Bible Strands
Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord addresses Paul the night after he is transferred to the barracks to escape a violent mob.
The words — The text highlights ἐπιστὰς (epistas), meaning “having stood by,” and κὺριος (kurios), meaning “Lord,” to emphasize a direct, physical presence.
The thread — Similar divine reassurance and standing by appear in Acts 18:9, 2 Timothy 4:17, and Matthew 14:27.
Why it lands — It commands the reader to accept a specific, bounded mission without fear, treating the command as a factual directive rather than a general encouragement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
- 2 Timothy 4:17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
- Matthew 14:27 But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
- Jeremiah 15:19 Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you return, I will restore you; you will stand in My presence. And if you speak words that are noble instead of worthless, you will be My spokesman. It is they who must turn to you, but you must not turn to them.
- Acts 19:21 After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.”
- Matthew 9:2 Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
- Romans 1:15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.
- Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Psalms 46:1 For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
- Psalms 109:31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from the condemners of his soul.