The Bible claims to be telling the true story of the world. The story it tells gives us hope that the God who created the world will also save the world from the destructive power of sin. This story is centered around Jesus, but it necessarily involves us who believe in him. Because of the promise of God’s Holy Spirit who has come to dwell among his people, God will empower us to fulfill the good works he has designed for us to do.

At last, Paul arrived in Rome. The journey had not been easy, but Paul was reenergized by the other Christians he meet there. Calling for the Jewish authorities, he expounded to them faith in Jesus as the realization of Israel’s hope. Though his testimony was not accepted, Paul was undeterred. He knew that, regardless of his own fate, the good news of Jesus and his kingdom would never cease to be proclaimed.

Paul and his travelling companions had an eventful journey to Rome. A relentless sea storm and a devastating shipwreck threatened to take away all hope for surviving the trip. Paul played no small part in keeping hope alive, his presence in the catastrophe signifying God's desire and power to save people from destruction.

The Roman governors tried to figure out why there was so much fuss about Paul. But even after putting him on trial, they remained puzzled. Though they could find no guilt in him, they sensed that he was motivated by a powerful conviction that they themselves would have to face one way or another.

Despite many warnings, Paul returns to Jerusalem at the end of his 3rd missionary journey. Plots stack against him, but he is eager to give a report on his ministry, willing to face persecution, ready to witness to the hope of the resurrection, and wise to use his Jewishness and his Roman citizenship for the gospel. The Lord is by his side encouraging him, as we witness how the Romans are now more open to the gospel than the Jews.

The Apostle Paul wanted to get back to Jerusalem before Pentecost, but he first needed to complete his mission. He comforted the believers with the life-giving message of the kingdom of God. He entrusted the church to the sustaining power of God’s grace. And he remained resolute in his determination to complete what the Lord had called him to do, no matter the cost.

As disciples of Jesus, Christians join their Lord in the advance of his kingdom on earth. This mission, though guaranteed to succeed, will not be easy. All disciples will need to know the power of God's Holy Spirit as they confront the powers of darkness, who will do their best to discourage even the bravest among them.

Standing before the highest council in Athens, Paul made his case for the resurrection of Jesus as the hope that everyone is looking for. Traveling on to Corinth, Paul found dear friends who would partner with him in promoting this message. Encouraged by Jesus himself, Paul remained in Corinth for some time, establishing a church community who would bear witness to the power of the resurrection.

Paul and his companions traveled into Macedonia, concluding that God was calling them to preach the gospel there. They came with good news, although the message they announced kept causing trouble. The preaching of Jesus and the resurrection was the turning point, providing the help that many were seeking, while also upending the world’s greatest powers that held the world in its evil grip.

Paul and Barnabas’s missionary journey had been a success, in spite of the hostilities they faced from non-believing Jews. But now it was Jewish Christians who were causing a problem, teaching that Gentiles had to become Jews in order to be fully incorporated into the true people of God. This issue had to be resolved in order for the mission of God to continue.