Acts 23:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

See, even after this appearance the Lord allows him again to be saved in a human way. It is worthy of wonder that Paul was not troubled and did not say, 'What does this mean? Have I been deceived by Christ?' No, he neither thought nor felt anything of the sort. He only believed. Yet while believing, he did not sleep. He did not fail to do what could be done with the help of human wisdom. What was said to Paul is also full of wisdom. 'The following night the Lord stood by him and said, Take courage, Paul. For as you have testified concerning Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.' See what consolation this is. First the Lord praises him. Then He inspires him not to fear the journey to Rome, which was not yet known.

The Lord stood by him, because the Lord is the Comforter in sorrows. Yet He did not appear to Paul before Paul had fallen into danger, for the Lord strengthens us also through sorrows. After His appearance, He deigned to save Paul's life by human means.

Paul had long cherished the thought of preaching the Gospel in the capital of the world. The circumstances in Jerusalem seemed to overshadow this thought. But on the very night after his explanation before the Sanhedrin, where he bore witness to his faith, the Lord Himself appeared to him. He assured him that, just as he had borne witness concerning Christ in Jerusalem, so he must also bear witness concerning Him in Rome. This vision surely moved him to appeal his case to the emperor, when he noticed that the procurator wished to sacrifice him to please the people.

In such a difficult position the Apostle was encouraged by a special appearance and revelation of the Lord. Appearing to him the following night, whether in sleep or in a waking state the text does not show, the Lord said: 'Take courage, Paul. For as you have testified concerning Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.' This was truly a powerful encouragement for the Apostle to the Gentiles. To carry his preaching of Christ as far as Rome was Paul's own desire. He had intended to put it into effect precisely now, after visiting Jerusalem (Acts 19:21). Now the Lord foretells that, although he is presently in bonds, his desire to be in Rome will be fulfilled. Therefore these present bonds will not bind the word of God for him. They will not stop his preaching or prevent him from fulfilling his life's calling and appointed service.

The Jews, even these distinguished hierarchs and rabbis, again showed a complete inability to govern themselves. Even within the sacred bounds of the Sanhedrin there arose such a powerful disturbance that the Apostle Paul was once more in danger of being torn to pieces. This time the danger came from the hands of learned and distinguished men. Lysias grew more and more amazed at the wildness of the Jews. First they had attacked Paul in the temple with such unanimity. Now in the Sanhedrin, half of them seemed to be fighting in his defense. He resolved not to surrender his fellow citizen to the disgraceful fate awaiting him. He ordered the soldiers to take him from the Sanhedrin. And there, in the barracks of foreign conquerors, the Lord again appeared to His courageous Apostle and said to him: 'Take courage, Paul. For as you have testified concerning Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.'

'Appearing to him' may mean in sleep or in an ecstatic vision (cf. Acts 22:17-18 and parallels, with note). The text does not state this directly. The Lord foretells to Paul that he will preach concerning Him in Rome, just as he had preached concerning Him in Jerusalem. By this the Lord encouraged His faithful witness not to fear the Jews, for they would do nothing to him. It was necessary for him to be in Rome. The Lord also once again foretold to Paul the continuation of his beloved missionary activity among the Gentile world, and in its very center. Jerusalem was the religious center, and Rome the political center, of the whole world of that time.

The Apostle Paul's deliverance from the Sanhedrin was carried out by soldiers sent by their commander. He feared that Paul's enemies would tear him apart, taking advantage of the general confusion with which the disorderly session of the Sanhedrin had ended. If the Apostle could have been torn apart, one understands how many outward horrors and deathly agonies he had to endure. From this one understands how consoling was the Lord's appearance to him on the following night. Then the Lord approved his patient and wise witness to Him in Jerusalem. He also revealed that Paul must bear witness in Rome as well. From this, of course, Paul understood that his departure from Jerusalem would sooner or later take place without obstruction. St.