WEBVTT 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:23.519 In Acts twenty, there it goes. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:24.879 Acts twenty-seven. 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:27.519 Acts twenty-seven and acts twenty-eight. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:33.439 We are finishing off our sermon series on the book of Acts. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:37.280 We're gonna finish by looking at these last two chapters. 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:50.560 As we come to the end of Acts, Luke is not just telling us history and telling us what has happened, which has been great, but maybe you've storyteller. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:58.240 He's giving us history while at the same time giving us real life lessons that we can learn from. 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:08.400 So if you look at, if you're looking at the end of Acts, you may have noticed from Acts 24 to Acts 28, there is this underlying tone of hope. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:16.400 Because once Paul is arrested, once he's put in chains, the tone of Acts becomes a message of hope. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:27.519 If you look at just the last few chapters, almost every time Paul gives his testimony, his defense, he talks about or he mentions this idea of hope. 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:34.480 He says, for example, in Acts 23, verse 6, brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:41.519 It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial. 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:54.079 Verse, chapter 24, verse 15, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 00:01:54.159 --> 00:02:00.000 So not only mentioning hope again, but he's also mentioning this idea of resurrection again. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:03.120 Just a couple chapters over in Acts 26. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:06.560 Look at what he says in verses six through seven. 00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:22.879 He says, Now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, in which our twelve tribes hoped to attain, hoped to attain, and they earnestly worship night and day. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:28.319 And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O King. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:40.800 So everything, almost every single time he gives his defense or his testimony from Acts 23, 24, and 26, he mentions this idea of hope. 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:51.280 Specifically, a hope of a Messiah King, which is fulfilled in Jesus, a hope of a resurrection, which has been fulfilled in Jesus' resurrection. 00:02:51.759 --> 00:03:09.039 This is all here and helping us as we journey along through Acts that by the time we get to Acts 27, it's not just expressing to us what is happening, it's also showing us an example of what life is like when we have hope in God. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:12.879 That's what we're gonna see in Acts 27 and 28. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:20.719 As we look at the scriptures, as you read those verses, hope is assurance that is grounded in faith. 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:29.120 It is assurance, or you could say confident trust in what God has promised, even if we may not see it. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:44.159 So when life feels hopeless, it feels like we're out there on a stormy sea and everything that can go wrong actually goes wrong, we have to rely on God's promises, on what he has promised. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:46.960 That's literally Acts 27 and 28. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:51.919 Now we're not gonna go through these chapters verse by verse by verse, we're gonna hit the highlights. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:04:03.039 But at this point, Paul's been arrested, he has been beaten, he has been accused, he has been put on trial, and throughout all of that, he appeals to Caesar. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:09.120 He appeals to Caesar, and now he has to make the long trek all the way to Rome. 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:11.439 And it is quite the journey. 00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:18.639 And he does this not necessarily just to save his own life, but also to save as really as many lives as he can. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:27.040 His desire is to bring the gospel to one of the greatest, biggest stages in the world at that time, even if that means going in chains. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:35.839 Chains, mind you, at the very end of this lesson, at the end of Acts 28, he's going to say, represents his hope. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:40.560 Hope is going to be the main focus, the main idea of our lesson this morning. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:43.680 So let's dive into Acts 27. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:51.439 Paul is under guard by the Romans, and they begin to set sail on their journey, starting with verse 1. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:05:09.040 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan cohort named Julius, and embarked in a ship which was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.959 We put to sea, accompanied by a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:23.279 Verse 3, the next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly and gave them leave to go to his friend and be cared for. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:26.560 So right there, things seem to be off to a great start. 00:05:26.720 --> 00:05:28.480 You know, he's being treated kindly. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:31.040 There's nothing, there's no hiccups at this point. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:41.920 And then, verse four, and putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the Lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:50.800 The winds being against them is really just the beginning of this trip, and nothing really going right except them actually getting to Rome. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:52.639 It's just the beginning. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:56.879 But you read that, and how often does that actually happen in life, right? 00:05:56.959 --> 00:06:05.680 You we start a new trip or we have a new opportunity, and things seem smooth at first, and then very quickly things turn south. 00:06:05.839 --> 00:06:09.759 Things aren't going as maybe as smoothly as we wanted. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:16.319 And it's easy in that moment to really play the victim and to be like, well, where is God in this moment? 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:21.759 God must be against me, He must not care about me. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:23.839 Well, God, where are you? 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:25.040 Where is God? 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:34.879 I mean, you look at this story in Acts 27, and doesn't God want Paul to go to Rome and now in verse 4, right off the bat, there's this hiccup? 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:35.920 Why? 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:41.600 Well, if we know throughout Acts 27 and 28, it's not always going to be easy. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:45.439 Life isn't always easy. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:51.360 But it's moments like these where we have to remember what God has promised. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:56.720 God is going to promise, and he has promised Paul here that look, I need you to go to Rome. 00:06:56.800 --> 00:06:58.160 You are going to go to Rome. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:02.480 And for us who are battling life's storm, he has promised that we will be with him. 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:04.720 We have to remember those promises. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:07.040 So they're going to continue their voyage. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:09.199 And they continue with more trouble. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:12.000 Jump down, look at verses 7 through 8. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:20.160 Acts 27, verse 7, we sailed slowly by a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Nidas. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:31.120 And as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Siloam and coasted along with what? 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:34.160 Coasted along with difficulty. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:39.759 So the wind is continuing to work against them and push against them. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:48.480 By the time you get to verse 9, it says very plainly, not only is it working against them, but this voyage has become very dangerous. 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.000 Think about your own experience, right? 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:57.920 Not necessarily at sea, but just in the rockiness of life. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:01.759 At this point, what is usually your mindset? 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:07.680 Because at this point in life, it's easy to get negative and to think negatively. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:16.160 And you may, from your own experience and your own wisdom, be looking at the situation and think, yeah, you know what, this is headed toward disaster. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:18.480 And that's what Paul does, in fact. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:36.000 He says in verse 10, he says this he says, Sirs, I perceived, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also, this is important, of our lives. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:40.159 Why is Paul saying this? 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:44.879 Paul isn't just, he isn't speaking out of Revelation here. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:45.679 He's not. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:49.360 He's just speaking out of his own personal experience. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:53.120 Now, this isn't the first time Paul is in this situation, right? 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:59.600 You turn over the 1 Corinthians chapter 11, and you can go through the long laundry list of things that he's been through. 00:08:59.759 --> 00:09:02.399 He's already been adrift at sea. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:04.960 And so Paul here is looking at this situation. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:10.799 He says, I perceive, not God told me, but I perceive that this is not going to be good. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:18.399 I think it's good to step back for a moment and ask, what good is it for Paul to say this in this moment? 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:23.279 In our own life situations, what good is it to say the same? 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:30.559 And yet, ironically, after Paul says this, in the very next verse, things let up. 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:32.399 Look at verse 13. 00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:44.879 Now, when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Creek close to shore. 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:46.960 Now, of course, the wind is blowing gently. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:49.279 Now things seem to be working in their favor. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:52.159 Now things are kind of, you know, smooth sailing from this moment. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:53.759 There's some caution here. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:56.960 But of course, it doesn't last very long. 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:02.879 Already what we're seeing in this in this journey is this up and down and up and down. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:04.960 And look at verse 14. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:17.679 But soon, but soon a temptuous wind called the Northeaster struck down from the land, and when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, it gives in. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:20.480 We gave way to it and were driven along. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:23.279 They were just driven by the wind. 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:26.000 Does that not sound like life? 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:29.919 Things are down, things are up, and things are down and up again. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:39.440 And just when things look promising and you finally got a grip on life, things are under control, the Northeastern comes in and just blows everything away, right? 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:42.559 If you have a baby, you know exactly what I mean, right? 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:44.080 So it happens. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:48.639 But we have a tendency in those moments to really get desperate. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:52.320 To get desperate and try everything we can do. 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:54.960 Find those quick fixes, if you will, right? 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:56.639 We see that laundry pile. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:57.919 We're gonna put that in the closet. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:00.960 We're gonna we're gonna put the dust, sweep the dust under the rug. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:02.639 We're gonna try to ignore those things. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:07.919 We're trying to do as much as we can to fix this situation very quickly, and that's what they do. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:11.600 Now, they follow standard procedure at this time in verse 18. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:17.519 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:20.559 That is desperately throw the cargo away. 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:22.320 They do everything they can. 00:11:22.720 --> 00:11:24.879 They throw the cargo overboard. 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:29.840 This point I'm reading this and I'm reminded of another storm. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:31.840 I'm reminded of the 12 disciples. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:37.919 And when they're in a storm and they're thrown away by the wind, that's you can find that in Mark chapter 4. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:39.200 What do they do? 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:40.080 Do you remember? 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:41.360 They begin to panic. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:47.360 They begin to ask Jesus, do you not care that I am that we are perishing, that we are about to die? 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:54.480 That can easily be our mindset, even if we look at you know the people here in Acts 27 or our own life. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:57.519 What does Jesus say in Mark chapter 4? 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:01.919 He says to them, Where is your faith? 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.240 Where is your faith? 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:05.600 Remember what we talked about? 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:06.559 What hope is? 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:11.679 Hope is is the assurance that's grounded in our faith. 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:14.879 We're gonna see Paul here act out of faith. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:24.480 But even though, comparing to Mark chapter 4, even though Jesus may not be visibly present in Acts 27, he is sovereign. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.399 He is still in control. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:36.480 And so whether he ceases the storm like he does in Mark chapter 4 or not, our job, our job is to remain faithful. 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:42.799 That means in the face of hopelessness, we continue to be hopeful. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:47.519 Not delusional, not delusional, but hopefully. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:50.559 And those are two different things because we're gonna see that. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:57.440 We're gonna see how Paul acts differently in a hopeless situation, because it does get pretty hopeless. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:58.960 Look at verse 20. 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:01.279 This is how hopeless it gets. 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:15.039 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of being saved was at last abandoned. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:20.639 It's in these moments where we have to, again, rely on God. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:27.120 These are when we are at ground zero, the darkest moments, it all seems hopeless. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:29.360 We have a choice. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:31.039 What do we do? 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:33.440 We have to remain faithful. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:34.639 That's what Paul does. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:36.159 Look at verse 22. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:39.360 Jump down to verse 22, and it says, What does he do? 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.519 He encourages the people on the boat. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:50.399 Paul speaks out and he says, Now I urge you, take heart, take heart, and he changes his his tune. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:57.600 For there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:05.600 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:08.960 And he said, Do not be afraid, Paul. 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:11.200 You must stand before Caesar. 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.120 Remember those promises, right? 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:17.919 And behold, God has granted you all, those who sail with you. 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:22.240 Uh God has granted you all, those who sail with you, this promise, right? 00:14:22.320 --> 00:14:31.200 So take heart, he says, Men of men, for I have faith in God that I will be, it will be exactly as I have told you. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:34.000 Those words are just so encouraging. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:40.240 In the midst of this storm, God is able to bring together and collect Paul here. 00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:44.000 And I find it interesting and actually very relatable when you look at Paul. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:46.559 The angel tells Paul, do not be afraid. 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:49.200 Now, maybe that's just normal angelic talk. 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:52.000 Angels said that often, do not be afraid. 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:54.960 But this situation also does call for fear. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:56.720 So maybe it's both. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:03.840 But it wouldn't be out of the question for Paul, a great man of faith, to experience anxiety and fear much like we do. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:10.240 I think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, experiencing that anguish. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:16.639 Because when we are in this life, when we as humans, those are just things we cannot bypass. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:22.639 They are real emotions that we experience in this storm of life. 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:29.440 When you look at the situation that Paul is in, I'd be scared as well. 00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:35.840 Everything that they've seen to go through right now, the situation that they're in, is just hopeless. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:38.879 It is actually doomed for failure. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:41.360 You know what? 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:43.120 That's life without God. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:49.120 Without God, we are just on this journey, this storm to death. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:54.960 But God promises all of these people that no, actually, no, there's life. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.559 You will live. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:01.440 You know, He promises us life, eternal life. 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:04.960 Now, I know it's not normal here to always think this way. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:10.080 It's normal in situations like this to be doubtful and to wonder is everything gonna work out the way that God wants? 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:11.120 But what does Paul say? 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:21.600 He acts in faith, remains faithful, unlike the disciples in Mark 4, and he says, Take heart, men, I have faith in God that it's going to work out exactly as God has said in verse 25. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:27.759 You can see the change in tone from Paul. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:34.639 From verse 10, when he says, No, there's not going to be much loss of life to verse 22, there's no loss of life. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:35.200 Why? 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:38.159 Because he's confident in what God has promised. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:40.559 And Paul uses that. 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:47.279 He uses that to comfort those that are around him, even if that means being shipwrecked. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:49.200 Look at verse 29. 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:51.039 Notice what they do. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:17:00.080 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:04.480 They've come to the point where all they can do is pray. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:07.599 Everyone is realizing this is very dire. 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:10.720 They're appealing to something more. 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:21.680 Paul, though, uniquely, even though he is a prisoner, even though he is in chains amongst what we're going to find is over 200 people on this boat. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:24.480 Uniquely, he takes a leadership role. 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:25.200 Why? 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.799 Why is he able to do that? 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:30.000 Why is he able to remain calm amongst the storm? 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:33.200 Because he has a hope like no one else. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:35.839 It's different. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:37.680 Look at verse 32. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.440 Notice what happens. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:44.000 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go. 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:48.079 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:56.799 He's taking that role, saying, Today is the 14th day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.119 Right? 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:57.759 They're hungry. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:17:58.799 Verse 34. 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:04.720 Therefore, I urge you, take some food, for it will give you strength. 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:09.920 For not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.279 Verse 35. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:19.440 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:27.359 And when they look at that, then they all were encouraged and ate some themselves, ate some food themselves. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:31.839 And we were in all two hundred and seventy-six persons in the ship. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:38.480 And when they had eaten eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. 00:18:40.079 --> 00:18:47.039 It's after this, when they're encouraged, when they are strengthened, that they are shipwrecked. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:18:49.359 The ship goes down. 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:54.720 And those who can swim swim to a small island just south of Sicily called Malta. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:19:00.480 And those who can't swim grab a hold of any part of the ship that's left to make it to shore. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:09.599 But amongst this storm in this journey that's been up and down and at the end very, very hopeless, what remains do we know? 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:12.480 God's promises. 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:15.119 What God has promised. 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:18.880 And so it will be that all 276, right? 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:24.640 276 people that are on the boat, all of them were brought safely to land. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:30.720 This is a story of hope during hopelessness. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:36.640 And that what God has promised we can rely on no matter the storm that we're in. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:39.440 Even if that means we're shipwrecked. 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:45.039 God promises that if we believe in him, he promises us that we will make it to shore, right? 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.680 We will be with him for eternity. 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:51.680 Because our hope is rooted in what God has said. 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:55.359 We have that hope. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:57.920 We have that hope. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.960 And Paul talked about it. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:01.599 He talked about it throughout his trials. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:10.400 Even though death may seem evident on this journey, we have a hope of resurrection. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:17.119 Paul even talks about this through the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 54 through 55. 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.799 This is our hope. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:28.079 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.920 O death, where is your victory? 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:31.279 What are you saying about that? 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:33.759 O death, where is your sting? 00:20:35.519 --> 00:20:44.000 And so in life's storms for us today, that's something that we have to remember because we rely on what God has said, and we remain faithful. 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:48.079 We see this from Paul. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:51.920 Because once he makes it in the Rome, he makes it in the Rome. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:54.559 And he's allowed to be under house arrest. 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.759 Look at Acts 28 now. 00:20:55.839 --> 00:21:02.559 You turn over the verses 15 through 16, and just as he's about to make it in the Rome, he comes across some Christians here. 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:15.519 He says, This is here, and the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and three taverns to meet us. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:21.599 On seeing them, Paul notices this, Paul thanked God and took courage. 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:27.839 And when he came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who guarded him. 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:34.079 So just outside of Rome, he runs into some fellow Christians, and what do they do? 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:36.319 They strengthen him. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:40.880 It says there, Paul thanked God and took courage. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:43.759 Think about that for a moment. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:49.440 Think about that when we are in the company of other Christians. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:52.240 This is how we should feel. 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:56.559 We should have a heart today, like we see from Paul. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.599 Because when I see my family. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:04.640 When I see you guys, I thank God. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:15.920 And when I go out faced with this darkness in the world and the world itself and all the adversity and the storms of life, each one of you are there to give me courage. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:17.519 We encourage each other. 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:20.640 We give each other courage so we can go and face that. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:23.519 That's what we see here. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:27.039 I love that also when Paul gets into Rome, what does he do? 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:27.920 He does what he always does. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.920 He just goes and he preaches the gospel. 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:31.599 He goes and he preaches the gospel. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:37.599 And I want you to look at some of the last words we have from Paul recorded in Acts. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:40.079 And it's about hope. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:52.720 Acts 28, verse 20, talking to the Jews in Rome, he says, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain. 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:57.279 What could possibly be hopeful about wearing a chain? 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:06.559 So many of us, I think myself included, would look at that chain and think, that's completely hopeless, actually. 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:12.799 But Paul says, no, because of the hope of Israel, I'm wearing these chains. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:17.119 Think about what these chains have actually done. 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:21.279 How they represent what God has actually done. 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:27.920 Bringing Paul to Rome, giving him an audience that we're going to see at the very last verse of Acts 28. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:33.519 Helping him proclaim and advance the gospel without hindrance. 00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:39.920 You see, they demonstrate God's control and they display Paul's hope. 00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:47.920 The question then is what about your chains? 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.319 What do they do? 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:58.960 Do they break you down and make you feel hopeless, destroyed, keep you stuck? 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:04.000 Or do they show others the hope that is within you? 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:07.440 Do they show others that actually know God is in control? 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:09.920 God is who I serve. 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:19.759 He's talking to the Jews here, and the Jews are willing to listen, even though they've heard that this sect has been spoken against everywhere in verse 22. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:27.839 And yet Paul is willing to speak to them and talk to them from morning till evening about the kingdom and about Jesus there in verse 23. 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:37.680 But by the time you get to verse 24, it's the same story we've seen throughout Acts, and it is some, yes, some are convinced, but others continue in their disbelief. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:42.000 And then the book ends with these words. 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.680 Acts chapter 28. 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:45.759 Look at verses 30 through 31. 00:24:46.559 --> 00:25:06.319 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and despite the chains, and being under arrest without hindrance. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:09.440 That's how powerful God is. 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:16.799 You read that, and that is such a hopeful ending, and yet at the same time, it's such a non-ending. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.720 I want more. 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.160 Two verses for two years. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.279 What else has happened? 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:21.680 Right? 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:24.400 Where is the testimony, the appeal to Caesar? 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:26.720 What happened in those two years? 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:30.000 I think that's on purpose. 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:41.200 I think the ending is supposed to be not really an ending because the kingdom of God has actually never ended and never will. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:48.880 You see, we're not just, if you will, we're not just readers of Acts, we are participants. 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:52.559 The story, if you will, is still being written. 00:25:52.799 --> 00:26:01.119 And every generation after is just another chapter in the history of God's church, and that includes you and future generations. 00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:17.519 This is a story of hope, because we stand on the shoulders of giants that we've read throughout Acts, the apostles, Peter, James, John, Paul, great men of faith, and yet also servants throughout Acts that maybe less known. 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:23.839 Stephen, who gave his life, Barnabas the encourager, the dynamic duo of Priscilla and Aquila, right? 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:29.359 The eloquent Apollos, Lydia, even though she may have a weird name, Dorcas, even, right? 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:36.000 Timothy, Titus, and of course we can't even forget the one who's penciling or penning these words, Luke himself. 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:56.880 Showing us and leading us by example, showing us the power of the gospel, the importance of unity despite all the differences that seemed impossible to overcome, and radical generosity and sacrifices, including maybe even their own life. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:12.960 The early church faced storms, persecutions, and uncertainty, and yet what happened is they kept going and they endured and they persevered because they had a hope, not in their circumstances, they had a hope and a future with God. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:29.440 And the reason their hope held on is because it was rooted in Jesus, who really endured the suffering, who faced death, and was risen again to give us that hope. 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:33.200 Their hope isn't just wishful thinking, it's not. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:37.680 It's actually anchored in the resurrection of Christ. 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:40.319 So life is a storm. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:45.359 And for many without God, life is just a storm like Paul's life. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:53.599 You look at Paul's life, and it's just a journey of one man going to his death, going to see Caesar so that he can be executed. 00:27:53.920 --> 00:28:07.359 But because he had a hope, and this is for everyone who is not in Christ, for everyone who is not in Christ and thinking about following Jesus, you can look at this story because he had a hope in God. 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:10.720 This storm, this journey was actually to his king. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.640 It led him to Jesus. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:16.960 It actually gave meaning to the storm in his life. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:19.519 And the same could be true for you as well. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:23.839 You can be baptized, you can be risen a new creation. 00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:30.720 If that's what you want this morning, to start that journey of yours, you can come forward now while we stand and we sing. 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:38.000 I know that I reach the never.