Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome

Acts 23:1-11

Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.

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,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Why?

My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day. This is the mind of Paul to serve the Lord. So we should fulfill our duty to God in all good conscience 

The Pharisees and Sadducees have different viewpoints about the resurrection of the dead and about the spirit and angels. So there was a dispute among them. So the commander ordered the troops to take Paul away from them by force. It is protected Paul won't be hurt.

All of these have the way of the Lord, Paul will go to Rome to testify to the Lord. The difference is not in Paul's way but in God's way, not in normal citizens but in a special position. Solder protected Paul to Rome and prepared food and transportation.

How?

God's way beyond our way, God's mind beyond our mind. And fulfill my duty to God in all good conscience.