1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,040 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and Paul dwelled two whole years in 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: his own hired house and received all that came in 3 00:00:08,880 --> 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 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,479 Speaker 1: and year of my journey, I thank you that through 6 00:00:22,640 --> 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 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: take my life to the next level. When people hear 9 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: my name, I thank you Lord that they see that 10 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: I am a person of action and that I get 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: things done. Like Paul in his lifetime, I stand in 12 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: the shadow of great men and women who have gone 13 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: before me to show me that faith in God is 14 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: never wasted. Confidence. May Paul's ability to focus on objectives 15 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: and not obstacles rub off on me. May Paul's words 16 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:10,319 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 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: God given absolutes and instruction be the anchor in which 19 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: I set out to establish the life of my ministry, family, business, 20 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:34,839 Speaker 1: and personal growth. In Jesus Name, Amen, listening to these 21 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 1: daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from 22 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,759 Speaker 1: the Lord by listening to to day's Bible in a Year, 23 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com 24 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: The End. 25 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 2: In our last story, Paul endured stills and shipwrecks with 26 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 2: his captors on their journey to Rome. The wind and 27 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 2: waves were relentless and the hope of the men was fading. 28 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 2: The men were left shipwrecked and defeated on the shores 29 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 2: of Malta. Now we reach the end of Paul's recorded 30 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 2: journey as he finally makes his way to Rome. He 31 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: meets the believers in Rome and is embraced by the 32 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 2: Jews inspired by the Book of Acts. 33 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 3: We're so glad you joined us on the Bible and 34 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 3: of your podcast today, The Bible Inty. Your podcast is 35 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 3: an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to 36 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 3: you each week through the support of listeners just like you. 37 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 3: Your support today is so important that we want to 38 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 3: thank you for your gift by giving you a copy 39 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 3: of my book called The Jesus Book. It is a 40 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 3: powerful guide that shows how every book of the Bible 41 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,959 Speaker 3: points to Jesus and how his living word, the truth 42 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 3: of God's word will transform your life. So to get 43 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 3: a copy of the Jesus Book, simply go to Jack 44 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 3: Graham slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham dot org slash Jesus, 45 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,800 Speaker 3: and thank you for your support. In our last episode, 46 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 3: we heard how the ship that carried Paul and other 47 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 3: prisoners headed to Rome was overwhelmed by a storm and 48 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 3: forced to run aground on an island. Throughout days of 49 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 3: terror and distress, Paul comforted the crew and passengers, telling 50 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 3: them that the God he served would spare every life 51 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 3: on ship. After more than two weeks of peril, they 52 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 3: finally arrived safely on the island of Malta, just as 53 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 3: Paul said they would. Today we'll hear how the inhabitants 54 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 3: of Malta were kind and welcoming, and how God works 55 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 3: through Paul to heal the sick on the island and 56 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 3: to provide a way to leave the island. We'll also 57 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 3: hear of Paul's arrival in Rome, the welcome he received 58 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 3: from the church there, and the openness of the Jews 59 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 3: in Rome to hear about hope in Jesus Christ. So 60 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 3: let's listen now to this reading from the Book of Acts. 61 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 2: The soldiers, sailors, and prisoners all lay on their backs, 62 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 2: looking up at the blue skies above. They were exhausted, 63 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 2: sapped of all energy. Months at sea, with rain and 64 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: wind beating down at them had taken its toll. However, 65 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 2: they were happy to be on shore, even if it 66 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 2: was because of a shipwreck. Luke and Paul lay on 67 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 2: the sand, unbelievably grateful to God for his protection. As 68 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 2: they stared at the baby blue skies, they heard a 69 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: rustling in the trees behind them. The men arose to 70 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 2: their feet to find natives peering out at them. They 71 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 2: emerged from the plants with trepidation, seeing that the Romans 72 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 2: still carried some of their weapons. It didn't take long 73 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: for the men to make peace with the natives. They 74 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 2: were surprisingly kind and shared their food with the men. 75 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 2: Their gentleness was unusual but refreshing. As the night came, 76 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 2: they all sat by the fire, warming themselves with the 77 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 2: bright flames. Paul arose to gather more sticks to put 78 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 2: into the fire. Not knowing that a viper lay hidden 79 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 2: in the reeds. Paul picked up the reeds and carried 80 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: them to the fire. He threw them in. The viper 81 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 2: still among the twigs leaped out of the flames and 82 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 2: fastened itself to Paul's hand. All the men stepped back, 83 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 2: afraid of more vipers emerging from the fire, Yet Paul 84 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 2: seemed to not be alarmed. He quietly shook his hand 85 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 2: above the fire, and the viper perished by the flames. 86 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,919 Speaker 2: The natives stood in silence, waiting for Paul's hand to 87 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,359 Speaker 2: swell up in his face to grow pale, But nothing happened. 88 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 2: Paul did not have a fever or chills. His hand 89 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 2: did not swell, nor was he in pain. The natives 90 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:41,280 Speaker 2: watched him curiously through the flames. They observed his calm 91 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 2: demeanor and gentle smile. Who is this man, they whispered, 92 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 2: He must be a god. Although Paul suffered no illness, 93 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 2: the chief of the village became very ill with fever 94 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 2: and dysentery. Sweat beat down his brow, and chills covered 95 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 2: his entire body. Paul knelt beside him, joyful for the 96 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 2: opportunity to care for him. He prayed over him as 97 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 2: well as all the other people on the island who 98 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,799 Speaker 2: were diseased, and all of them were cured. They honored 99 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 2: them and rejoiced over Paul. And his companions, so much 100 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 2: so that they allowed them to set sail with their 101 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: only vessel back to Rome. When they entered Rome, they 102 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 2: were greeted by believers who had been expecting them. The soldiers, sailors, 103 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 2: and prisoners were all embraced by the Roman Church. Their 104 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 2: love for them was overwhelming. Their love and care was 105 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 2: like a warm blanket to a weary soul. Paul's heart 106 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 2: melted when he met the believers at Rome. He had 107 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 2: always desired to see them, and now he finally had 108 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 2: a chance. After three days, Paul called for the Jewish 109 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 2: leaders to gather. He told them of his plight and 110 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 2: his rivalry with the Jews in Israel and Asia. However, 111 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 2: the Jews in Rome were less hostile towards Paul. We 112 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,919 Speaker 2: have not heard any evil words spoken against you, they said. 113 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 2: In fact, we would love to hear your message. So 114 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 2: Paul preached the Gods to all the Jews in Rome. 115 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 2: They more than anyone, knew about the oppression of the 116 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 2: Roman Empire. They more than anyone, desired a savior, so 117 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: they listened. Their hearts were enthralled by the message of Christ, 118 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 2: his love, mercy, and fulfillment of prophecy. Drew them in. 119 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 2: Some believed, others did not. However, Paul was embraced by them. 120 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: Paul's life would not end in a bed surrounded by 121 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 2: loved ones. Eventually he would go before Caesar and be 122 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 2: deemed as a threat. Despite his end, Paul served as 123 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 2: an example to all who believed in Jesus. He was 124 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: an example that someone dedicated to evil can be used 125 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: for good. He was an example of the weakness being 126 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 2: used as strength. He was an example of hardship being 127 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 2: used for the glory of God. Paul the Apostle once 128 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: saw the Pharisee, died with his head apart from his shoulders. 129 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 2: Yet his work for the Gospel echoes still. His letters 130 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 2: to the churches have strengthened generations of Christystians to elevate 131 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 2: Jesus above all else. Thus ended the recorded acts of 132 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 2: the Apostles. Yet the same spirit lives in every believer 133 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 2: to this day. The same spirit who healed millions, preached 134 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 2: boldly in the temple, gave visions for redemption, and led 135 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 2: with grace, still lives in the hearts of all those 136 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 2: who believe in Christ. So the acts of the believers 137 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 2: still continue to this day, leading people to the presence 138 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,439 Speaker 2: of God and creating a culture of flourishing until Jesus 139 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 2: returns Amen. 140 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 3: In today's reading, the shipwrecked sailors, soldiers, and prisoners are 141 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 3: on the island of Malta, where they are washed up, shaken, 142 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 3: but safe. To their great surprise, those who lived on 143 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 3: Malta were kind and hospitable, helping them gather kindling and 144 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 3: start a fire for warmth. Paul set to work gathering 145 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 3: firewood too, and was bidden by a viper, a poisonous snake, 146 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 3: which should have killed him. The Maltese people, seeing this, 147 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 3: assumed he must be evil and this was an act 148 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 3: of cosmic justice. They were sure he would swell up 149 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 3: and die, but he shook off the snake and walked 150 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:19,839 Speaker 3: away unharmed. God had spared Paul, and God had protected 151 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 3: this man and opened doors for Paul to heal the 152 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 3: sick in Malta. We also know that Paul never missed 153 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 3: an opportunity to share his faith in Jesus Christ, to 154 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 3: share the hope that is ours in Christ. He is 155 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 3: a great example always for us wherever we go, that 156 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,440 Speaker 3: we would tell people about Jesus. After several months on 157 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 3: the island, they were given a boat to depart and 158 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 3: conclude the journey to Rome. It had been a long, 159 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 3: arduous voyage, and finally Paul was going to get his 160 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 3: opportunity to tell Caesar himself, the most powerful man in 161 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 3: the world, about the Lord Jesus Christ, and preach to 162 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 3: him of the Gospel. Their arrival in Rome had been 163 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 3: anticipated by the brothers and sisters there, and they were 164 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 3: greeted warmly by believers, some who had traveled from across 165 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 3: the region. Paul was given a great deal of freedom 166 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 3: and allowed to lodge by himself, with only a Roman 167 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 3: soldier there to watch over him. Paul, of course, would 168 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,200 Speaker 3: share the Gospel with these soldiers every time they would 169 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 3: exchange duty. Paul had eagerly awaited a chance to meet 170 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 3: with the church in Rome, so we could imagine how 171 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 3: overjoyed he was to finally get the opportunity, even under 172 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 3: these circumstances of imprisonment. But it was not only the 173 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 3: believers whom Paul wanted to see. He reached out to 174 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 3: the Jews in Rome to tell his side of the 175 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 3: story and assure them that he was not causing the 176 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,319 Speaker 3: kind of trouble he was being accused of. In Jerusalem. 177 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 3: These Jews were much more reasonable, and they received no 178 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 3: report about Paul from Jerusalem. Not only were they not 179 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 3: opposed to Paul, they wanted to hear what he believed 180 00:10:56,559 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 3: about Jesus the Messiah. They had heard about this group 181 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 3: known as the Way Taken for the words of Jesus. 182 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 3: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This 183 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 3: is now an opportunity for them to hear about this 184 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:14,959 Speaker 3: way of salvation through Jesus Christ and this man. Paul 185 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 3: spoke with compassion and strong convictions. In Acts twenty eight 186 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 3: twenty three we read when they had appointed a day 187 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 3: for him, they came to him at his lodging in 188 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 3: greater numbers. From morning till evening. He expounded to them, 189 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,199 Speaker 3: testifying to the Kingdom of God and trying to convince 190 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 3: them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and 191 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 3: from the prophets. It might be easy to miss the 192 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:43,760 Speaker 3: importance the significance of this passage. Remember that in every 193 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 3: city Paul went to the temple seeking out the Jews 194 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 3: to share the gospel, and in every city he was 195 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 3: run out, often under cover of night, lest he would 196 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,959 Speaker 3: be killed by the Jews. Now Paul is under house arrest, 197 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 3: unable to go to the temple, but these religious people 198 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:05,200 Speaker 3: came to him. You see, the gospel cannot be stopped. 199 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 3: The message of Jesus is unstoppable. It will not be hindered. 200 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 3: God will always provide a way for lost people to 201 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 3: hear about His word through faithful Christians. We must be 202 00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 3: faithful as Paul was and so many others have been 203 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 3: throughout the generations, and be bold in our witness and 204 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:27,199 Speaker 3: take every opportunity we have to share Christ. After Paul 205 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 3: had shared, some believed and were added to the number 206 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 3: of Christians in Rome. Others were not convinced and remained 207 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 3: in their unbelief, but they did not seek to harm Paul. 208 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 3: The Book of Acts closes on an incredibly happy note, 209 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:44,559 Speaker 3: telling us that Paul lived peacefully there for two years, 210 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 3: openly sharing Christ with all. During this time there, Paul 211 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 3: wrote letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and also the 212 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:58,679 Speaker 3: Letter to Philemon. His letters give hope, strength, wisdom and 213 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 3: faith to us today, just as they did when he 214 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 3: wrote them so many years ago. These words, of course, 215 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:07,840 Speaker 3: were not just the words of a man, but the 216 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 3: word of God. For God's word is inspired breathed out 217 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 3: by the Holy Spirit. All scripture is given by inspiration 218 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 3: of God. And when we read the Bible, from Genesis 219 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 3: to Revelation, we are reading God's book. We are reading 220 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 3: the book all about Jesus. Paul was eventually released and 221 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 3: continued his missionary work in Europe. But later Paul would 222 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 3: be arrested again by Emperor Nero the Caesar and would 223 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 3: be martyred for his faith. As he would later describe 224 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 3: to Timothy in his letter to him, he had fought 225 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 3: the good fight, he had kept the faith, he had 226 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 3: finished the course, and along the way he had blessed 227 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 3: countless people and still does today through the centuries by 228 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 3: his own personal example of faithfulness and boldness and compassion, 229 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 3: his missionary zeal for the lost and the least and 230 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 3: the last, all all around the world. And he gave 231 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 3: us these magnificent New Testament letters that we still read 232 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:10,319 Speaker 3: today for our Christian growth. But we need to remember this, 233 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 3: as in any book of the Bible, we miss the 234 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,199 Speaker 3: point if we look to the human personalities or the 235 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 3: characters of the Bible as the heroes. Paul himself was 236 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 3: a hero, but he always pointed people to Jesus he 237 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 3: always stepped aside and pointed to Christ and said, Jesus 238 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 3: is Lord. The Book of Acts is a wonderful story 239 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,480 Speaker 3: of the New Testament Church, and it reminds us that 240 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 3: the witness of Christ cannot be stopped. The gospel of 241 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 3: our Lord Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and resurrection. It 242 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 3: marches all around the world so that all may ultimately hear. 243 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 3: Paul's life ended, but God's work and witness did not. 244 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 3: And the same Holy Spirit that guided Paul, who strengthened 245 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 3: him through persecution, beating, imprisonment, and even death. This spirit 246 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:03,280 Speaker 3: the whole lives in us and enables us and empowers 247 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 3: us to proclaim the name of Christ today. May we 248 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 3: continue to be faithful and fervent till the whole world hears. 249 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 3: Dear God, we thank you for the scriptures. We thank 250 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 3: you that you have inspired these words not just of 251 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 3: human origin, but by the Holy Spirit. That the Bible 252 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 3: is your book. And we thank you for the story 253 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 3: of Acts, the story of the Church and Christians as 254 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 3: they press forward with the message of hope and salvation 255 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 3: all across the known world and ultimately to the whole world. 256 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 3: May we in our generation be bold in our witness 257 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:44,520 Speaker 3: and continue to work faithfully for the Lord Jesus Christ, 258 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 3: growing his church, building believers until he comes again in Jesus' name. Amen. 259 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible into Your podcast, 260 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 3: and before we go, I wanted to let you know 261 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 3: that the Bible into Your Podcast is an hour outreach 262 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 3: of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to you each 263 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 3: week through the support of listeners like you. Your support 264 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 3: today is so important that we want to thank you 265 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 3: for your gift by giving you a copy of my 266 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 3: book called The Jesus Book. This book is a powerful 267 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 3: guide that shows how every book in the Bible points 268 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,120 Speaker 3: to Christ and how you can better read and understand 269 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:27,320 Speaker 3: the Bible and how God's Word transforms our lives. So 270 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 3: to get your copy of The Jesus Book, simply go 271 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 3: to Jack Graham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham 272 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 3: dot org slash Jesus and thank you for your support.