There is another plot to ambush and kill Paul. It doesn’t happen. You can’t lay a hand on one of God’s servants if God doesn’t say so. Paul is kept in God’s hand and is held fast. Paul will be martyred. He will die for his stand on the gospel, but Paul will willingly lay down his life, like Jesus did. No one takes away the life of a saint. God is in control. He numbers our days. He has prepared good works for us and we will complete them.

Paul appeals to Caesar and because of it, we’re told, he isn’t released. That can sound disheartening. But, remember the plot against him. They wanted him to go to Jerusalem because they were going to kill him on the way. He doesn’t go to Jerusalem when given the chance. Instead, he appeals to Caesar. God uses that to foil the plot and, I suppose, to bring him before Caesar, though we don’t see that in Scripture.

Just as God had told Paul would happen, he is brought before kings. All these prominent people and leaders are brought to Paul and he gets to share the gospel with them. God’s ways are not ours. We wouldn’t choose years in prison to be able to stand before kings and share the gospel.

We choose God’s ways before we know what they are. We say yes and give ourselves to Him to take our lives and order them that He would delight in our way and accomplish His purposes.

God had purposes for Paul and He has purposes for you. We all have a part in God’s redemptive purposes. We all have a part in God turning people from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they would receive forgiveness and a place in God’s heavenly kingdom.

We share God’s kingdom. We share God’s love and forgiveness. We share holiness and sanctification. We share Christ’s death and resurrection. We share faith. It’s all a gift and it’s all a gift by faith.