We have come to the end of the book of Acts but not to the end of Paul’s story. We have been given a realistic view of life in the early church. We have heard the gospel message as preached by the apostles. And we have been encouraged by the power of the gospel to save! When Paul arrives “safely on shore” at Malta (v. 1), the islanders treated him with reverence and respect, although some of their notions about him were misguided (v. 6). Once in Rome, Paul was a prisoner again, living under house arrest (v. 16). The first thing Paul did was to present his case to the local Jewish leaders. The reason was probably twofold. First, this was simply Paul’s normal practice. He always began his evangelistic work with the Jewish people. Second, it may have been advantageous to his case. Since the complaint against him had to do with matters of Jewish belief, it would strengthen his argument before the emperor if the Jewish leaders in Rome agreed that Paul had committed no crime against the Jewish people or their customs (v. 17). “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you,” they said (v. 21). “But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect” (v. 22). Paul’s message had two main thrusts. First, he preached Christ to them from the Scriptures (v. 23). Second, Paul explained that this good news wasn’t for Jews only but that “God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” (v. 28). >> The book of Acts gives us every reason to be thankful for the gospel. It reveals God’s power to save everyone who responds to it with faith. If you have not done so already, believe it. If you already believe, ask God for a chance to share the gospel with someone today.