Acts 23 - Paul before the Sanhedrin

As Paul stood before the Sanhedrin, he was able to make the amazing and bold statement "I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day."   Wow!   How many of us would be able to say that?

However, for  the rest of the assembly Paul was struck in the mouth, had a confrontation regarding the high priest, and had to be rescued when a violent uproar arose after he said that he was on trial for the "hope of the resurrection of the dead." (mainly because the Pharisees and Sadduccees were divided on this doctrine)

Paul was likely discouraged at the outcome, when God showed up and stood near him.   Paul might have been thinking that he didn't do such a good job being a witness in Jerusalem; and that he might get killed and never make it to Rome.   But, God encouraged and reassured Paul by saying, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."   
God has done that in my life - "shown up" exactly when I needed encouragement.


We then see God at work through Paul's nephew and the Roman commander, to protect Paul from conspiring Jews and their plans to kill him.   The Jews hypocritically make an oath to God; and yet proceed to break the Law - plotting murder and having the chief priests and elders lie.