1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and Paul dwelled two whole years in 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 1: his own hired house and received all that came in 3 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: unto him preaching the Kingdom of God Acts twenty eight 4 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: thirty and thirty one. With each passing day, week, month, 5 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: and year of my journey, I thank you that through 6 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: my steadfast dedication to You and my craft, I am 7 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,639 Speaker 1: now gaining the respect and influence needed for me to 8 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: take my life to the next level. When people hear 9 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: my name, I thank you Lord that they see that 10 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: I am a person of action and that I get 11 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: things done. Like Paul in his lifetime, I stand in 12 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: the shadow of great men and women who have gone 13 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: before me to show me that faith in God is 14 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: never wasted. Confidence. May Paul's ability to focus on objectives 15 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: and not obstacles rub off on me. May Paul's words 16 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: remind me to speak with authority and credibility. And lastly, 17 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: may Paul's dedication to never compromise and never drift from 18 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: God given absolutes and instruction be the anchor in which 19 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:26,040 Speaker 1: I set out to establish the life of my ministry, family, business, 20 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: and personal growth. In Jesus Name, Amen, listening to these 21 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from 22 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: the Lord by listening to to day's Bible in a 23 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: Year brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com. 24 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 2: The End. In our last story, Paul endured still homes 25 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 2: and shipwrecks with his captors on their journey to Rome. 26 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: The wind and waves were relentless and the hope of 27 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 2: the men was fading. The men were left shipwrecked and 28 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 2: defeated on the shores of Malta. Now we reach the 29 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 2: end of Paul's recorded journey as he finally makes his 30 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 2: way to Rome. He meets the believers in Rome and 31 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: is embraced by the Jews inspired by the Book of Acts. 32 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 3: Hello Jack Graham, once again with the Bible in a 33 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 3: Year podcast, Thanks for joining us. In our last episode, 34 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 3: we heard how the ship that carried Paul and other 35 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 3: prisoners headed to Rome was overwhelmed by a storm and 36 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 3: forced to run aground on an island. Throughout days of 37 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 3: terror and distress, Paul comforted the crew and passengers, telling 38 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 3: them that the God he served would spare every life 39 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 3: on ship. After more than two weeks of peril, they 40 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 3: finally arrived safely on the island of Malta, just as 41 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 3: Paul said they would. Today we'll hear how the inhabitants 42 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 3: of Malta were kind and welcoming, and how God works 43 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 3: through Paul to heal the sick on the island and 44 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 3: to provide a way to leave the island. We'll also 45 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 3: hear of Paul's arrival in Rome, the welcome he received 46 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 3: from the church there, and the openness of the Jews 47 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 3: in Rome to hear about hope in Jesus Christ. So 48 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 3: let's listen now to this reading from the Book of Acts. 49 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 2: The soldiers, sailors, and prisoners all lay on their backs, 50 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 2: looking up at the blue skies above. They were exhausted, 51 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: sapped of all energy. Months at sea, with rain and 52 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 2: wind beating down at them, had taken its toll. However, 53 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: they were happy to be on shore, even if it 54 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 2: was because of a shipwreck. Luke and Paul lay on 55 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 2: the sand, unbelievably grateful to God for his protection. As 56 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 2: they stared at the baby blue skies, they heard a 57 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 2: rustling in the trees behind them. The men arose to 58 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 2: their feet to find natives peering out at them. They 59 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 2: emerged from the plants with trepidation, seeing that the mans 60 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 2: still carried some of their weapons. It didn't take long 61 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: for the men to make peace with the natives. They 62 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 2: were surprisingly kind and shared their food with the men. 63 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 2: Their gentleness was unusual but refreshing. As the night came, 64 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: they all sat by the fire, warming themselves with the 65 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 2: bright flames. Paul arose to gather more sticks to put 66 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 2: into the fire, not knowing that a viper lay hidden 67 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 2: in the reeds. Paul picked up the reeds and carried 68 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: them to the fire. He threw them in. The viper, 69 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 2: still among the twigs, leaped out of the flames and 70 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 2: fastened itself to Paul's hand. All the men stepped back, 71 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 2: afraid of more vipers emerging from the fire, Yet Paul 72 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 2: seemed to not be alarmed. He quietly shook his hand 73 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 2: above the fire, and the viper perished by the flames. 74 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 2: The natives stood in silence, waiting for Paul's hand to 75 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 2: swell up in his face to grow pale. But nothing happened. 76 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 2: Paul did not have a fever or chills. His hand 77 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,040 Speaker 2: did not swell, nor was he in pain. The natives 78 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,799 Speaker 2: watched him curiously through the flames. They observed his calm 79 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 2: demeanor and gentle smile. Who is this man, they whispered, 80 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 2: He must be a god. Although Paul suffered no illness, 81 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 2: the chief of the village became very ill with fever 82 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 2: and dysentery. Sweat beat down his brow, and chills covered 83 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 2: his entire body. Paul knelt beside him, joyful for the 84 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 2: opportunity to care for him. He prayed over him as 85 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 2: well as all the other people on the island who 86 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 2: were diseased, and all of them were cured. They honored 87 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,039 Speaker 2: them and rejoiced over Paul and his companions, so much 88 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 2: so that they allowed them to set sail with their 89 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 2: only vessel back to Rome. When they entered Rome, they 90 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 2: were greeted by believers who had been expecting them. The soldiers, sailors, 91 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 2: and prisoners were all embraced by the Roman Church. Their 92 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 2: love for them was overwhelming. Their love and care was 93 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 2: like a warm blanket to a weary soul. Paul's heart 94 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 2: melted when he met the believers at Rome. He had 95 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 2: always desired to see them, and now he finally had 96 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 2: a chance. After three days, Paul called for the Jewish 97 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 2: leaders to gather. He told them of his plight and 98 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: his rivalry with the Jews in Israel in Asia. However, 99 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: the Jews in Rome were less hostile towards Paul. We 100 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 2: have not heard any evil words spoken against you, they said. 101 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 2: In fact, we would love to hear your message. So 102 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 2: Paul preached the Gospel to all the Jews in Rome. 103 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 2: They more than anyone, knew about the oppression of the 104 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 2: Roman Empire. They more than anyone desired a savior, so 105 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:36,600 Speaker 2: they listened. Their hearts were enthralled by the message of Christ. 106 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:40,600 Speaker 2: His love, mercy, and fulfillment of prophecy drew them in. 107 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 2: Some believed, others did not. However, Paul was embraced by them. 108 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,760 Speaker 2: Paul's life would not end in a bed surrounded by 109 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 2: loved ones. Eventually he would go before Caesar and be 110 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,840 Speaker 2: deemed as a threat. Despite his end, Paul served as 111 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 2: an example to all who believed in Jesus. He was 112 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 2: an example that someone dedicated to evil can be used 113 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 2: for good. He was an example of the weakness being 114 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,559 Speaker 2: used as strength. He was an example of hardship being 115 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: used for the glory of God. Paul the Apostle once 116 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 2: saw the Pharisee died with his head apart from his shoulders. 117 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: Yet his work for the Gospel echoes. Still his letters 118 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 2: to the churches have strengthened generations of Christians to elevate 119 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: Jesus above all else. Thus ended the recorded acts of 120 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: the Apostles. Yet the same spirit lives in every believer 121 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 2: to this day. The same spirit who healed millions, preached 122 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 2: boldly in the temple, gave visions for redemption, and led 123 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 2: with grace, still lives in the hearts of all those 124 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 2: who believe in Christ. So the acts of the believers 125 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 2: still continue to this day, leading people to the presence 126 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 2: of God and creating a culture of flourishing until Jesus 127 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 2: returns Amen. 128 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 3: In today's reading, the shipwrecked sailors, soldiers, and prisoners are 129 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 3: on the island of Malta, where they are washed up, shaken, 130 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 3: but safe. To their great surprise, those who lived on 131 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,760 Speaker 3: Malta were kind and hospitable, helping them gather kindling and 132 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:21,239 Speaker 3: start a fire for warmth. Paul set to work gathering 133 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 3: firewood too, and was bidden by a viper, a poisonous snake, 134 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: which should have killed him. The Maltese people, seeing this, 135 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 3: assumed he must be evil, and this was an act 136 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 3: of cosmic justice. They were sure he would swell up 137 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,839 Speaker 3: and die, but he shook off the snake and walked 138 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:43,319 Speaker 3: away unharmed. God had spared Paul, and God had protected 139 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 3: this man and opened doors for Paul to heal the 140 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 3: sick in Malta. We also know that Paul never missed 141 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 3: an opportunity to share his faith in Jesus Christ, to 142 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 3: share the hope that his hours in Christ. He is 143 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 3: a great example always for us wherever we go, that 144 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 3: we would tell people about Jesus. After several months on 145 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 3: the island, they were given a boat to depart and 146 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 3: conclude the journey to Rome. It had been a long, 147 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 3: arduous voyage, and finally Paul was going to get his 148 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:16,280 Speaker 3: opportunity to tell Caesar himself, the most powerful man in 149 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 3: the world, about the Lord Jesus Christ, and preach to 150 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 3: him of the Gospel. Their arrival in Rome had been 151 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 3: anticipated by the brothers and sisters there, and they were 152 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 3: greeted warmly by believers, some who had traveled from across 153 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 3: the region. Paul was given a great deal of freedom 154 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 3: and allowed to lodge by himself, with only a Roman 155 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 3: soldier there to watch over him. Paul, of course, would 156 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 3: share the Gospel with these soldiers every time they would 157 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 3: exchange duty. Paul had eagerly awaited a chance to meet 158 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 3: with the church in Rome, so we can imagine how 159 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 3: overjoyed he was to finally get the opportunity, even under 160 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 3: these circumstances of imprisonment. But it was not only the 161 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 3: believers whom Paul wanted to see. He reached out to 162 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 3: the Jews in Rome to tell his side of the 163 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 3: story and assure them that he was not causing the 164 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 3: kind of trouble he was being accused of in Jerusalem. 165 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 3: These Jews were much more reasonable, and they received no 166 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 3: report about Paul from Jerusalem. Not only were they not 167 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 3: opposed to Paul, they wanted to hear what he believed 168 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 3: about Jesus the Messiah. They had heard about this group 169 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,680 Speaker 3: known as the Way Taken for the words of Jesus. 170 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 3: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This 171 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 3: is now an opportunity for them to hear about this 172 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 3: way of salvation through Jesus Christ and this man. Paul 173 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 3: spoke with compassion and strong convictions. In Acts twenty eight 174 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 3: twenty three we read when they had appointed a day 175 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 3: for him, they came to him at his lodging in 176 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 3: greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, 177 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 3: testifying to the Kingdom of God and trying to convince 178 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 3: them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and 179 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 3: from the prophets. It might be easy to miss the 180 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 3: importance the significance of this passage. Remember that in every 181 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 3: city Paul went to the temple seeking out the Jews 182 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 3: to share the Gospel, and in every city he was 183 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 3: run out, often under cover of night, lest he would 184 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 3: be killed by the Jews. Now Paul is under house arrest, 185 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:24,680 Speaker 3: unable to go to the temple, but these religious people 186 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:28,680 Speaker 3: came to him. You see, the Gospel cannot be stopped. 187 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 3: The message of Jesus is unstoppable. It will not be hindered. 188 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 3: God will always provide a way for lost people to 189 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 3: hear about His word through faithful Christians. We must be 190 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 3: faithful as Paul was and so many others have been 191 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 3: throughout the generations, and be bold in our witness and 192 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 3: take every opportunity we have to share Christ. After Paul 193 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 3: had shared, some believed and were added to the number 194 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 3: of Christians in Rome. Others were not convinced and remained 195 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 3: in their unbelief, but they did not seek to harm Paul. 196 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 3: The Book of Acts closes on an incredibly happy note, 197 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 3: telling us that Paul lived peacefully there for two years, 198 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 3: openly sharing Christ with all. During this time there, Paul 199 00:12:12,679 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 3: wrote letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and also the 200 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 3: Letter to Philemon. His letters give hope, strength, wisdom, and 201 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 3: faith to us today, just as they did when he 202 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 3: wrote them so many years ago. These words, of course, 203 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 3: were not just the words of a man, but the 204 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 3: word of God. For God's word is inspired, breathed out 205 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 3: by the Holy Spirit. All scripture is given by inspiration 206 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,559 Speaker 3: of God. And when we read the Bible, from Genesis 207 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 3: to Revelation, we are reading God's book. We are reading 208 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 3: the book all about Jesus. Paul was eventually released and 209 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 3: continued his missionary work in Europe. But later Paul would 210 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 3: be arrested again by Emperor Nero the Caesar and would 211 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 3: be martyred for his faith. As he would later describe 212 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 3: to Timothy in his letter to him, he had fought 213 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 3: the good fight, he had kept the faith, he had 214 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:10,880 Speaker 3: finished the course, and along the way he had blessed 215 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 3: countless people, and still does today through the centuries by 216 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 3: his own personal example of faithfulness and boldness and compassion, 217 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 3: his missionary zeal for the lost and the least and 218 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 3: the last all around the world. And he gave us 219 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 3: these magnificent New Testament letters that we still read today 220 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 3: for our Christian growth. But we need to remember this, 221 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 3: as in any book of the Bible, we miss the 222 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 3: point if we look to the human personalities or the 223 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 3: characters of the Bible as the heroes. Paul himself was 224 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 3: a hero, but he always pointed people to Jesus. He 225 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:51,200 Speaker 3: always stepped aside and pointed to Christ and said, Jesus 226 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 3: is Lord. The Book of Acts is a wonderful story 227 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 3: of the New Testament Church, and it reminds us that 228 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,360 Speaker 3: the witness of Christ cannot be stopped. The Gospel of 229 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 3: our Lord Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and resurrection. It 230 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 3: marches all around the world so that all may ultimately hear. 231 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:13,280 Speaker 3: Paul's life ended, but God's work and witness did not. 232 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 3: And the same Holy Spirit that guided Paul, who strengthened 233 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 3: him through persecution, beating, imprisonment, and even death. This spirit, 234 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,080 Speaker 3: the Holy Spirit, lives in us and enables us and 235 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:30,240 Speaker 3: empowers us to proclaim the name of Christ today. May 236 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 3: we continue to be faithful and fervent till the whole 237 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 3: world hears. Dear God, we thank you for the scriptures. 238 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 3: We thank you that you have inspired these words not 239 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,400 Speaker 3: just of human origin, but by the Holy Spirit. That 240 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 3: the Bible is your book. And we thank you for 241 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 3: the story of Acts, the story of the Church and 242 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 3: Christians as they press forward with the message of hope 243 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 3: and salvation all across the known world and ultimately to 244 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 3: the whole world. May we and our generation be bold 245 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 3: in our witness and continue to work faithfully for the 246 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 3: Lord Jesus Christ, growing his church, building believers until he 247 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 3: comes again in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you for listening 248 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm pastor Jack 249 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 3: Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download thepray dot Com app and 250 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 3: make prayer and Bible study the priority of your life. 251 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 3: If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with someone you love, 252 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 3: because by sharing this with others, you can make a 253 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 3: difference in their lives, a big, big difference. You can 254 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 3: help ensure that more and more people hear these life 255 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 3: changing readings from God's Word with a gift today to 256 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 3: keep these gospel centered messages reaching people around the world. 257 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 3: Please give now at www dot bible, in a year 258 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 3: dot com, and if you want more resources on how 259 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 3: to tap into God's power for Christian living, visit Jack 260 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 3: Graham dot org. When you visit us at Jack Graham 261 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 3: dot org, you will find many free resources as to 262 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 3: how you may grow in your faith and share your 263 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 3: witness with the Gospel. We would love for you to 264 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 3: take us up on that offering. God bless you.