Acts 23:11

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness at Rome also.

Christ himself comforted and strengthened his apostle. Trenchard analyzed the meaning of this episode thus:

There is not a whisper of reproach but: (a) encouragement from the Lord of all comfort, (b) the ratification of the witness in Jerusalem, despite all the turbulence; and (c) confirmation of the purpose that Paul should witness in Rome.[14]

Our Lord's specific assurance that Paul should go to Rome could indicate that Paul's mind had been deeply troubled by events which he might have thought were the end of any hopes he had of going to Rome. The very fact of Jesus' appearance to Paul in this context speaks of the absolute necessity of it.