Formosa Baptist Church
2026-07-12
- Big Idea for the Series: In the book of Acts, we see God advancing his Kingdom by his Spirit through his Church.Intro:Summary of Acts 24-25Two weeks ago, we covered Acts ch. 23, where Paul has to argue his case before Claudius Lysias, the tribune in Jerusalem, and the Sanhedrin court. But, before Paul’s case could be fully adjudicated, the Jews conspired and put out a hit on Paul. Paul caught wind of the conspiracy and passed the news along to the tribune, who put together a detachment of troops and took Paul up to Caesarea in the middle of the night so that he would be safe until his case could be decided. The tribune sent him to the governor Felix, where Paul would have an opportunity to state his case.For the sake of time, we’re going to skip over chs. 24-25, since they contain a lot of the same themes. So, I’ll just give you a brief overview of what happens in those chapters.In Ch. 24, Paul has his hearing before Governor Felix. The Jews, again, accuse him of trying to defile the temple and of stirring up riots (neither, of course, were true). Paul took the opportunity to present the gospel to Governor Felix, but we find out at the end of ch. 24 (in Ac. 24:24-27) that Felix was really just hoping that Paul would pay him a bribe.Paul doesn’t, of course, so he ends up staying in prison for two years. Finally, Felix is succeeded by Festus as governor. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, Felix was deposed because he was unable to keep the peace between Jews and Gentiles in Caesarea.In ch. 25, Festus is now governor, and he’s on a mission to make sure to keep the peace in the region. So, one of the first things he does is to take up Paul’s case. So, Paul has to endure yet another trial and another onslaught of false accusations by the Jews and argue his case again. The Jewish leaders ask for Paul to be transferred down to Jerusalem for trial, again intending to kill him (Ac. 25:2-3). Festus wants to appease the Jews, because he wants to keep the peace and keep the Jewish leaders in his good graces, so he tries to get Paul to agree to go to Jerusalem for trial.Paul knows good and well that his life is under threat, and any travel towards Jerusalem is not likely to end well for him. Plus, he’s wanting to get to Rome. Paul is kind of backed into a corner, so he appeals to Caesar. Roman citizens had the special right to appeal to Caesar as their final judge if their case wasn’t going well.
Acts 25:11 ESV 11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”The catch was that, in order to prevent lower-level judges and governors from mishandling justice, once someone appealed to Caesar, that appeal couldn’t be withdrawn, and Caesar’s word was final.Acts 25:12 ESV 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”But, before Paul gets sent off to Caesar, Festus has to figure out what the charges are against him, because the Jewish leaders’ case against Paul has been so convoluted and baseless that he’s at a loss as to what to write to Caesar. So, Festus summons King Herod Agrippa II, who ruled over northern Israel under the authority of Caesar, to help him figure out what to write down for the charges.Acts 25:25–27 ESV 25 But I found that he had done nothing deserving death. And as he himself appealed to the emperor, I decided to go ahead and send him. 26 But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write. 27 For it seems to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not to indicate the charges against him.”So, today we pick up with the story in Acts 26 where Paul is about to make his case before King Herod Agrippa II.Acts 26:1–32 ESV 1 So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: 2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. 4 “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, 7 to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? 9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 12 “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, 17 delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” 24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” 30 Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. 31 And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”PrayerFCF: If you’re anything like me, sometimes you struggle to have the courage to share the good news with those that you know. But, in this passage, Paul gives us a great example of how to proclaim the gospel boldly, and he gives us several reason for why we should proclaim the gospel boldly. So, today, I want to encourage you to be bold in sharing the gospel because the gospel is not irrational or unbelievable, because it needs to be shared, and because it will give you and others comfort as you share it.Proclaim the Gospel boldly because the resurrection is not in-credible.Acts 26:1-8Paul knew that he was on trial because of his hope and belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.Acts 26:6–8 ESV 6 And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers...8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?Sometimes people may try to intimidate you or shame you because of your belief in the gospel and your belief in the Bible.Academics especially like to scoff at the miracles in Scripture. “You really believe that Moses parted the sea for the Israelites? C’mon...You really believe that Mary was a virgin? C’mon...You really believe that Jesus rose from the dead? C’mon...”Paul fought that same skepticism in his time. The Sadducees didn’t believe in resurrection from the dead at all, so they scoffed at the idea that Jesus rose from the dead on principle.The Pharisees theoretically believed in resurrection from the dead—that God would one day raise his people from the dead—and some of them did become believers in Jesus. But others, even though they said they believed it was theoretically possible and that God would one day do it rejected the idea as absurd when Christ’s followers claimed that God had already done it.Today, you’ll face many people who might acknowledge with one breath that God could, in theory, do miracles. But, then they will reject outright the Bible’s claims of miracles because...well...they’re too miraculous.Faith in God and the resurrection of Christ is not irrational.Paul challenges their thinking in v. 8Acts 26:8 ESV 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?Paul doesn’t mean “why do you think it’s amazing that God raises the dead?” We often use the word "incredible” that way, but it can also mean “not-credible,” or “unbelievable,” as the NET Bible translates it.Acts 26:8 NET 8 Why do you people think it is unbelievable that God raises the dead?Many people who refuse to believe in God do so because they find the Bible’s claims of miracles unbelievable. They begin with the presumption that since miracles contradict the laws of nature and cannot be scientifically proven, then they are therefore false.But, if you press these people about whether it is theoretically possible that an all-powerful Creator God exists, most would acknowledge that it’s theoretically possible. If you then ask them, “Then what evidence would you require to prove the existence of God?” most would say, “something that couldn’t be explained by anything except divine intervention, something miraculous.”So, ironically, the one criteria of evidence that would prove the existence of God is the very thing which the Bible asserts has, in fact, happened, and is the very thing that these atheists and unbelievers use to dismiss the Bible’s claim that God exists.They say they would believe if he performed a miracle. He performs a miracle and then they say that they can’t believe in God because they don’t believe in miracles.That is irrational. It’s logically inconsistent.But faith in an all-powerful Creator God who performs miracles is not irrational or logically inconsistent. In fact, it’s perfectly consistent.Christian theology begins on the foundation that an all-powerful God is the Creator of all there is, including nature. If God created the laws of nature, then he himself is not bound by them any more than a child is bound to live in the sandcastle he creates on the beach. The Creator is not constrained by his creation.The Creator of nature’s laws may, therefore, violate nature’s laws any time he pleases.In fact, if such a Creator God wished to reveal himself to his creation, how would he do so? Well, if he merely showed up as part of his creation, we’d have no way to distinguish Creator from creation. To reveal himself as the Creator, he’d have to do something that nothing within creation itself could explain...something that violated the laws of nature...something miraculous. If the Creator God wished to reveal himself to his creation, he’d have to do something miraculous.That is, in fact, exactly what we find in Scripture—a God who created mankind and the universe, then repeatedly revealed himself through miraculous intervention. A God who spoke audibly to the Patriarchs, a God who spoke through a burning bush to Moses, a God who poured out plagues on his enemies in Egypt, a God who parts the sea, guides his people by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, a God who enables the few to conquer thousands, a God who slays giants with a boy’s sling, consumes rebellious cities and false prophets with fire from heaven.And if this God truly desired a relationship with his created people, how would he demonstrate that? Well, if he really wanted to show that he loved his people, cared for them, and desired a relationship with them, then he’d have to lay aside his divine prerogatives and take on human form. But not as a king—as a normal person. He’d have to live a normal, human life—suffer, go hungry, face rejection, be tempted by sin, live among us, face financial hardship, and get sick.He’d have to be visually indistinguishable from us; he’d have to truly be one of us. But, if he wanted to reveal himself as the Creator, he’d have to do things that only the Creator could do. He’d have to perform miracles that no human could do—heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, unstop the ears of the deaf, walk on water, demonstrate control over the natural realm by walking on water or commanding a storm. One miracle wouldn’t do it. He’d have to do it again and again, because us mere mortals wouldn’t be able to believe what we were seeing. The miracles would tell us that he was God.But, if he really wanted to identify with us, he’d have to show us that he loved us enough to sacrifice for us. But even humans will give their lives for other humans they love, so if he really wanted to demonstrate a supreme kind of love, beyond what normal humans demonstrate, he’d have to willingly let himself be killed by his enemies and in the process, accomplish something for them that they themselves could never have accomplished. He’d have to face the greatest enemy of all, the enemy that no human has ever defeated: death. He’d have to experience the sting and the pain of death; one of the worst deaths imaginable.But, if he was truly God, he couldn’t stay dead. He’d have to rise again and show himself to numerous people.Sound familiar? What we believe is not irrational.Acts 26:25–26 ESV 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.So, speak it boldly. All this has not been done in a corner. Your faith in the resurrection is true and rational.And what’s more...The resurrection was foretold.It’s not just rational or logically consistent, it was foretold. God told us exactly what he was going to do so that we could recognize it when it happened:Acts 26:22–23 ESV 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”Post-conversion Paul had to re-read his OT, because he realized that he hadn’t understood it.Paul believed that the OT foretold of the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, and of the inclusion of the Gentiles.The Old Testament foretold:The suffering of the Messiah.The death of the Messiah.The resurrection of the Messiah.The conversion of both Jews and Gentiles.Jesus himself confirmed this after his resurrection in his conversation with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.Luke 24:25–27 ESV 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.Did you know that the coming of the Messiah is predicted all the way back in Genesis?In fact, there are so many references to the coming Messiah in the OT that it would take me hours just to read all of the passages and weeks to explain them!In August, we’re going to begin a series called “The Story,” where we’re going to journey through the entire story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation over the course of the next year. One of the things that I really want you to see in that series is all of these references, all the times that the OT foretells of the coming Messiah and his work. But, I don’t want to spoil it, so you’re going to have to wait until then! I think you’re going to be shocked at how many times, hidden in plain sight, the Old Testament foretells of Jesus and his work of redemption!For now, I’ll just give one example. Paul here claims that the Old Testament foretold of the Messiah’s 1) suffering, 2) death, 3) resurrection, and 4) conversion of Jews and Gentiles, and we get all four of those (and more!) in one passage in the OT:Isaiah 53:3–54:3 ESV 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief...Here we see the unmistakable reference to the suffering of the MessiahIsaiah 53:3–54:3 ESV 53:8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?Here is a clear reference to the Messiah’s death.Isaiah 53:3–54:3 ESV 53:10...when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.Here, after it is said that he would die for the sins of his people, it says that “he will prolong his days.” Well, death is normally the “end” of your days, by definition! So, it’s only possible to “prolong your days” after you’re dead if you are resurrected. So, this is a reference to the resurrection of the Messiah.But what about the reference to Gentiles (non-Jews) being included?Isaiah 53:3–54:3 ESV 54:2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.In this verse, God tells Israel they’re going to have to get a bigger “tent;” their house is not going to be big enough to accommodate their family anymore. Why? Because they’re going to spread abroad, their descendants are going to “possess” or “inherit” the nations. The word “nations” in Hebrew is also the word for “Gentiles.” You were either a Jew or from “the nations.” So, in this verse, Isaiah the prophet, writing 700+ years before Jesus and the events of Acts, predicts that the Messiah will bring about an intermingling of Jews and Gentiles, that the Gentiles will be included in the house or family of the Jews.My point is this—Paul was right when he said that he was proclaiming only what the prophets had already said. Jesus’ birth, his life, suffering, death, his resurrection, and his church were foretold hundreds and even thousands of years before it all happened.So, don’t be intimidated by those who say that miracles are unbelievable or irrational, or that the Bible can’t be trusted. Be bold in your faith, because our gospel is true and rational, and none of this has been done in a corner.Belief is not irrational or in-credible; unbelief is.Acts 26:25–26 ESV 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.Proclaim the Gospel boldly because the resurrection must be retold.Acts 26:24-29Yes, the resurrection was foretold, and none of it happened in a corner, but it must also be retold because many people still haven’t heard it.Acts 26:28–29 ESV 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” 29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”Are you persuading people to be a Christian? Are you pleading with them and giving them opportunities to come to know Christ?2 Corinthians 5:10–11 ESV 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others...Paul knew that his time on earth was limited, and so is everyone else’s. So, he was willing to endure whatever was necessary in order to proclaim the gospel.Today, there are still unreached peoples all over the world that have not heard the good news about Jesus. They haven’t heard about his resurrection. Some have never even heard his name.Many have heard of him, but they have never heard someone who is a believer explain the gospel to them. We have people in our own community who don’t understand even the most basic aspects of our faith. Who’s going to tell them?There will be many, like Festus and Agrippa here, that won’t be persuaded. But some will.Who is that person in your life that you need to share the gospel with?Earlier this year, I challenged you to commit to praying for and trying to reach one person in our “Who’s your One?” campaign. And, by God’s grace and through the faithful prayers and efforts of folks in our congregation, we’re seeing people come to know the Lord!Some of these people were on the wall, and some weren’t, but each one of them was prayed for by people in our congregation and each one was led to the Lord because of the faithful service of individuals in this church. God gets all the credit for that, but praise God he let us be his hands and feet!Cooper, Chris, Rosaline, Russell, Hope, and more!Sharing the gospel is always costly. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a week out of your summer and go sweat in a crowded, smelly dorm at camp, and sometimes you have to give time out of your evenings when you’re tired and would rather veg out and watch TV to invest in discipling your kids. Sometimes you have to brave the scoffing of unbelievers who think you’re “out of your mind.” And sometimes, like Paul, it might land us in serious trouble.Proclaim the Gospel boldly because the resurrection gives comfort for those who believe.Acts 26:32 ESV 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”See, Roman citizens had the special right to appeal to Caesar as their final judge if their case wasn’t going well.Paul had done this in Acts 25:11, when the Jews were pressing Festus to send him to Jerusalem for trial and it seemed like his case wasn’t going well.Acts 25:11 ESV 11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”The catch was that, in order to prevent lower-level judges and governors from mishandling justice, once someone appealed to Caesar, that appeal couldn’t be withdrawn, and Caesar’s word was final.Acts 25:12 ESV 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”So, once Paul made that appeal, he was locked in for a years-long journey and ordeal before he would finally be granted a hearing with Caesar. Of course, eventually Agrippa and Festus both agree that he’s innocent—so, technically, Paul could have been release here in ch. 26, had he not appealed to Caesar.Agrippa thinks that Paul has suffered a misfortune because had he not appealed to Caesar, he could have been set free.This is a direct acknowledgement, also confirmed implicitly by Festus (v. 31), of Paul’s innocence in regard to any Roman or Jewish laws.And, the fact that Luke records this indicates that he—and probably Paul—knew it. We might be tempted to agree with them— “Poor Paul! If only he hadn’t appealed to Caesar!” But that isn’t how Scripture treats this ordeal.Don’t give in to self-pity when you suffer for the gospel.I don’t think that Paul shared their assessment of his situation. I don’t think Paul was drowning in self-pity thinking that “If only I’d kept my mouth shut and not appealed to Caesar, I wouldn’t be in this predicament!”Paul knew that he had a mission to accomplish.When Jesus commissions his disciples, he orders them to take the gospel not just to Jerusalem and Israel, but to “be my witnesses...to the ends of the Earth.” That was Paul’s mission.Acts 1:8 ESV 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”So, we already know that the gospel must go out further and further.In the story of Paul’s initial calling, Christ’s intention for him to bear witness before kings is revealed. Paul has a special role to play in bearing witness before Gentiles and Kings:Acts 9:15 ESV 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.Paul himself had already resolved to go first to Jerusalem, and then on to Rome.Acts 19:21 ESV 21 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”Jesus himself had already appeared to Paul and told him directly that he was to testify about him in Rome.Acts 23:11 ESV 11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”So, just as Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem,” (Lk. 9:51) Paul has set his face towards Rome.Paul didn’t view his situation as unfortunate, and neither should you.Unbelievers call suffering misfortune; Believers entrust themselves to God’s sovereignty.What Agrippa and Festus saw as an unfortunate series of events, or perhaps a lapse in judgement on Paul’s part, was actually God guiding the situation to ensure that Paul got to testify to Caesar.From an earthly perspective, it was misfortune. Who knows what awaited Paul when he testified before Caesar—or if he would even make it there alive! Such journeys were notoriously perilous, as we will see in ch. 27.But, Acts does not present this as an unfortunate series of events, but rather as divine providence. God’s hand is at work throughout all of this, guiding Paul, preserving him, and even using the resources of unbelievers to fund his mission. What Agrippa and Festus think is misfortune, Paul calls a “free mission trip, funded by Rome!”In 2012, a baker named Jack Phillips was plunged into the headlines and legal controversy when he told two men who walked into his Masterpiece Cakeshop that he couldn’t create a custom cake for their same-sex wedding.Jack explained that while he was happy to serve and bake for anyone, he could not in good conscience knowingly create a cake that celebrated or proclaimed a message that was contradictory or hostile to his faith. But, rather than simply go to another baker, the men chose to make an example out of Jack.Before long, he was notified that he was being sued. Jack was taken before the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, where he lost his case. Then, he appealed to the Colorado Court of Appeals, but lost that case as well. The Colorado Supreme Court denied his case, so finally Jack appealed to the last court remaining--the U.S. Supreme Court.Finally, after a year of waiting, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear his case. 6 years after the whole ordeal originally began, the Supreme Court ruled in his favor 7-2 in 2018.But, while Jack won this case, he has been publicly lambasted nonstop ever since 2012, and he’s received numerous death threats, hostile phone calls, and harassment. Even before that initial case went to the Supreme court, another case was brought against him--this one by a transgender activist who wanted him to make a cake celebrating his transition from male to female. While Jack won that case, the same lawyer brought another case against him because Jack wouldn’t make a cake depicting Satan smoking marijuana. The activist that brough that case told Jack face to face, and later under oath, that even if he won that case, he would keep bringing cases against him again and again.Jack has lost business and hasn’t had a day since 2012 where he wasn’t embroiled in legal battles because of his Christian convictions. He’s suffered financial loss and constant stress from it all. But, despite all of that, Jack knows that God is in control of it all and views it all as a great opportunity to bear witness about his faith. Jack shared that during this whole legal process, one of his nephews became a believer in Christ because of the attention that Jack’s case brought to the gospel. But, his influence went far beyond his own family. In his book, this is what Jack says:Insert photo here“In their eagerness to punish my speech,” he writes, “my opponents have actually given me a microphone – even a megaphone – and for all the pain and loss my family has experienced, we are eternally grateful for the opportunities this has given us to grow closer to our Lord and to speak His truth before so many whom we might otherwise never have met.”Jack views it all as an “opportunity...to speak His truth before so many whom we might otherwise never have met.”It’s true that had Paul not appealed to Caesar, he could have been set free. But, this was all under the sovereign control of God’s providence. What other way could a lowly Jewish Christian gain an audience to share the gospel with the Emperor of Rome?!?!Listen to how Paul himself describes his imprisonment and his lengthy legal battles:Philippians 1:12–14 ESV 12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.Did you catch that? The Imperial Guard (the Greek here could refer either to all the people in the household or residence of the Emperor, or to his personal detachment of soldiers who served as his guard), some of the highest ranking officials and VIPs in all the Roman Empire, got to hear the gospel because of Paul’s testimony.And what was the result?Philippians 4:22 ESV 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.People within the household of Caesar himself—some of his closest confidants, politicians, or perhaps even relatives—became Christians.The fact that Paul appealed to Caesar in ch. 25, the fact that he was falsely accused and had to endure years of legal battles and house arrest in Rome, all of that was orchestrated by a sovereign God to lead people in Caesar’s own household to him.Agrippa said,Acts 26:32 ESV 32 And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”But Paul said, “yeah, isn’t it great!”Your situation—your sufferings, your convoluted journey, your setbacks, and everything the world calls “misfortune”—are not random chance “misfortune.” It is all under the sovereign control of a God who loves you and working all things together for your good and his glory. He is giving you opportunities to proclaim his name, opportunities that you wouldn not have had otherwise.Now, none of that guarantees a good outcome for Paul himself. Getting to share the gospel with more people doesn’t guarantee you’ll win your legal case, get out of jail, or escape persecution. So how do you keep from self-pity and despair in the midst of suffering?The resurrection is the foundation of our hope in the midst of suffering.1 Corinthians 15:12–19 ESV 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.All these opportunities to share the gospel with others on really matter if there’s a resurrection. All of this is only comforting if this life is not all there is.But, if that’s true—if there really is a resurrection and life after death, if what waits us after this life is eternity with Christ and eternal rewards for our faithful service in this life—then this is really, really good news.1 Corinthians 15:20–26 ESV 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.Some people put their hope in a mirage—an unbiblical notion that God will not allow anything bad to happen to his people. Well, it doesn’t take long as a Christian for that idea to fall through.God doesn’t promise a comfortable life here. What he promises are opportunities for us to testify to his grace and goodness, and resurrection to eternal rewards for those who take such opportunities. Acts 25:11ESV
Acts 25:12ESV
Acts 25:25–27ESV
Acts 26:1–32ESV
Acts 26:6–8ESV
Acts 26:8ESV
Acts 26:8ESV
Acts 26:25–26ESV
Acts 26:22–23ESV
Luke 24:25–27ESV
Isaiah 53:3–54:3ESV
Isaiah 53:3–54:3ESV
Isaiah 53:3–54:3ESV
Isaiah 53:3–54:3ESV
Acts 26:25–26ESV
Acts 26:28–29ESV
2 Corinthians 5:10–11ESV
Acts 26:32ESV
Acts 25:11ESV
Acts 25:12ESV
Acts 1:8ESV
Acts 9:15ESV
Acts 19:21ESV
Acts 23:11ESV
Philippians 1:12–14ESV
Philippians 4:22ESV
Acts 26:32ESV
1 Corinthians 15:12–19ESV
1 Corinthians 15:20–26ESV