Day Seventy-Nine -- What I am saying is true and reasonable.

Acts 16:38 to Acts 28:31

It seems like there's never a dull moment when Paul is in town.  His persistent preaching of Jesus' resurrection as proof of the fulfillment of the long-awaited Messiah gained him many converts as well as many enemies.  Those who came to believe in Christ were zealous in protecting Paul from the numerous plots against his life.  They could not, however, keep him from being thrown out of one town after another.  From the synagogues to the public arenas, his message was sure to stir up a crowd.  Along the way he also stirred up a lot of hearts, which is the hope of anyone who feels compelled to preach the gospel.  Like all preachers, however, Paul could be a bit long-winded as evidenced by his effect on poor Eutychus, the young man "who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on" (Acts 20:9).  The worst part of it for Eutychus was he was sitting in a third story window at the time and fell to his apparent death.  Paul rushed down and revived him, and since it was midnight decided to take a break for a little food.  Paul then characteristically went right back to preaching and didn't stop until the sun came up.

There was nothing that could stop Paul.  Not opposition from religious leaders who labelled him as a blasphemer; not merchants who viewed him as bad for business; not Roman officials of any rank who saw him as a threat to the civil peace.  His determination took him all the way to heart of the Roman Empire where he ends up under house arrest but with considerable freedom to meet members of the local community.  Acts ends on a triumphant note: "Boldly and without hinderance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ" (28:31).  It appears that nothing can suppress God from working through his chosen vessels.  Nothing, that is, except our own inaction.