The Power Of Hope

Read Acts 25:1 - 28:31

Pastor Drew Hulse

Do you want to get on a fast moving train? All you need to do is try to keep up with the life
of the Apostle Paul in the final chapters of the Book of Acts. It is an action-packed adventure
filled with twists, turns, perils and escapes; all of it covered by God’s grace. Just try to keep up
with the following starting with Paul’s arrival in Jerusalem in Acts 21 until he gets to Rome in
Acts 28:

• Paul is dragged from the temple & beaten severely.

• Paul rescued and then arrested on a case of mistaken identity.
• Paul gives his defense to the people but they riot.
• Paul is arrested again but claims his Roman citizenship.
• Paul is brought before the Sanhedrin who becomes enraged by him.
• An angel of the Lord tells Paul he will eventually testify in Rome.
• A plot to kill Paul is put in place by the Jews of the Sanhedrin.
• However, Paul is sent under guard to Caesarea to appear before Felix, the Governor.
• Paul answers the Sanhedrin’s accusations and remains imprisoned for 2 years.
• Paul later appears before Festus, the new governor, and in order to avoid going back to
Jerusalem, he asks to be tried in Rome.
• Paul appears before King Agrippa and eloquently defends the Gospel.
• On route to Rome Paul is shipwrecked on Malta, is bitten by a viper, but survives.
• He finally makes it to Rome where he is imprisoned for two years.

Reading an account like this might not feel very “devotional.” But as I continued to read I was
amazed by the confidence and peace Paul portrayed regardless of his circumstances. Paul was
sure of God’s call upon his life; confident that God was working out his purposes. What gave
Paul the strength to persevere?

Acts 26:6, “And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I
am on trial today.”

Paul understood the reality of hope. Hope in God and hope in God’s faithfulness.

P R AY E R
Father, may our chains never keep us from the hope that is found in You. Keep our hearts
open to the amazing journey of faith You have called us to. In Christ’s name, Amen.
 DAY 80

QUESTIONS
How do you experience God’s hope in your life?

What great adventure has God challenged you with?

Even in chains Paul had hope. Is there something you need to give to God to enable Him to
use you for His purposes?

MY REFLECTIONS
Does any particular verse (SCRIPTURE) in today’s reading speak to you?

OBSERVE what this verse is saying to you:

How can you APPLY this verse to your life today?

My PRAYER for today is: