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Acts 23 Bible study: Cheer up, Paul

Paul tells the council he is judged "Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead" (23:6). The following night, "the Lord stood by him": "Cheer up, Paul" (23:11). When more than forty people plot against him, Paul's sister's son, whom Acts never names, tells Paul (23:13, 23:16).

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“The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.””
Acts 23:11 · World English Bible

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“In Acts 23:6, Paul says, ‘I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.’”

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What's really going on

According to the law

In the text

"Paul, looking steadfastly at the council, said, “Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today.”" (23:1) (tap lived and conscience). Then "The high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth." (23:2), and Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to the law?" (23:3). Those who stood by said, "Do you malign God’s high priest?" (23:4) (tap malign). Paul said, "I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’" (23:5). In his words he speaks of being judged "according to the law" and of being struck "contrary to the law" (23:3), and then of what "is written" (23:5). Acts gives his words and doesn't say what he thought or felt, and these notes add nothing of their own.

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That was a taste

The rest of Acts 23 is waiting in Favor

  • The hope and the resurrection
  • Cheer up, Paul
  • A sister's son, and a letter
  • The law Paul quoted
  • The hope, again and again
  • Set beside this chapter elsewhere
  • 22 questions as you read
  • 9 more Greek words
  • A short check at the end
  • Your notes, saved as you go
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The Greek word behind it

θαρσέωtharseosay thar-SEH-o

Strong's: "to have courage". Thayer: "to be of good courage, be of good cheer; in the N. T. only in the imperative". "Cheer up, Paul" (23:11). The New Testament has the verb eight times (counted in RP2018), seven of them in the Gospels; this is its only use in Acts.

For your group

Acts 23 Bible study questions

  1. 1Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until today." (23:1). What helps you keep a clear conscience before God in an ordinary week?
  2. 2The Lord said, "Cheer up, Paul" (23:11). When has encouragement reached you at just the right time? Where did it come from?
  3. 3"Paul’s sister’s son heard they were lying in wait, and he came and entered into the barracks and told Paul." (23:16). Acts doesn't give his name. Who has stepped in for you when you needed it, and how could you thank them this week?

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Questions

What is Favor?

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home