Acts 23 and 24

This week, we learned all about where we get our courage from. We continued to follow Paul as he got taken before the High Council. The High Priest and Paul exchanged words, with Paul pointing out how hypocritical the High Priest was. Then Paul talked about Jesus' resurrection and the Pharisees and Sadducees who were there began to argue violently, because the Saducees didn't believe in resurrection. The crowd got so angry that the High Priest sent Paul away so that he wouldn't be killed.

While Paul slept in jail, God promised Paul that he would go to Rome and preach there. So now, no matter what happened to Paul, he knew that God would get him to Rome to preach. From this point on, Paul had courage because of God's promise. God is the source of Paul's courage. So even though there was a plot against Paul's life, God protected him and a Roman soldier took Paul away to a safer place in Ceasarea to go on trial before Governor Felix. 

Paul got taken before Felix, a corrupt governor. Paul shared his side of things and insisted he wasn't guilty. Felix knew that Paul was in the right but didn't really want to do much about it and also wanted to keep Paul around in case he could get a bribe. But Paul didn't give in and he stayed imprisoned for two years.

Our courage in all situations needs to come from our dependency on who the Lord is.  As we trust the Lord we can have courage in all of the situations He puts us in knowing that He is the help we need.