesus' choice |
| Matthew 28:20 | ...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” | Christ's presence |
| Luke 24:47-48 | ...and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. | Proclaiming repentance |
| Galatians 1:16 | ...to reveal his Son in me, so that I might preach him among the Gentiles... | Preaching Gentiles |
| Philippians 1:12 | I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel... | Gospel advancement |
| Acts 23:33-35 | ...returned to the barracks... praised God. When Paul had been brought to Caesarea and the letter had been read before Felix the governor, he kept him in Herod's palace. | Roman custody |
| Acts 27:24 | "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.” | Promise of survival |
| Acts 28:19 | But when the Jews did not agree about this, the Jews plotted, so I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any charge to bring against my own people. | Appeal to Caesar |
| Acts 28:30-31 | He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. | Witness in Rome |
| Revelation 1:17-18 | and when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the First and the Last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades." | Christ's authority |
| Acts 9:4 | and he fell on the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” | Lord appears to Saul |
Acts 23 verses
Acts 23 11 Meaning
The Lord stood by Paul and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness to Me in Rome." This verse signifies divine encouragement and reassurance given to Paul by Jesus Christ Himself. It confirms Paul's mission and assures him of divine protection despite the severe dangers he faced. The Lord's presence and spoken words grant Paul strength and direction for his future ministry, emphasizing that his witness is to extend even to the heart of the Roman Empire.
Acts 23 11 Context
This verse occurs in Acts chapter 23 following Paul's turbulent experience in Jerusalem. After being apprehended and brought before the Sanhedrin, Paul cleverly divided the council by appealing to the Pharisaic belief in the resurrection. This resulted in a riot, and Paul was rescued by Roman soldiers who feared he would be torn to pieces. The soldiers then brought Paul into the Tower of Antonia for his safety. It is in this moment of intense physical danger and probable emotional distress that the Lord appears to Paul, offering comfort and reaffirming his divine mission. The immediate historical context is Paul's legal troubles and imprisonment in Jerusalem, a precursor to his eventual journey to Rome as a prisoner to stand trial before Caesar.
Acts 23 11 Word Analysis
- "And" (καί - kai): A common conjunction indicating addition or connection, linking the preceding events to this divine encounter.
- "the Lord" (ὁ Κύριος - ho Kyrios): Refers to Jesus Christ. This title carries the weight of His deity and authority, paralleling the Old Testament title for God.
- "stood" (ἐπέστη - epestē): Aorist tense of ἐπίστημι (epistēmi), meaning to stand by, stand near, to come upon, or to appear. It suggests a sudden, reassuring presence.
- "by" (αὐτῷ - autō): Dative case, literally "to him" or "with him," emphasizing companionship and support.
- "Paul" (Παῦλος - Paulos): The apostle, the recipient of this divine encouragement.
- "And" (καί - kai): Another conjunction connecting the reassurance to the imperative.
- "said" (εἶπε - eipe): Aorist imperative of λέγω (legō), a direct command or statement from the Lord.
- "Be of good cheer," (Θάρρει, - Tharreí,): A present imperative from θαρρέω (tharreō), meaning to be brave, confident, have courage. It's an active encouragement to maintain inner strength.
- "Paul;" (Παῦλε· - Paule·): Direct address, personal and affirming.
- "for" (γάρ - gar): A causal particle, introducing the reason for the exhortation to be of good cheer.
- "as" (ὡς - hōs): A conjunction indicating manner or degree, establishing a comparison.
- "you" (σὺ - sy): The emphatic personal pronoun, highlighting Paul specifically.
- "have testified" (μαρτυρήσας - marturēsas): Perfect participle of μαρτυρέω (martyreō), to bear witness, testify. The perfect tense indicates a completed action with ongoing results or relevance.
- "of Me" (μου - mou): Genitive case of ἐγώ (egō), indicating the subject of the testimony – Jesus Christ.
- "in Jerusalem" (ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ - en Hierousalēm): Specifies the location of the prior testimony.
- "so" (οὕτως - houtōs): Adverb indicating manner or consequence, connecting the past action to the future.
- "you" (καὶ σὺ - kai sy): Again, emphatic personal pronoun.
- "must" (δεῖ - dei): Impersonal verb signifying necessity or obligation, implying a divine mandate.
- "also" (καί - kai): Indicates addition, that the testimony in Rome is in addition to Jerusalem.
- "bear witness" (μαρτυρῆσαι - marturēsai): Aorist infinitive of μαρτυρέω (martyreō), to bear witness, with the sense of necessity.
- "of Me" (μου - mou): Again, indicating the object of the testimony.
- "in Rome." (ἐν Ῥώμῃ. - en Rhōmēi.): Specifies the future location of Paul's testimony, the capital of the Roman Empire.
Acts 23 11 Bonus Section
The appearance of Jesus to Paul in this moment echoes the foundational experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4), where Jesus first called him. This second appearance confirms and strengthens Paul’s apostolic calling amidst profound adversity. The use of the same verb "testify" (martyreō) in both instances links his current suffering directly to his divine commission. Furthermore, this direct address from Jesus assures Paul that his struggles are not overlooked and are part of a greater, divinely ordained plan to spread the gospel to the Gentiles, ultimately reaching the highest levels of power in the Roman Empire. This verse is a powerful testament to the reality of Christ's presence and support for His servants in their times of greatest need and difficulty, reinforcing the biblical principle that God’s power is often perfected in human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Acts 23 11 Commentary
This divine interjection is crucial for Paul's endurance. The Lord does not offer a miraculous escape from danger but provides the inner fortitude needed to face it. The assurance "Be of good cheer" (Tharreí) is not a command to ignore fear, but an empowerment to overcome it by relying on God's presence and plan. Paul's faithful testimony in Jerusalem, despite fierce opposition, is presented as the basis for the further calling to Rome. This affirms that God recognizes past faithfulness and is confirming future mission, which Paul himself had expressed a desire for (Romans 1:15). The statement implies a divine promise of protection through the entire journey and ordeal, culminating in standing before Caesar. It underscores the sovereign hand of God in guiding Paul's ministry to its appointed endpoints, ensuring his witness would reach the imperial center.