In Acts 26:1–29, we find the apostle Paul in the governor’s palace in Caesarea, where Paul was about to make a defense regarding his activities before the Roman governor and the king. Now, at first blush, it might seem that Paul was merely a helpless prisoner on trial for his life. However, Paul’s imprisonment and trial at Caesarea was only the first part of God’s larger plan to send His apostle to Rome, there to testify of Christ before Caesar, the heathen ruler of the world of that day. We read in Acts 23:11, “the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.’” Thus it was that even before being sent to Rome, Paul was imprisoned at Caesarea, and was here being brought before a very skeptical King Agrippa. There the Lord gave Paul an opportunity to share by confident and gracious words the powerful account of his conversion, as well as the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Do you realize the power of a sincere, simple statement of your faith as you share the gospel? It might well be that no one in the governor’s hall that day was deeply moved at the moment of Paul’s presentation. Likewise, we ourselves may not see any immediate impact when we share our faith with others, but the Lord can and will use even our most humble testimony in powerful ways to accomplish His perfect will: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11). Let us not grow weary and discouraged at the hostile or ambivalent reaction of others when we share the gospel, but rather let us boldly speak forth His Word in love, in full dependence upon the Lord that He will use His Word to His glory.