Well, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that God's word is always true and what the Holy Spirit showed Paul and the other prophets came to be exactly what was seen. The bad news is that what Paul and the other prophets saw was exactly what came to be experienced.

In this week's text, we see that Paul is going to experience everything that his loved ones warned him about.  Paul would be arrested, beaten, and imprisoned for his faith in Jesus.  Paul experienced an outcome that he was not hoping for or wanted, but nevertheless an outcome that was worth his pain.

Remember the message from last week; "God's calling is more about worth than it is want." This is a true saying that Paul lived out in Acts 21 and 22.  Paul did not want to be beaten or imprisoned.  Paul did not want to have his life placed in jeopardy.  I am sure that Paul would have loved to have given his testimony (Acts 22:1-21) and everyone turn to Jesus and spend the day breaking bread and singing hymns. This was not Paul's outcome that I am sure he would have desired. However, Paul's "worth" was greater than his "want."
Paul being faithful to God's calling was worth chains given by man.  Paul's faithfulness was worth the beatings he received.  Even unto death, Paul's faith was worth everything!

We also see that Paul's love for fellow man was worth the death he would one day receive from them. Like we see in the story of Jesus, Paul wanted to share the freeing gospel who those he came in contact with.  Not only was God worth his calling, but the lost were as well!  

"For God so loved the world......"

All who read the story of the gospel should be crushed by the weight of the good news! That the death of Jesus was worth the salvation of man!

Praise God for sending Jesus!

Praise Jesus for the cross!

He is our Savior, hope, Way, and redeemer.

Stay faithful church.  

 Read John 19 for a picture of the goodness of Jesus in His calling to the cross.