Acts 23

“Then a great clamor arose …” (v9).  Paul’s faith in Jesus and insistence that salvation included the Gentiles caused a riot (ch 22), and so the Roman authorities brought him to – “the council” – the high priest and other religious authorities of Israel.  Paul’s testimony caused a violent uproar there too (v10).  When a plot by 40 Jewish men to kill Paul was uncovered, the Roman soldiers took him by night to the governor in Caesarea.  The Lord assured Paul that all this would lead to his testifying in Rome (v11).

“Take courage … “ (v11).  Human powers (both government and religion) may oppose the gospel, but we are empowered by the Spirit to testify by our words and lives.