Acts23,1 Pau looked straight at the Sanhedrin > How do i come across - straight? Do i look straight into the face of people telling them what i think? That i love them. That they did something wrong …

Personally i like straight in to the face people! It gives me energy   and said,

"My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day."  > True was this!

At this the high priest Ananias ordered those  standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.  > How would i have reacted? We do not even know if they had the time to strike him! Then Paul said to him, "God  will strike you, you whitewashed wall! > Very much into their face! Very intense! Angry! Wild! Fast! - I am slow - i would not be able to get a thought like this and react on it that way! Learn to become quick and good in speech - better + better You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that i be struck!"  > Like: Don't judge me! You are not at all better … It is a intense reaction on a intense action.  Would i react like this? Would i tell someone: You are a whitewashed wall? How can i become more like Paul in this?

Those who were standing near Paul said, "You dare to insult God's high priest?" > Wow Paul was not ready for this!

Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'" > How humble - immediately he apologized even with a scripture! But would it be all right if it was not the high priest he attacked but a normal priest? It looks almost that some time i am aloud to react like this - if i am attacked.

But also i can see the different between Jesus and Paul. Jesus reacted with a question/ Paul reacted with a challenge!

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, > Do i know the people. Do i know their disagreement so i could bring them up against each other? Am i clever and cool enough? i don't think so. Just to see how Paul is interacting with them gives me a feeling, he did not let himself be cornered and challenged and beaten down. He fighter with argument, with passion, with intelligence against them and a verdict to be killed ore punished. he had enough stripes already on his back!

Paul is fighting: I am not a fight of this kind. I do not know how. I am not fats naught. I am slow.

called out in the Sanhedrin, > Again - very clear and very strong how he talks - everybody understood Paul! I guess it is better to talk clearly and loud. I think, i can never lead to strong!

"My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead."  > So, he just knew what this will do to them!

When he said this, a dispute  broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angles nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)

There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. "We find nothing wrong with this man,"  > Wow - Paul almost wins everything here! they said."What if a spirit or an angle has spoken to him?"  > Even like this it is now - the opposite of someone we need to kill!

the dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them.  > Paul always was in most intense situations. People hated him. People wanted to kill him. Why am i so afraid of little arguments and mistreatment. How could i ever walk in a situation like this, when i am afraid of brothers and sisters … He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks. > Paul is saved by the Romans.

11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, > It was intense even for God to see his own child in such a struggle. but God did not let his child alone. God came - The Lord came. The Lord was standing net to the bed of Paul!!!! Imagine. Imagine the struggle we face because we love God so much is so intense noe, that even God feels he need to be appearing in order to encourage us! Wow - so many hard things i need to be ready to endure! Why am i so afraid all the time. Why am i so shy .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. BE LOUD AND CLEAR! DON'T BE INTIMIDATED!!!!

"TAKE COURAGE! > First thing Paul hears form God:

IT IS NOT OVER. TAKE COURAGE AGAIN!

DON'T LET YOUR SELFE GO!

CONTINUE TO FIGHT!

MAKE YOUR SELFE READY FOR THE NEXT FIGHT!

IT IS COMING - IT IS NOT GOING AWAY!!!

Paul could feel tired and worn out - and he probably was - But God does not say fine - this was more then enough. No it is not enough - it will continue!

How much am i ready to fight?

How much am i ready to struggle though - to not give up?

AM I WILLING TO TAKE COURAGE?

DO I KNOW HOW I AM TAKING COURAGE?

DO I HAVE A LOT OF PRACTICE I TAKING COURAGE?

WHAT HELPS ME TO TAKE COURAGE?

AS YOU HAVE TESTIFIED ABOUT ME IN JERUSALEM, SO YOU MUST ALSO TESTIFY IN ROME."

> Also - Jesus tells him - well done in Jerusalem.

Like this you need to do it in Rome.

It is not your method bad - your audience is bad

Keep on doing it - Rom is waiting - the sear will hear you - Nero, the most ugly and bad Cesar ever. God gives Cesar the best Evangelist ever!!!

Jesus comes and encourages Paul

He tells him: Be courages

He tells him: Well done - continue to do it - Rom is waiting - bigger duties are a head of you!!!

WE NEED TO TELL EACH OTHER - HAVE COURAGE!!!!

WE NEED TO TELL EACH OTHER - YOU GROW, IT WILL BECOME BETTER!!!!

God is next to you

> I just try to imagine how people in Rom heard to Gospel. Paul was not first in Rom. Paul came after Christianity start to exist in Rom. : I imagine how Christians would walk into Rome. Move into their houses. Start making friends. Having them over or what ever - being different i their hospitality - helping the poor - loving all around - So they would sit down and start sharing the story of Jesus of Nazareth. Imagine how they spoke! What they shared!

ENCOURAGE PEOPLE