Two Interesting Years

Aim: To be faithful and submissive to Christ—no matter what comes our way.

Doctrine: God's use of the spans of our lives does not always harmonize with what we might think most advantageous. Rome's very best citizen is confined and his sovereign God decreed it—for everyone's good.

Exegesis: How we believers are to view the interesting years of our sojourn on earth: as opportunities for reflection, planning, prayer, and fellowship (vv. 22-23); as opportunities for speaking about Jesus, justice, and judgment (vv. 24-25); and as opportunities to model integrity, perseverance, and patience (vv. 26-27).

Further application: Why the true church may properly rest in the sometimes-mysterious decrees of our good God: because our Savior Jesus Himself is perfect, and because of Him, His church is pristine in Him as well.

Key verse: v. 27 ''When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.''