That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul.” (Acts 23:11)

When anyone says, “Be encouraged,” it’s usually followed by something, well, encouraging!

In Acts 23, Paul has been jailed, brought before the authorities and charged by an angry mob.

Suggested penalty: death. While Paul is imprisoned awaiting his fate, Jesus tells him to be

encouraged. In that moment, what word of encouragement might we expect? Something like,

“Be encouraged, I am opening the gates of this prison and freeing you” …or… “Well done, my

good and faithful servant; now, go and rest.”

But what does Jesus say? “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)

How is this encouragement? Jesus is instructing Paul to go to the very epicenter of the pagan

world and… the supreme military power in the region. And who else lives there? Oh yeah, the

Roman emperor, Nero. Remember him – the guy who fiddled while Rome burned?

So, when Jesus said, “Be encouraged,” was Paul encouraged?

If it were me, I would visualize a blank stare followed by a hard gulp. But this passage teaches

us that we are called to have bold faith. One that doesn’t flinch at the sight of adversity. One

that, like the prophet Isaiah, says confidently, “Here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). Paul had bold

faith. To have the opportunity to carry the Good News and participate in the ministry of Christ

(and His suffering) was an encouragement to Paul.

Our perspective changes when we see through the lens of Jesus. He says, do you want to save

your life? Then you must lose it. Do you want to be first? Then you must be last. Do you want to

be perfect? Then give up everything and follow Me.

Our natural self tells us our wants, ambitions, and desires should come first. But in the Kingdom

of Heaven, it’s the opposite. We take on the identity of Christ, who humbled Himself completely

before the will of the Father (Philippians 2:6-8). Why? Because He rescued us from the

dominion of darkness (Colossians 1:13-14).

We have this amazing opportunity to participate in God’s miraculous Kingdom ministry! As the

prophet Isaiah writes, How beautiful…are the feet of those who bring good news, who

proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your

God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7)



No matter where we are called, let us be encouraged and embrace the blessing of being the

hands and feet of Christ and taking this Good News to our world.

By Ryan Pearl

Ryan and his wife, Susie, are community leaders at IBC's Georgetown campus and volunteer in

the nursery. Their four kids are blessed by IBC Georgetown's children's ministry and enjoy

finding ways to serve.