1. Be of Good Cheer
Acts 23:11-16
Tallapoosa church of Christ
Sunday Morning
January 22, 2012

2. The Lord Stood by Paul
Acts 23:11 NKJV But the following
night the Lord stood by him and
said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as
you have testified for Me in
Jerusalem, so you must also bear
witness at Rome.”

3. Paul Had A Good Conscience
Before God
Acts 23:1 NKJV Then Paul, looking
earnestly at the council, said, "Men and
brethren, I have lived in all good
conscience before God until this day.”
1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV This is a faithful
saying and worthy of all acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world
to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

4. Paul Had A Good Conscience
Before God
Acts 22:16 NKJV And now why are
you waiting? Arise and be baptized,
and wash away your sins, calling on
the name of the Lord.’

5. A Good Conscience Toward God
1 Corinthians 4:3-4 NKJV (3) But with me
it is a very small thing that I should be
judged by you or by a human court. In
fact, I do not even judge myself. (4) For I
know of nothing against myself, yet I am
not justified by this; but He who judges
me is the Lord.

6. A Good Conscience Toward God
Hebrews 10:21-22 NKJV and having a
High Priest over the house of God, (22)
let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience and our
bodies washed with pure water.

7. A Good Conscience Toward God
1 Peter 3:20-21 NKJV who formerly were
disobedient, when once the Divine
longsuffering waited in the days of Noah,
while the ark was being prepared, in which
a few, that is, eight souls, were saved
through water. (21) There is also an
antitype which now saves us—baptism (not
the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the
answer of a good conscience toward God),
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

8. Paul Testified for Christ
1 Peter 3:15-17 NKJV But sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts, and always be ready to
give a defense to everyone who asks you a
reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear; (16) having a good
conscience, that when they defame you as
evildoers, those who revile your good conduct
in Christ may be ashamed. (17) For it is
better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for
doing good than for doing evil.

9. Paul Testified for Christ
Acts 21:13-14 NKJV Then Paul answered,
“What do you mean by weeping and
breaking my heart? For I am ready not
only to be bound, but also to die at
Jerusalem for the name of the Lord
Jesus." (14) So when he would not be
persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will
of the Lord be done.”

10. Paul Testified for Christ
Paul was ready to give a defense!
Acts 22:1 NKJV “Brethren and fathers,
hear my defense before you now.”
The Lord Stood by Paul!
Acts 23:11 But the following night the Lord
stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer,
Paul; for as you have testified for Me in
Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at
Rome.”

11. Paul Testified for Christ
What does it mean to testify?
Acts 23:11 NKJV But the following night the
Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good
cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me
in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness
at Rome.”
Testify - ‘diamarturomai’ from ‘dia’
meaning “through” and ‘martureō’
meaning “to be a witness”

12. Paul Testified for Christ
Apostles told not to testify
Acts 4:20 NKJV For we cannot but speak
the things which we have seen and heard.
We too are Witnesses
Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses to these
things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom
God has given to those who obey Him.

13. We must Testify for the Lord
If we want the Lord to stand by us;
We must with a good conscience be a
witness for Christ! (Mt. 28:19-20)
Acts 23:11 NKJV But the following night
the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of
good cheer, Paul; for as you have
testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you
must also bear witness at Rome.”

14. Paul Must Testify in Rome
Paul would not be murdured
Must – “dei” – lit. it is a necessity.
Titus 1:2 NKJV in hope of eternal life
which God, who cannot lie, promised
before time began,

15. Paul Must Testify in Rome
Paul had desired to go to Rome
Romans 1:8-13 NKJV First, I thank my God
through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith
is spoken of throughout the whole world. (9)
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my
spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without
ceasing I make mention of you always in my
prayers, (10) making request if, by some
means, now at last I may find a way in the will
of God to come to you.

16. Paul Must Testify in Rome
Paul had desired to go to Rome
Romans 1:8-13 continued (11) For I long to see you,
that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so
that you may be established— (12) that is, that I
may be encouraged together with you by the
mutual faith both of you and me. (13) Now I do
not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I
often planned to come to you (but was hindered
until now), that I might have some fruit among
you also, just as among the other Gentiles.

17. Paul Must Testify in Rome
Christianity Requires:
Phil. 1:19-21 NKJV (19) For I know that this will turn out for my
deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus
Christ, (20) according to my earnest expectation and hope that in
nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now
also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by
death. (21) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

18. Paul Must Testify in Rome
Like Paul,God Gives us Good Things
James 1:17 NKJV Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and comes down from
the Father of lights, with whom there is no
variation or shadow of turning.
Romans 8:28 NKJV And we know that all things
work together for good to those who love God, to
those who are the called according to His
purpose.

19. Paul Must Testify in Rome
We must be steadfast
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 NKJV (57) But
thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58)
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, knowing that your
labor is not in vain in the Lord.