December 17

December 17

Paul -- Journey #4 (Shipwreck, Malta, Rome) -- Onesiphorus cares for Paul in prison

Today's Readings:

Reading 1: Acts 27

Reading 2: Acts 28

Reading 3: 2 Timothy 1:15-18

Today we reach the end of the Book of Acts. Well, at least the recorded part of the Book of Acts. If you recall, Luke started his account by saying his first book (the Gospel of Luke) was the account of "everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven." So this second book is the account of all that Jesus continued to do through the Church. In a sense we are still in the book of Acts, because there is no conclusion to the book. It is as though Luke simply stops writing one day and never picks up where he left off!

But these last two chapters are just as full of drama as the rest of the book. We have shipwrecks and poisonous snakes and massive storms; through them all Paul is characterized by his calm trust in God and his bold declaration of God's power, accompanied by demonstrations of God's rule through healings and fulfilled prophecy. Such a change from the man Paul/Saul used to be!

Remember: the same power that enabled Paul to be this way is at work in you and me. How will your life show God's presence and power today?

Have a great day!

Mark.