We are able to see from Acts 26 how Paul, despite being in chains was able to seize this as an opportunity for evangelism. He simply shared his story and that is what we are encouraged to do as we trust the Holy Spirit to do the convincing.

Exploring how Paul shares his experiences of Jesus, explains scripture and challenges those around him to bring them to the point where those listening have to decide one way or another: do you believe?

Paul faces continued injustice and corruption, yet stands before kings with unshakeable peace. When we suffer, our anxiety often reveals we doubt God’s love, not His power—but Christ holds us fast, and our peace in suffering testifies to His reality.

In Acts 25, it’s increasingly clear that God is sovereign over the events taking place as he works out his purposes. Just as he is sovereign over our lives and the smaller details, so he is sovereign over the universe and the grand narrative of history.

Acts 24 exposes a choice we all face: the world’s way of self-protection, manipulation and compromise or Jesus’ way of truth, integrity, faith and surrender. Through Paul’s trial, he demonstrates that God’s way, though costly, is always better.

Through Paul’s trial before Felix, Acts 24 shows that the gospel is always at work preparing, provoking and producing in the lives of people.

Paul, in the face of extreme conflict walks with a good conscience before God and displays courage that is from God. Jesus offers us the same as we walk according to the Holy Spirit.

The core issue at the heart of not just Acts 23, but the whole narrative of the New Testament and of history is around the resurrection of Jesus and, therefore, his people. The truth of the resurrection changes everything about everything.

Why do some hearts receive the gospel whilst others reject it? Jesus teaches that it is down to the soil – the human heart. Pain and suffering is often God’s way of softening our hearts so the gospel can take root and produce an abundant harvest.

Suffering is more normal and more universal than we like to think in a modern world. Steve Petch, who planted Grace Church nearly 20 years ago, teaches from Romans 8 on the reality of suffering for all and the reality of future hope for all Christians.