December 2, 2025 • 16 mins
In this Bible Story, we reach the end of Paul’s recorded journey as he finally makes his way to Rome. He meets the believers in Rome, and is embraced by the Jews. This story is inspired by Acts 28. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.
Today's Bible verse is Acts 28:30-31 from the King James Version.
Episode 241: As the Soldiers, Sailors, and Prisoners lay exhausted on the beach where they just landed, some of the natives came and welcomed them. As they all sat by the fire, Paul threw some more sticks in and was bitten by a viper. What should have killed him did not, and when the natives noticed this they asked him to pray over their sick chief. After this, Paul and the men with him finally made it to Rome. There they were welcomed by the believers and preached the Word to Jews and Gentiles alike.
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Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max Bard
Producer: Ben Gammon
Hosted by: Pastor Jack Graham
Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith
Bible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray, and Paul dwelled two whole years in
his own hired house and received all that came in
unto him preaching the Kingdom of God Acts twenty eight
thirty and thirty one. With each passing day, week, month,
and year of my journey, I thank you that through
(00:22):
my steadfast dedication to You and my craft, I am
now gaining the respect and influence needed for me to
take my life to the next level. When people hear
my name, I thank you Lord that they see that
I am a person of action and that I get
things done. Like Paul in his lifetime, I stand in
(00:46):
the shadow of great men and women who have gone
before me to show me that faith in God is
never wasted. Confidence. May Paul's ability to focus on objectives
and not obstacles rub off on me. May Paul's words
remind me to speak with authority and credibility. And lastly,
(01:11):
may Paul's dedication to never compromise and never drift from
God given absolutes and instruction be the anchor in which
I set out to establish the life of my ministry, family, business,
and personal growth. In Jesus Name, Amen, listening to these
(01:34):
daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from
the Lord by listening to to day's Bible in a Year,
brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com
(01:55):
The End.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
In our last story, Paul endured stills and shipwrecks with
his captors on their journey to Rome. The wind and
waves were relentless and the hope of the men was fading.
The men were left shipwrecked and defeated on the shores
of Malta. Now we reach the end of Paul's recorded
journey as he finally makes his way to Rome. He
(02:17):
meets the believers in Rome and is embraced by the
Jews inspired by the Book of Acts.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
We're so glad you joined us on the Bible and
of your podcast today, The Bible Inty. Your podcast is
an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to
you each week through the support of listeners just like you.
Your support today is so important that we want to
thank you for your gift by giving you a copy
of my book called The Jesus Book. It is a
(02:46):
powerful guide that shows how every book of the Bible
points to Jesus and how his living word, the truth
of God's word will transform your life. So to get
a copy of the Jesus Book, simply go to Jack
Graham slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham dot org slash Jesus,
and thank you for your support. In our last episode,
(03:09):
we heard how the ship that carried Paul and other
prisoners headed to Rome was overwhelmed by a storm and
forced to run aground on an island. Throughout days of
terror and distress, Paul comforted the crew and passengers, telling
them that the God he served would spare every life
on ship. After more than two weeks of peril, they
(03:30):
finally arrived safely on the island of Malta, just as
Paul said they would. Today we'll hear how the inhabitants
of Malta were kind and welcoming, and how God works
through Paul to heal the sick on the island and
to provide a way to leave the island. We'll also
hear of Paul's arrival in Rome, the welcome he received
from the church there, and the openness of the Jews
(03:52):
in Rome to hear about hope in Jesus Christ. So
let's listen now to this reading from the Book of Acts.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
The soldiers, sailors, and prisoners all lay on their backs,
looking up at the blue skies above. They were exhausted,
sapped of all energy. Months at sea, with rain and
wind beating down at them had taken its toll. However,
they were happy to be on shore, even if it
was because of a shipwreck. Luke and Paul lay on
the sand, unbelievably grateful to God for his protection. As
(04:24):
they stared at the baby blue skies, they heard a
rustling in the trees behind them. The men arose to
their feet to find natives peering out at them. They
emerged from the plants with trepidation, seeing that the Romans
still carried some of their weapons. It didn't take long
for the men to make peace with the natives. They
were surprisingly kind and shared their food with the men.
(04:46):
Their gentleness was unusual but refreshing. As the night came,
they all sat by the fire, warming themselves with the
bright flames. Paul arose to gather more sticks to put
into the fire. Not knowing that a viper lay hidden
in the reeds. Paul picked up the reeds and carried
them to the fire. He threw them in. The viper
still among the twigs leaped out of the flames and
(05:08):
fastened itself to Paul's hand. All the men stepped back,
afraid of more vipers emerging from the fire, Yet Paul
seemed to not be alarmed. He quietly shook his hand
above the fire, and the viper perished by the flames.
The natives stood in silence, waiting for Paul's hand to
swell up in his face to grow pale, But nothing happened.
(05:30):
Paul did not have a fever or chills. His hand
did not swell, nor was he in pain. The natives
watched him curiously through the flames. They observed his calm
demeanor and gentle smile. Who is this man, they whispered,
He must be a god. Although Paul suffered no illness,
the chief of the village became very ill with fever
(05:51):
and dysentery. Sweat beat down his brow, and chills covered
his entire body. Paul knelt beside him, joyful for the
opportunity to care for him. He prayed over him as
well as all the other people on the island who
were diseased, and all of them were cured. They honored
them and rejoiced over Paul. And his companions, so much
(06:12):
so that they allowed them to set sail with their
only vessel back to Rome. When they entered Rome, they
were greeted by believers who had been expecting them. The soldiers, sailors,
and prisoners were all embraced by the Roman Church. Their
love for them was overwhelming. Their love and care was
like a warm blanket to a weary soul. Paul's heart
(06:32):
melted when he met the believers at Rome. He had
always desired to see them, and now he finally had
a chance. After three days, Paul called for the Jewish
leaders to gather. He told them of his plight and
his rivalry with the Jews in Israel and Asia. However,
the Jews in Rome were less hostile towards Paul. We
have not heard any evil words spoken against you, they said.
(06:55):
In fact, we would love to hear your message. So
Paul preached the Gods to all the Jews in Rome.
They more than anyone, knew about the oppression of the
Roman Empire. They more than anyone, desired a savior, so
they listened. Their hearts were enthralled by the message of Christ,
his love, mercy, and fulfillment of prophecy. Drew them in.
(07:17):
Some believed, others did not. However, Paul was embraced by them.
Paul's life would not end in a bed surrounded by
loved ones. Eventually he would go before Caesar and be
deemed as a threat. Despite his end, Paul served as
an example to all who believed in Jesus. He was
an example that someone dedicated to evil can be used
(07:39):
for good. He was an example of the weakness being
used as strength. He was an example of hardship being
used for the glory of God. Paul the Apostle once
saw the Pharisee, died with his head apart from his shoulders.
Yet his work for the Gospel echoes still. His letters
to the churches have strengthened generations of Christystians to elevate
(08:01):
Jesus above all else. Thus ended the recorded acts of
the Apostles. Yet the same spirit lives in every believer
to this day. The same spirit who healed millions, preached
boldly in the temple, gave visions for redemption, and led
with grace, still lives in the hearts of all those
who believe in Christ. So the acts of the believers
(08:24):
still continue to this day, leading people to the presence
of God and creating a culture of flourishing until Jesus
returns Amen.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
In today's reading, the shipwrecked sailors, soldiers, and prisoners are
on the island of Malta, where they are washed up, shaken,
but safe. To their great surprise, those who lived on
Malta were kind and hospitable, helping them gather kindling and
start a fire for warmth. Paul set to work gathering
firewood too, and was bidden by a viper, a poisonous snake,
(09:01):
which should have killed him. The Maltese people, seeing this,
assumed he must be evil and this was an act
of cosmic justice. They were sure he would swell up
and die, but he shook off the snake and walked
away unharmed. God had spared Paul, and God had protected
this man and opened doors for Paul to heal the
(09:23):
sick in Malta. We also know that Paul never missed
an opportunity to share his faith in Jesus Christ, to
share the hope that is ours in Christ. He is
a great example always for us wherever we go, that
we would tell people about Jesus. After several months on
the island, they were given a boat to depart and
conclude the journey to Rome. It had been a long,
(09:45):
arduous voyage, and finally Paul was going to get his
opportunity to tell Caesar himself, the most powerful man in
the world, about the Lord Jesus Christ, and preach to
him of the Gospel. Their arrival in Rome had been
anticipated by the brothers and sisters there, and they were
greeted warmly by believers, some who had traveled from across
(10:06):
the region. Paul was given a great deal of freedom
and allowed to lodge by himself, with only a Roman
soldier there to watch over him. Paul, of course, would
share the Gospel with these soldiers every time they would
exchange duty. Paul had eagerly awaited a chance to meet
with the church in Rome, so we could imagine how
overjoyed he was to finally get the opportunity, even under
(10:29):
these circumstances of imprisonment. But it was not only the
believers whom Paul wanted to see. He reached out to
the Jews in Rome to tell his side of the
story and assure them that he was not causing the
kind of trouble he was being accused of. In Jerusalem.
These Jews were much more reasonable, and they received no
report about Paul from Jerusalem. Not only were they not
(10:53):
opposed to Paul, they wanted to hear what he believed
about Jesus the Messiah. They had heard about this group
known as the Way Taken for the words of Jesus.
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This
is now an opportunity for them to hear about this
way of salvation through Jesus Christ and this man. Paul
(11:15):
spoke with compassion and strong convictions. In Acts twenty eight
twenty three we read when they had appointed a day
for him, they came to him at his lodging in
greater numbers. From morning till evening. He expounded to them,
testifying to the Kingdom of God and trying to convince
them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and
(11:35):
from the prophets. It might be easy to miss the
importance the significance of this passage. Remember that in every
city Paul went to the temple seeking out the Jews
to share the gospel, and in every city he was
run out, often under cover of night, lest he would
be killed by the Jews. Now Paul is under house arrest,
(11:57):
unable to go to the temple, but these religious people
came to him. You see, the gospel cannot be stopped.
The message of Jesus is unstoppable. It will not be hindered.
God will always provide a way for lost people to
hear about His word through faithful Christians. We must be
faithful as Paul was and so many others have been
(12:19):
throughout the generations, and be bold in our witness and
take every opportunity we have to share Christ. After Paul
had shared, some believed and were added to the number
of Christians in Rome. Others were not convinced and remained
in their unbelief, but they did not seek to harm Paul.
The Book of Acts closes on an incredibly happy note,
(12:41):
telling us that Paul lived peacefully there for two years,
openly sharing Christ with all. During this time there, Paul
wrote letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and also the
Letter to Philemon. His letters give hope, strength, wisdom and
faith to us today, just as they did when he
(13:01):
wrote them so many years ago. These words, of course,
were not just the words of a man, but the
word of God. For God's word is inspired breathed out
by the Holy Spirit. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God. And when we read the Bible, from Genesis
to Revelation, we are reading God's book. We are reading
(13:22):
the book all about Jesus. Paul was eventually released and
continued his missionary work in Europe. But later Paul would
be arrested again by Emperor Nero the Caesar and would
be martyred for his faith. As he would later describe
to Timothy in his letter to him, he had fought
the good fight, he had kept the faith, he had
(13:44):
finished the course, and along the way he had blessed
countless people and still does today through the centuries by
his own personal example of faithfulness and boldness and compassion,
his missionary zeal for the lost and the least and
the last, all all around the world. And he gave
us these magnificent New Testament letters that we still read
(14:06):
today for our Christian growth. But we need to remember this,
as in any book of the Bible, we miss the
point if we look to the human personalities or the
characters of the Bible as the heroes. Paul himself was
a hero, but he always pointed people to Jesus he
always stepped aside and pointed to Christ and said, Jesus
(14:27):
is Lord. The Book of Acts is a wonderful story
of the New Testament Church, and it reminds us that
the witness of Christ cannot be stopped. The gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and resurrection. It
marches all around the world so that all may ultimately hear.
Paul's life ended, but God's work and witness did not.
(14:50):
And the same Holy Spirit that guided Paul, who strengthened
him through persecution, beating, imprisonment, and even death. This spirit
the whole lives in us and enables us and empowers
us to proclaim the name of Christ today. May we
continue to be faithful and fervent till the whole world hears.
(15:12):
Dear God, we thank you for the scriptures. We thank
you that you have inspired these words not just of
human origin, but by the Holy Spirit. That the Bible
is your book. And we thank you for the story
of Acts, the story of the Church and Christians as
they press forward with the message of hope and salvation
all across the known world and ultimately to the whole world.
(15:36):
May we in our generation be bold in our witness
and continue to work faithfully for the Lord Jesus Christ,
growing his church, building believers until he comes again in Jesus' name. Amen.
Thank you for listening to today's Bible into Your podcast,
and before we go, I wanted to let you know
(15:57):
that the Bible into Your Podcast is an hour outreach
of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to you each
week through the support of listeners like you. Your support
today is so important that we want to thank you
for your gift by giving you a copy of my
book called The Jesus Book. This book is a powerful
guide that shows how every book in the Bible points
(16:20):
to Christ and how you can better read and understand
the Bible and how God's Word transforms our lives. So
to get your copy of The Jesus Book, simply go
to Jack Graham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham
dot org slash Jesus and thank you for your support.
Let us pray, and Paul dwelled two whole years in
his own hired house and received all that came in
unto him preaching the Kingdom of God Acts twenty eight
thirty and thirty one. With each passing day, week, month,
and year of my journey, I thank you that through
(00:22):
my steadfast dedication to You and my craft, I am
now gaining the respect and influence needed for me to
take my life to the next level. When people hear
my name, I thank you Lord that they see that
I am a person of action and that I get
things done. Like Paul in his lifetime, I stand in
(00:46):
the shadow of great men and women who have gone
before me to show me that faith in God is
never wasted. Confidence. May Paul's ability to focus on objectives
and not obstacles rub off on me. May Paul's words
remind me to speak with authority and credibility. And lastly,
(01:11):
may Paul's dedication to never compromise and never drift from
God given absolutes and instruction be the anchor in which
I set out to establish the life of my ministry, family, business,
and personal growth. In Jesus Name, Amen, listening to these
(01:34):
daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from
the Lord by listening to to day's Bible in a Year,
brought to you by Bible in a Year dot com
(01:55):
The End.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
In our last story, Paul endured stills and shipwrecks with
his captors on their journey to Rome. The wind and
waves were relentless and the hope of the men was fading.
The men were left shipwrecked and defeated on the shores
of Malta. Now we reach the end of Paul's recorded
journey as he finally makes his way to Rome. He
(02:17):
meets the believers in Rome and is embraced by the
Jews inspired by the Book of Acts.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
We're so glad you joined us on the Bible and
of your podcast today, The Bible Inty. Your podcast is
an outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to
you each week through the support of listeners just like you.
Your support today is so important that we want to
thank you for your gift by giving you a copy
of my book called The Jesus Book. It is a
(02:46):
powerful guide that shows how every book of the Bible
points to Jesus and how his living word, the truth
of God's word will transform your life. So to get
a copy of the Jesus Book, simply go to Jack
Graham slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham dot org slash Jesus,
and thank you for your support. In our last episode,
(03:09):
we heard how the ship that carried Paul and other
prisoners headed to Rome was overwhelmed by a storm and
forced to run aground on an island. Throughout days of
terror and distress, Paul comforted the crew and passengers, telling
them that the God he served would spare every life
on ship. After more than two weeks of peril, they
(03:30):
finally arrived safely on the island of Malta, just as
Paul said they would. Today we'll hear how the inhabitants
of Malta were kind and welcoming, and how God works
through Paul to heal the sick on the island and
to provide a way to leave the island. We'll also
hear of Paul's arrival in Rome, the welcome he received
from the church there, and the openness of the Jews
(03:52):
in Rome to hear about hope in Jesus Christ. So
let's listen now to this reading from the Book of Acts.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
The soldiers, sailors, and prisoners all lay on their backs,
looking up at the blue skies above. They were exhausted,
sapped of all energy. Months at sea, with rain and
wind beating down at them had taken its toll. However,
they were happy to be on shore, even if it
was because of a shipwreck. Luke and Paul lay on
the sand, unbelievably grateful to God for his protection. As
(04:24):
they stared at the baby blue skies, they heard a
rustling in the trees behind them. The men arose to
their feet to find natives peering out at them. They
emerged from the plants with trepidation, seeing that the Romans
still carried some of their weapons. It didn't take long
for the men to make peace with the natives. They
were surprisingly kind and shared their food with the men.
(04:46):
Their gentleness was unusual but refreshing. As the night came,
they all sat by the fire, warming themselves with the
bright flames. Paul arose to gather more sticks to put
into the fire. Not knowing that a viper lay hidden
in the reeds. Paul picked up the reeds and carried
them to the fire. He threw them in. The viper
still among the twigs leaped out of the flames and
(05:08):
fastened itself to Paul's hand. All the men stepped back,
afraid of more vipers emerging from the fire, Yet Paul
seemed to not be alarmed. He quietly shook his hand
above the fire, and the viper perished by the flames.
The natives stood in silence, waiting for Paul's hand to
swell up in his face to grow pale, But nothing happened.
(05:30):
Paul did not have a fever or chills. His hand
did not swell, nor was he in pain. The natives
watched him curiously through the flames. They observed his calm
demeanor and gentle smile. Who is this man, they whispered,
He must be a god. Although Paul suffered no illness,
the chief of the village became very ill with fever
(05:51):
and dysentery. Sweat beat down his brow, and chills covered
his entire body. Paul knelt beside him, joyful for the
opportunity to care for him. He prayed over him as
well as all the other people on the island who
were diseased, and all of them were cured. They honored
them and rejoiced over Paul. And his companions, so much
(06:12):
so that they allowed them to set sail with their
only vessel back to Rome. When they entered Rome, they
were greeted by believers who had been expecting them. The soldiers, sailors,
and prisoners were all embraced by the Roman Church. Their
love for them was overwhelming. Their love and care was
like a warm blanket to a weary soul. Paul's heart
(06:32):
melted when he met the believers at Rome. He had
always desired to see them, and now he finally had
a chance. After three days, Paul called for the Jewish
leaders to gather. He told them of his plight and
his rivalry with the Jews in Israel and Asia. However,
the Jews in Rome were less hostile towards Paul. We
have not heard any evil words spoken against you, they said.
(06:55):
In fact, we would love to hear your message. So
Paul preached the Gods to all the Jews in Rome.
They more than anyone, knew about the oppression of the
Roman Empire. They more than anyone, desired a savior, so
they listened. Their hearts were enthralled by the message of Christ,
his love, mercy, and fulfillment of prophecy. Drew them in.
(07:17):
Some believed, others did not. However, Paul was embraced by them.
Paul's life would not end in a bed surrounded by
loved ones. Eventually he would go before Caesar and be
deemed as a threat. Despite his end, Paul served as
an example to all who believed in Jesus. He was
an example that someone dedicated to evil can be used
(07:39):
for good. He was an example of the weakness being
used as strength. He was an example of hardship being
used for the glory of God. Paul the Apostle once
saw the Pharisee, died with his head apart from his shoulders.
Yet his work for the Gospel echoes still. His letters
to the churches have strengthened generations of Christystians to elevate
(08:01):
Jesus above all else. Thus ended the recorded acts of
the Apostles. Yet the same spirit lives in every believer
to this day. The same spirit who healed millions, preached
boldly in the temple, gave visions for redemption, and led
with grace, still lives in the hearts of all those
who believe in Christ. So the acts of the believers
(08:24):
still continue to this day, leading people to the presence
of God and creating a culture of flourishing until Jesus
returns Amen.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
In today's reading, the shipwrecked sailors, soldiers, and prisoners are
on the island of Malta, where they are washed up, shaken,
but safe. To their great surprise, those who lived on
Malta were kind and hospitable, helping them gather kindling and
start a fire for warmth. Paul set to work gathering
firewood too, and was bidden by a viper, a poisonous snake,
(09:01):
which should have killed him. The Maltese people, seeing this,
assumed he must be evil and this was an act
of cosmic justice. They were sure he would swell up
and die, but he shook off the snake and walked
away unharmed. God had spared Paul, and God had protected
this man and opened doors for Paul to heal the
(09:23):
sick in Malta. We also know that Paul never missed
an opportunity to share his faith in Jesus Christ, to
share the hope that is ours in Christ. He is
a great example always for us wherever we go, that
we would tell people about Jesus. After several months on
the island, they were given a boat to depart and
conclude the journey to Rome. It had been a long,
(09:45):
arduous voyage, and finally Paul was going to get his
opportunity to tell Caesar himself, the most powerful man in
the world, about the Lord Jesus Christ, and preach to
him of the Gospel. Their arrival in Rome had been
anticipated by the brothers and sisters there, and they were
greeted warmly by believers, some who had traveled from across
(10:06):
the region. Paul was given a great deal of freedom
and allowed to lodge by himself, with only a Roman
soldier there to watch over him. Paul, of course, would
share the Gospel with these soldiers every time they would
exchange duty. Paul had eagerly awaited a chance to meet
with the church in Rome, so we could imagine how
overjoyed he was to finally get the opportunity, even under
(10:29):
these circumstances of imprisonment. But it was not only the
believers whom Paul wanted to see. He reached out to
the Jews in Rome to tell his side of the
story and assure them that he was not causing the
kind of trouble he was being accused of. In Jerusalem.
These Jews were much more reasonable, and they received no
report about Paul from Jerusalem. Not only were they not
(10:53):
opposed to Paul, they wanted to hear what he believed
about Jesus the Messiah. They had heard about this group
known as the Way Taken for the words of Jesus.
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This
is now an opportunity for them to hear about this
way of salvation through Jesus Christ and this man. Paul
(11:15):
spoke with compassion and strong convictions. In Acts twenty eight
twenty three we read when they had appointed a day
for him, they came to him at his lodging in
greater numbers. From morning till evening. He expounded to them,
testifying to the Kingdom of God and trying to convince
them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and
(11:35):
from the prophets. It might be easy to miss the
importance the significance of this passage. Remember that in every
city Paul went to the temple seeking out the Jews
to share the gospel, and in every city he was
run out, often under cover of night, lest he would
be killed by the Jews. Now Paul is under house arrest,
(11:57):
unable to go to the temple, but these religious people
came to him. You see, the gospel cannot be stopped.
The message of Jesus is unstoppable. It will not be hindered.
God will always provide a way for lost people to
hear about His word through faithful Christians. We must be
faithful as Paul was and so many others have been
(12:19):
throughout the generations, and be bold in our witness and
take every opportunity we have to share Christ. After Paul
had shared, some believed and were added to the number
of Christians in Rome. Others were not convinced and remained
in their unbelief, but they did not seek to harm Paul.
The Book of Acts closes on an incredibly happy note,
(12:41):
telling us that Paul lived peacefully there for two years,
openly sharing Christ with all. During this time there, Paul
wrote letters to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and also the
Letter to Philemon. His letters give hope, strength, wisdom and
faith to us today, just as they did when he
(13:01):
wrote them so many years ago. These words, of course,
were not just the words of a man, but the
word of God. For God's word is inspired breathed out
by the Holy Spirit. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God. And when we read the Bible, from Genesis
to Revelation, we are reading God's book. We are reading
(13:22):
the book all about Jesus. Paul was eventually released and
continued his missionary work in Europe. But later Paul would
be arrested again by Emperor Nero the Caesar and would
be martyred for his faith. As he would later describe
to Timothy in his letter to him, he had fought
the good fight, he had kept the faith, he had
(13:44):
finished the course, and along the way he had blessed
countless people and still does today through the centuries by
his own personal example of faithfulness and boldness and compassion,
his missionary zeal for the lost and the least and
the last, all all around the world. And he gave
us these magnificent New Testament letters that we still read
(14:06):
today for our Christian growth. But we need to remember this,
as in any book of the Bible, we miss the
point if we look to the human personalities or the
characters of the Bible as the heroes. Paul himself was
a hero, but he always pointed people to Jesus he
always stepped aside and pointed to Christ and said, Jesus
(14:27):
is Lord. The Book of Acts is a wonderful story
of the New Testament Church, and it reminds us that
the witness of Christ cannot be stopped. The gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and resurrection. It
marches all around the world so that all may ultimately hear.
Paul's life ended, but God's work and witness did not.
(14:50):
And the same Holy Spirit that guided Paul, who strengthened
him through persecution, beating, imprisonment, and even death. This spirit
the whole lives in us and enables us and empowers
us to proclaim the name of Christ today. May we
continue to be faithful and fervent till the whole world hears.
(15:12):
Dear God, we thank you for the scriptures. We thank
you that you have inspired these words not just of
human origin, but by the Holy Spirit. That the Bible
is your book. And we thank you for the story
of Acts, the story of the Church and Christians as
they press forward with the message of hope and salvation
all across the known world and ultimately to the whole world.
(15:36):
May we in our generation be bold in our witness
and continue to work faithfully for the Lord Jesus Christ,
growing his church, building believers until he comes again in Jesus' name. Amen.
Thank you for listening to today's Bible into Your podcast,
and before we go, I wanted to let you know
(15:57):
that the Bible into Your Podcast is an hour outreach
of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to you each
week through the support of listeners like you. Your support
today is so important that we want to thank you
for your gift by giving you a copy of my
book called The Jesus Book. This book is a powerful
guide that shows how every book in the Bible points
(16:20):
to Christ and how you can better read and understand
the Bible and how God's Word transforms our lives. So
to get your copy of The Jesus Book, simply go
to Jack Graham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham
dot org slash Jesus and thank you for your support.
Host
Jack Graham
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