The Dark Place
Paul, knowing some of the council was made up of Sadducees and others of Pharisees and how they hated each other, decided to exploit their antagonism: “Friends, I am a stalwart Pharisee from a long line of Pharisees. It’s because of my Pharisee convictions—the hope and resurrection of the dead—that I’ve been hauled into this court.”
The moment he said this, the council split right down the middle, Pharisees and Sadducees going at each other in heated argument. Sadducees have nothing to do with a resurrection or angels or even a spirit. If they can’t see it, they don’t believe it. Pharisees believe it all. And so a huge and noisy quarrel broke out. Then some of the religion scholars on the Pharisee side shouted down the others: “We don’t find anything wrong with this man! And what if a spirit has spoken to him? Or maybe an angel? What if it turns out we’re fighting against God?”
That was fuel on the fire. The quarrel flamed up and became so violent the captain was afraid they would tear Paul apart, limb from limb. He ordered the soldiers to get him out of there and escort him back to the safety of the barracks.
That night the Master appeared to Paul: “It’s going to be all right. Everything is going to turn out for the best. You’ve been a good witness for me here in Jerusalem. Now you’re going to be my witness in Rome!” (Acts 23:6-11)
I must admit to spending a lot of time in the dark place. But I realize that pessimism really has no place in the lives of Christians. Once Paul had returned to Jerusalem, he went to the temple. While there, he nearly caused a riot and got himself arrested. Once the Roman authorities realized he was a Roman citizen, they released him and had Paul appear before the Sanhedrin. Soon he was under arrest again.
Ever since Paul had gone to Jerusalem things had gone badly for him and they were only getting worse. But in the darkness of the evening, alone in jail, Jesus offered Paul encouragement. He told Paul that he was going to Rome to continue being a missionary. There was nothing more that Paul wanted than to tell others about Jesus.
Paul was still in jail and would stay there a long time. But knowing what God’s will for us is and then doing it is the best way to stay encouraged. Like Paul, part of God’s will for us is to testify about Jesus, wherever we happen to be. Along our way, like Paul, God will always take care of us.
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