Paul was led before the Sanhedrin after the Roman commander released him. Sanhedrin was an assembly of 71 leaders, including the high priest. They were equivalent to the supreme court today. They oversaw all the legal and administrative issues in Jewish society. The Sanhedrin was composed of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees enforced Moses' Law on the Jewish community and believed in the resurrection. However, the Sadducees were the influencer because of their wealth and prestige. They did not believe in the resurrection. As a result, they were always tension between these two groups. Paul realizing the tension between these two groups, he mentioned before all of them that he was on trial because of the hope of resurrection from the dead. When both parties heard the resurrection, a violent dispute arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Roman commander had to take Paul from the Sanhedrin before he was torn to pieces between these two groups. While Paul was in the Roman barrack for his protection, the Lord told him that night, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome." (Acts 23:1-11).
One of the lessons we can learn from this story is that being in the center of the will of God does not mean that we will not suffer. Paul suffered at the hands of the religious Jews while doing what God had called them to do. God did not promise we would no longer suffer when we became Christians. But he promised that He would be with us through our sufferings. When Paul was in the Roman barrack, God could have taken him out of that place, but that was where God wanted him to be. And God promised him that from that place, he would go to Rome to testify about the gospel. God knew Paul was discouraged and tired, so He encouraged and strengthened Paul that night.
God knows all our sufferings. Let us courageously face our sufferings because God is with us. He will not allow our sufferings to overcome us. Our God is all-powerful, and there is nothing impossible to Him. The best thing he could do is to take us home to be with Him in Heaven forever. Our sufferings give us the opportunity to trust and experience God's power in our lives.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). What does God promise me when I am going through my sufferings? What should I do when I am going through sufferings? Do I trust God in my sufferings?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, please help me trust you in my sufferings. Forgive me if I doubt your goodness. You are an all-powerful God, and there is nothing impossible for you. Please deliver me from my sufferings, and may your will be done in my life. Please give me grace, guidance, strength, peace, wisdom, and provision as I go through my suffering, and help me to completely trust in you. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.