Daily Dose of Hope
December 31, 2025
Scripture – Acts 28
Prayer: For our last prayer of this reading plan, let's end with a prayer of peace from St. Francis of Assisi...
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading. We have been on an incredible journey of reading through the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are walking through the last chapter of Acts, Acts 28.
After a few months on the island of Malta, during which Paul was bitten by a viper (with no bad repercussions) and healed many people, they finally are able to secure a new ship and continue the journey to Rome. When they arrive, Paul is met by a group of believers. I love this. I picture a group waiting by the dock for the ship to come in, anxious to take care of Paul with warm hugs and casseroles!
But Paul doesn't waste much time, after just three days he begins to preach, teach, and discuss his views with the Jewish leaders in Rome. It appears they are more open to Paul's teachings than the Jews in other locations. For two years, Paul stays in Rome, in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to see him. He taught about God's Kingdom and preached Jesus with boldness and without any obstacles. It's possible he resumed his tent-making in order to support himself but his main focus was conversion.
Paul's intention was always to go to Rome. But just like in our own lives, stuff happened. Riots, jail time, and shipwrecks, all thwarted the best of intentions. Eventually, Paul did end up in Rome and had two years there to share the Gospel. Our life journeys, though probably not as eventful as Paul's, never go in a straight line. There are ups and downs, steps backward, pauses, and spins. But God can and will use each of those experiences to grow us and to help us speak into the lives of others. It's always about the journey, not the destination.
But what happened to Paul after this? We have some evidence based on his other letters. Certain letters, which Paul wrote while imprisoned in Rome, are especially helpful. These include Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians, written between AD 60-62. Titus, as well as 1 and 2 Timothy, were written after Acts and during Paul's travels, AD 66 and 68. We can estimate that Paul lived for about 5-6 more years after the book of Acts ends.
We can also estimate that Paul stood before Caesar (Emperor Nero) around AD 62. Tradition tells us that he was eventually released from his imprisonment in Rome. There is some consensus that Paul may have actually gone to Spain after his release, carrying the Gospel even further. But he did eventually end up back in Rome and tradition says that Paul was actually beheaded there in AD 68.
Paul is considered the most effective Christian missionary who has ever lived. He took the Gospel to places far and wide, at least as far as the known world at the time. And he did so at great risk to himself. He wasn't afraid of physical pain or discomfort. He didn't care if everything was removed from him. He had surrendered his life, fully and completely, to Jesus and sharing his message with the world. As a result, he started many churches and the Gospel spread.
Today is the last Daily Dose of Hope for 2025. I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback. What did you learn? How has God stretched you? I do hope you will join us on our Journey through the Letters of Paul, which we will start on January 5th. It's been an honor sharing this with you.
Blessings,
Pastor Vicki
